Good afternoon!
Some positive food news today. One of the pleasures of Brussels is the huge variety of restaurants for all budgets and palates. Particularly encouraging is that, despite the large international community here, demand for traditional Belgian fare is on the up. 14 new restaurants in Brussels have received the 'Brusselicious' quality label – bringing the total of establishments recognised for their authentic Belgian cuisine to nearly 50 in the Capital Region.
This is important. While it's of course great to be able to try lots of international cuisines, it's also always desperately sad if a country's own dishes and restaurants get overwhelmed by the new. It becomes a vicious circle where the establishments aren't there to train and pass on the traditional methods and recipes to a new generation of chefs and staff, so the world becomes increasingly homogenised. One of the greatest joys of travel is not just seeing cultures but tasting them too.
So if you are thinking of somewhere to eat out this week – why not try a traditional Belgian restaurant.
I have to admit that last night I did not dine Belgian. I was treated to a wonderful selection of Pakistani traditional food, at a cultural celebration hosted by the Pakistani Embassy at Autoworld in Brussels. Seated with other guests in the slightly incongruous surroundings of classic Citroëns and Mustangs, we were served dishes by chefs brought in from Pakistan for the occasion. While we watched a fashion show, the meal and its variety of flavours and textures sparked conversation and shared experiences – testament again to the power of food to break down barriers, encourage conversation, form bonds and help dialogue amongst different communities.
It's no coincidence that all major political summits and conferences begin or end with lavish dining – this is often where the real talking is done. And so, it's the same with the NATO summit in The Hague this week. I hope the food this evening is very good, because the conversation needs to be.
If that has whetted your appetite for an evening's entertainment, then why not join The Brussels Times team tonight at The Full Circle Club, where we are helping them host a quiz evening. Details are here - hope to see you there.
Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:
1. No flights, disrupted rubbish collection: What we know about Wednesday’s strike so far
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather on Wednesday at 10:00 at the Brussels North station. Read more.
2. ‘Don’t eat anything from your garden’: Major PFAS contamination near Brussels industrial site
The soil standard has been exceeded by up to 708 times for a total of 31 types of PFAS values. Read more.
3. Last week to submit tax returns for some – What if you are late?
Filing your tax returns late is considered the same as not filing at all, meaning this can have serious consequences. Read more.
4. Brussels hospitals exposed to deadly levels of NO₂
Every hospital, clinic, and care home in the Belgian capital was exposed to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels above the World Health Organisation's recommended limit, a new data reveals. Read more.
5. The industrious rise of FN Browning from rifles to rockets
Belgium's national weapon factory has thrived for over a century at the heart of industrialised Liège. Read more.
6. De Beukelaer: ‘No Brussels government without MR and PS’
Christophe De Beukelaer stresses the Reformist Movement and Socialist Party must unite to end the worst political stalemate Brussels has faced since its creation. Read more.
7. 14 new ‘Brusselicious’ restaurants – is your favourite on the list?
The demand for typically Belgian dishes is on the rise as many visitors – both local and international – are seeking an authentic culinary experience. Read more.
