Nuevo: The Antidote To Steak-Frite Dining In Brussels

The bright orange sign and words ‘Latin Cuisine’ are a pleasant surprise, and something different in the brasserie-bordered Place St. Lambert. Owner Antonio has created a warm yet sleek environment with a menu inspired by his latin roots and the fresh ingredients and mélange of unique tastes have this restaurant exploring unchartered Belgian territory. Try the Arepas...a 'crepe' using homemade thick cornmeal 'tortillas' with a flavourful meat or cheese filling. The tuna with mojo (spicy garlic sauce) and yucca, and the chicken molé (a spiced sauce from southern mexico) are also a must. The atmosphere is as welcoming and, yes, I have to talk about the lighting. You know how obsessed I am with lighting. Here, the lighting is tame (unlike the prison lighting in most restaurants in Brussels) and flattering to an old girl with wrinkles around the eyes! Important, non? The brick walls and hues of orange, cream and black, with candlelight accoutrements gives Nuevo a modern loft-like feel and the live mariachi band on wednesday nights is definitely not a typical Brussels sound. My only complaint: not enough heat in the spicy dishes but Antonio confirmed the menu is geared toward a more 'Belgian' palate. (B for Bland) “Next time just ask”, he says, “We’ll turn up the heat on the spot”. Customer-centric service and good food? DIO MIO!!! Nuevo is the antidote to a brasserie style steak-frite dinner in Brussels, and the result: OLE! Rue Voot 12, 1200 Brussels. +32 (0)2 779 8426. www.nuevorestaurant.com

NOTE: New Year's Eve menu...5 courses only 45 euros! Mariachi band on Wednesday nights!

Ask For It!

Today I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful event organized by a new breed of event planner, Murielle Lono, and her deliciously named company Food For Thought. "Intellectual Entertainment" is on her menu and she is bringing savory and current topics to Brussels. Today I attended Murielle's event at the Wolubis Cultural Center in Woluwe St. Lambert where American author Sara Laschever shared her insights on gender differences in negotiations. Sara is a dynamic speaker whose anecdotes not only made us laugh out loud, but also got us thinking about why most women are reluctant to negotiate for what they really want in life, both at work and in their personal lives. Her suggestion for dealing with this is refreshingly simple: Ask for it! A simple solution to an age old problem? Is it possible?

Joining her for an informal discussion were several Brussels-based business executives, including Elke Joren, HR Manager from Microsoft, Mary Pitsy, managing director from Boyden, and one brave male panelist, Etienne Van Keer, from Hudson.

I spent 30 minutes interviewing Sara for an article for an upcoming issue of Together Magazine and I hope when you read it, you will be as inspired to read her two books" Women Don't Ask" and "Ask For It", and promise yourself never to go unarmed to the negotiation table!

No Really, You Shouldn't Have

'Tis the shopping season so isn't it my duty to advise you on the must and must not of Christmas 2008? I'd love to hear about the strangest gift you ever received. Write me and I'll post them in 2009! Happy Holidays everyone.

Here are some ‘gift’ ideas that got me thinking two things: 1. “Why didn’t I invent that? But mostly I was thinking 2. WTF?!!!

In no particular order of preference under my tree:

-Chew by numbers: Gum art kit. This is just wrong. But I do think high school kids in detention can actually be more ‘artistic’ now when they have to scrape gum off the bottom of chairs and desks.

-Cat towel holder. (Imagine where you stick it). All I can say is…me OW! Grrrrr.

-Baguette keyboard wrist rest. Ummm....for those of you wondering…no, people in France do NOT use these in their offices, and no matter what the sales guy tries to tell you, you will not look tres chic.

-Who would want a regular hotdog when you can have a hotdog shaped like an octopus? Yeah, that’ll make it taste better!

-Durex Tingle Condoms. When Bengay on your privates just isn’t enough? Seriously...no!

The ones I like

-Stress relief. This device is hooked up to your computer via USB, and comes with just one big, fat, red button with the word "STRESS" boldly printed across it. Pressing it will activate one of three different screen effects including a simulated bomb explosion (I can control the world----wah ha ha), or a boss punch-out (that feels better, press it again).


-Gin and Titonic, shaken not stirred. Ice cubes in the shape of the doomed ocean liner in your cocktail. Fabulous! Perfect for the christening of your new yacht don ‘t you think? I saw these at a quirky shop on Rue du Bailli in Brussels. Ask for a gin and tonic at my house next time!!!

-Action figures for adults---Barack Obama and John Mccain. It’s where the real action is. I really wish they had bobble heads. I love that the John McCain doll was marked down then discontinued. Life imitates art imitates life.

-Origami post it note pads. Seriously, if I were the receptionist at the office taking phone messages, this would be the best! Can you imagine: the boss walks in and asks ‘any messages?” and you take your message disguised as a bird, and flick it at her with your middle finger. Flipping the bird is now poetic justice.