Asian Archives - Brussels Express

Fabulous Thai food at Bois Savanes

Martin Banks — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 16:45:07 +0000

You could call Bois Savanes a « new kid on the block » and, in a sense, it is. This fine Thai restaurant has just opened on the main square in Saint Job, a pleasant « village » on the outskirts of Brussels. But when you consider that the history of Bois Savanes dates all the way back to 1984 it is, of course, anything but « new. »

The « original » version opened back in the 80s in an impressive town house not so far away in Rhode-Saint-Genese. It was first run by the grandmother (Jeanine), then the mother (Maryse) of the current co-owner, Marie Back, so you could certainly call this place a real family affair. Marie took over the ownership, with her brother Jerome, in 2006, and the pair decided that a move away from its long-time home in Rhode to the bustling location it now occupies would be for the best.

That decision has, according to the very impressive number of bookings they’ve had, has proved a huge success. Even on a Sunday night, a traditionally quiet time for a lot of restaurants, the place is heaving with customers.

Marie says that back in 1984 Bois Savanes was one of the very few Asian (let alone Thai) restaurants in the area. But times change and, today, there are any number of such places within a relatively short space of each other. Such a trend prompted the decision to move address and Marie and Jerome have not looked back since this new restaurant opened its doors for the first time at the start of the year. The restaurant has kept its mini army of loyal customers but also attracted a whole new clutch of clients.

It can seat about 55 inside with a nice terrace seating another 45 people. The couple also work with delivery services and do a thriving takeaway service.

But, for the « real » Bois Savanes experience you really should try to book a table here to enjoy not only the great food but also the lovely surroundings and, additionally, friendly service from the all-Thai staff.

They include the Chai, who comes from the north of Thailand but has – amazingly in the horeca trade – worked at Bois Savanes for nearly three decades. He’s as cheerful as ever, perhaps even more so since the move from Rhode, saying, « It is a joy to see the place so busy. » On the longevity of his service, he asks, « When you feel so good in one place as I do here why would you want to move anywhere? »

The good news is that the cuisine here is as first class as the service. Its long time customers will be happy to hear that most of the « old » menu has been retained, including favourites like Thai curries and Pad Thai and the duck for which it has become well known over the years.

But the management have now added some exciting new dishes to complement the old,including one called Som Tam (hot), a salad with shrimps, carrots and peanuts. This is something you would find as street food everywhere in Thailand. Another new one is Khao Tom, a rice soup with shrimps and onion (and a favourite of Marie) while yet another new addition is Kaai Yang (grilled chicken).

There are some innovations to deserts as well such as sticky rice with mango and ice creams which now come with new flavours. The kids are well catered for with a 10 euros pp menu (choice of four dishes) and the lunch menu, a real snip at just 13.50 euros and comprising a choice of 2 starters and 2 mains, is particularly popular.

There is also a fixed menu (min. 2 people) which comprises soup and a choice of 3 starters and 4 mains, plus desert. Again, this is a real bargain at just 30 euros pp. Indeed, considering the quality of the food, the prices are remarkably reasonable with a salad setting you back as little at 10 euros and a mains starting from just 14.50 euros. Look out too for the excellent wine (and beer) selection and try not to leave without sampling the « Thai-style » cocktail.

Marie and Jerome have brought the same team as they had at Rhode, including the Thai-born chef. Tellingly, most have been with them for over ten years. For some, this is an old favourite that has merely re-located a few kilometres while, for others, dining at Bois Savanes will be an entirely new experience. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

Good to know:

Bois Savanes
Address: Place Saint-Job 24, Uccle
Contact: 02 358 3778

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Enjoy the taste of Asian cuisine at Satay

Martin Banks — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 22:12:49 +0000

Christophe Hopchet went a very long way to find inspiration for his new business – nearly 10,000 kms, in fact. It was after he travelled from his home in Belgium to Thailand that he came up with the idea of opening an Asian restaurant. The result is « Satay, » a delightful eatery in the historic part of Antwerp that successfully fuses the best of different types of Asian cuisine.

Christophe’s backstory is particularly fascinating. He has absolutely zero background in cooking (he’s never attended catering school) and studied product and industrial design at university in Antwerp. After completing his studies, he decided to see the world and travelled to Bangkok where he « became inspired » by the sight and smell of the street food for which that part of the world is famous. He befriended a man who worked as a carpenter on the Malaysian island of Penang and with an interest in that type of work, Christophe chipped in to help.

It was while in Asia that he says the « dream » of starting his own Asian restaurant was born.

Fast forward 18 months and, now back home in Belgium, Christophe decided to make that dream come true. Having found suitable premises – a former shoe shop close to the cathedral in Antwerp – he set about furnishing the place. The idea was to make the restaurant as authentic as possible so he decided to have the wooden materials he’d made back in Malaysia shipped over to Belgium – all 400 cubic metres of it. So, much of what now appears at Satay was actually constructed at his mate’s woodworking studio in Asia, including the tables and lamps. The menu is even made from the same wood as are the skewers the food is served on.

There can’t be many Asian eateries here that can claim such authenticity. The same, thankfully, applies to the delicious food Christophe cooks in his open kitchen (behind a locally-sourced counter!).

Some of his customers ask if Satay serves a particular type of Asian food, such as Vietnamese or Japanese but, in truth, it’s a bit of everything. As Christophe says, his dishes are inspired by the flavours of all Asian countries, not just one. « It means one dish might be more Malaysian, another more Vietnamese and so on, » he says.

This includes, of course, satay, an Indonesian and Malaysian dish consisting of small pieces of meat (often marinated chicken) grilled on a skewer and served with a spiced peanut sauce. At Satay, the portions are bigger than those usually served on Asian streets but just as tasty. Each satay dish is served with crispy bread or noodles and garnished with fresh salad.

There are no specialities as such but, among the mains dishes, customer favourites include BBQ slow-cooked pork belly, Teriyaki beef (a Japanese satay and very tender), citrus duck and grilled Halloumi, the veggie option comprising cheese, mango, salad and a ginger lime sauce.

You can also for the « pick and mix » option if you fancy a bit of everything. There’s also a small but very tempting choice of desert and, particularly considering the quality of it all, the prices are remarkable modest. The 3 course lunch menu, for example, is a real snip at just €15. Indeed, the pricing/quality ratio is something that Christophe has prioritised, saying, « What I love most about Asian food is that it’s very tasty but also relatively cheap that leaves you feeling satisfied at the end of a meal.

« That is exactly what I am trying to achieve here: provide tasty but affordable food that is going to make people want to come back. » Judging by the success of his restaurant, which celebrates its second anniversary soon, he’s already achieved that.

Satay is relatively small – seating about 45 people over two floors – so booking is advisable at peak times. Authenticity really is the byword here and that extends to the lovely paintings on the walls. They were done specially by an English-born painter Christophe also met on his travels around Asia.

They are typical of the street art and murals often found in Penang where Christophe lived and worked. Adding to this authenticity is the fact that he sources many of the ingredients used in the cooking from reputable Asian suppliers. While Christophe says he’s still striving for improvements news about the quality of his food has spread the old fashioned (but best) way – via word of mouth.

Christophe, amazingly still aged only 28 – recalls how he bought a one-day ticket to Bangkok when he want on this backpacking adventure.

The good news for people who appreciate good Asian food is that he came back to Belgium!

Good to know:

Satay
Address: Wijngaardbrug 8, Antwerpen
Contact info: 03 435 8790

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Asian and French cuisine mix at Happy’s – The place to be

Martin Banks — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 06:08:09 +0000

There’s more to eating well in Belgium than what is on offer in the country’s capital and Happy’s near Wavre is ample proof of that.

A short car ride from Brussels and just off the Ring, this is the place to head, not only for Sushi, the house speciality prepared by Bo Yang, its long-serving Japanese-born chef, but for a genuinely delicious a la carte.

There is, in fact, a combination of two great world cuisines here: Asian and French.

The first comes in the form of the said Sushi which is available on the ground floor from Tuesday to Saturday (also available as a takeaway during this period).

When the restaurant first opened some 12 years ago it was the only place in the immediate area offering sushi. That may have changed with other restaurants now offering this but the general consensus is that there’s none better to be had than at Happy’s.

A small Asian influence is also found on the main card, with the appetisers featuring fried Thai “bits” including nems, scampi and samosa.

This menu, though, mostly features the second world cuisine available here with some classic Belgo-French dishes adorning the card.

Meat lovers will be in their element with a delicious Charolais-Limousin entrecote on the card along with another marvellous meat dish – Scottish Black Angus “cub roll” – all 320 grams of it.

The burgers are the house specialty and the one cooked with Charolais beef and served with onions, smoked paprika and Happy’s sauce is one of the best sellers.

All meats are served with fries and salad with an accompanying very tasty sauce of your choice.

Another customer favourite is the cod and butternut with grey shrimps.

There’s also a good choice of pasta and salads if that’s more your thing.

The truth is that whatever you plump for here you are unlikely to be disappointed.

The kiddies are well catered for as well with items such as the ever-popular Happy´s burgers. If you happen to visit on Sunday, you can choose from the evening a la carte menu or a remarkably well-priced 3-course Sunday lunch (a mere €38, with wine extra). This offers a couple of choices of both starters and mains.

With several top companies nearby, there is also a very vibrant lunchtime trade and the special lunch menu – available Monday to Friday and priced just €16 – includes one of four dishes: beef, a sushi plate, dish of the day, such as filets de rougets or saute de boeuf, or a veggie option.

Deserts are equally wonderful as is the very impressive wine list, including a great range of French and New World wines, plus an equally vast range of cocktails in the trendy yet cosy bar.

Overseeing things in the kitchen is the French-born head chef, Olivier Bellaches who’s really made his mark since he arrived a couple of years ago. The menu is changes four times per year with the next rotation due in about 2-3 weeks (expect more game to feature from around November).

Olivier Bellaches

The prices, considering the excellent quality, are very affordable and probably several euros less than you would usually pay in Brussels (another good reason to venture of the city to this place).

The restaurant, just 10 minutes from Wavre centre, is divided into two parts, with the ground and upper floors seating about 100 plus a lovely 60-seat terrace area. There’s also an air conditioned, insulated room for private parties for up to 45 people.

The vast wooden beams and superb lighting make for a truly wonderful dining experience. The service is particularly friendly (Brussels restos please take note!) with the staff ever eager to explain things on the menu where necessary.

The owners here are never slow to innovate and the most recent development – a wine bar called Gecko, adjacent to the restaurant – has already proved a huge success.

Opened in January 2017 and boasting a lovely contemporary décor, it serves splendid cocktails and tapas and features jazz performances and a DJ on certain nights.

It is open until late from Tuesday-Saturday with a Latino evening on Wednesdays, plus a stand up comic once a month (see the excellent website for details).

If you fancy extending the evening after dinner – or just a good old night out this is the place to be.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that there is plenty of car parking spaces (yet another plus over many Brussels restos).

With its top notch cuisine and service to match from welcoming staff like Eric and Walter, it is easy to see why Happy´s customers remain so loyal. Open daily, its customers travel from as far as Brussels and Namur. It may be a cliche but you really will feel « happy » when you leave here.

Good to know:

Name: Happy’s
Address: Chaussee des Collines 106 , Wavre
Contact: Tel 010 222240

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ASEM: 51 Prime Ministers and Presidents gather in Brussels

Frank Schwalba-Hoth — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 17:01:32 +0000

Today and tomorrow will be extraordinary in Brussels. We all know the implications linked to EU summits, when 28 Prime Ministers and Presidents with their entourage have chosen our city as a meeting point: streets are blocked, security services under stress, a multitude of contacts arriving and hotel reservations impossible.

Those EU Summit weeks are nothing compared to what will happen on 18 and 19 October: 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). This meeting means that all the 28 EU Prime Ministers and Presidents will be present (plus Juncker, Mogherini and Tusk), and Prime Ministers and Presidents from 23 others countries (mostly from Asia): Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand and Viet Nam.

ASEM was established in 1996 as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Asia. Their summit is organised every two years and is held alternatively in Asia (last one took place in Mongolia, June 2016) and Europe.

The issues on the agenda focus on dialogue and cooperation between the two continents on a wide range of areas, including: trade and investment, connectivity, sustainable development and climate, security challenges such as terrorism, non-proliferation, cyber-security and irregular migration.

Side events are planned as well: ASEF Young Leaders Summit (15-19 October), Asia Europe Economic Forum (17-18 October) and ASEM Business Forum (18 October). Embassies and think tanks have send already around invitations for receptions and discussions.

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Celebrate China’s Mid-Autumn Festival at Dam Sum

Martin Banks — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 14:08:37 +0000

China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, which is celebrated later this month, is the second most important traditional festival in China but it is much less well known than Chinese New Year overseas. The harvest festival is celebrated in China and other East Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Singapore on month 8 and day 15 of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Since it is only a short break people typically no longer make dishes at home but book a meal in a restaurant instead to save time and spend more time with their family. One great place in Brussels to mark the occasion is Dam Sum, a quietly unobtrusive and small Chinese restaurant in a particularly bustling part of Ixelles. Traditionally, moon-cake is a characteristic festival food and Dam Sum may have something special on its menu for the occasion on and around 25 September.

But, irrespective of whether you visit specifically for what is also called Moon Festival, you can sample all kinds of classic Chinese cuisine here, in particular, really delicious dim sum.

For the uninitiated, dim sum is a style of Chinese cuisine prepared as small bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. There cannot be any better place in Brussels to try it than here. And what a choice! No less than 14 different types of dim sum are on the menu, all very tasty and, notably, very cheap as well (prices start from a mere €4.5!).

Examples include Xiao Long Bao Pork, a delicate pork dim sum with soup inside – one of the signature dishes. Another classic is Xiao Long Bao Wagyu Beef, the world-renowned beef which, intriguingly, comes with what is called a “secret” ingredient.

Also recommended from the choice of dim (or « dam ») sum are Chao Sou (steamed beef dumping in vinegar sauce); Har Gao (a translucent shrimp classic); Xiao Long Bao crab and pork (pork and fresh crab with soup inside) and, last but not least, vegetable dim sum (a find combination of vegetables and herbs). In each case, the dish comprises three pieces and, particularly considering the quality, is remarkably good value. A top tip is to order a few, say 4 or 5, of these dishes and share them around the table.

They are pretty filling but it would be a shame not to also sample something else off the menu and, again,there is a great choice. There are four soups including Wanton Soup (a refreshing dim sum soup with shrimp) which you can order as a medium or large portion.

The same principle also applies to the four excellent selections in the mains section which include Gom Bao chicken (wok fried chicken with peanuts and spicy oil sauce); black pepper beef; sweet and sour pork and crispy lemon chicken (chicken strips tossed in a tangy sweet lemon sauce). There is also a brand new dish on the menu: pineapple chicken fried rice, a Singapore classic with chicken, pineapple and raisins and priced from as little as €9.

While each can be ordered as a “medium” or “large” portion be mindful that the “medium” portion is already pretty generous. You can, of course, also order noodles, rice and veg, including an especially mouth watering vegetable Mapo Tofu (braised tofu in a “bracing” spicy sauce). If you’ve still room after such fabulous feasting,you really should try a desert, possibly a newcomer on the menu – Pistachio Ice Cream Bun (number 34 on the menu). This is pistachio ice cream with a red fruit sauce in a deep fried bun.

For the health conscious among readers, it’s worth also bearing in mind that all Dam Sum’s dishes are glutamate free. The fantastic food can be accompanied by either a beer (there’s a Chinese one available) or excellent wine.

Dam Sum Restaurant

The interior is just as impressive as the food. One of the most sought after tables is right in the middle of the restaurant (sitting up to eight people) where you are accompanied by staff rolling the dim sum right in front of you (before it is dispatched to the kitchen for cooking).

There’s some artistic Chinese-style drawings/paintings on the walls along with Chinese newspapers (for the Mandarin readers out there).

Dam Sum has just celebrated its third anniversary and it will soon have a “sister” in the shape of “Canto”, a new place serving mostly Vietnamese cuisine which is due to open near Place Luxembourg later this year. This will be open at lunchtimes with a takeaway delivery service in the evening and will also serve “bubble tea”, a rather refreshing fruit-flavoured Vietnamese cocktail.

Everything here is expertly overseen by the very welcoming French-born Renaud and his energetic and friendly team. It makes for a great place to taste some authentic Chinese food, whether it’s for the Moon Festival or any other time!

GOOD TO KNOW:

Location: Parvis de la Trinité 11, Ixelles / Belgium
Contact: 02 538 0810

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Indian Week in Brussels

Admin BE — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 06:36:09 +0000

To celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between Belgium and India, the Châtelain Brussels Hotel will be running on Indian time. The hotel is offering a unique variety of opportunities to discover the magic of this country all the way from Monday 18th to Sunday 24th June.

A week of culinary discovery
Every night you are greeted to a special Indian menu, immersing you in the different tastes and dishes of the country and enlivening your taste buds with genuine and nuanced spices.

Mandalas exhibitions by Christina Jekey and vernacular paintings of Warlis and Madhubani
A mandala (literally « circle ») is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe and is characterised by any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe.

Yoga sessions on the terrace of the hotel Châtelain
Set on the terrace that overlooks a beautiful skyline of the city, practice indian yoga and a mediative mindset to find tranquility and exercise. Nathalie Geetha Babourai, a deeply experienced yoga tutor, will also be present to lead a class of guests

Indian Cocktails & Indian Fingers Food
Everyone knows Indian food, but what about their cocktails? get set for a whole new sensation as you try drinks like The Ananda brew – which features a masala teabag!

Saturday, June 23, a conference will be held by Nathalie Geetha Babouraj on Ayurvedic food and June 24, end this special Indian week with Yoga Day at Bois de la Cambre.

Enjoy the delicious dishes, vibrant cultures and beautiful arts of India together with your friends and family this India week.

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Happiness in a steamed bun – Baos at Bao Bang Bang

Kaja Hengstenberg — Thu, 31 May 2018 16:55:49 +0000

Chatelain is one of my favourite areas in Brussels. An area with a lot of nice restaurants and bars, cute cafes, delis and little shops that sell some individual clothing pieces. On Saturdays, I sometimes go to Les Petits Riens to look for some unique, artsy furniture and dishware that is above all, more than affordable. Afterwards, I love to drop by Belga & Co for a nice cup of flat white and a piece of their mind-blowing, creamy, rich cheesecake.

But sometimes it’s the hunger for something savoury that overcomes me. I tried Knees to Chin once and liked it a lot, I’ve been to Dam Sum and couldn’t forget their steamed pork buns, so just recently it was time to try Bao Bang Bang, a place I’ve seen on plenty of Instagram photos.

The interior is very modern, with attention to details, like fresh flowers, vases with dried flowers, art on the walls, wooden chairs with metal details, low hanging industrial lamps, white brick walls, but everything kept rather simple.

Their buns look tempting and so do their side dishes and starters. They offer a menu where you get their soup of the day, which for us was a delicious pumpkin soup, and either two or three buns. I decided to order the black Bao with caramelised pork, Kimchi Humus, pear salad and wakame as well as the pork belly Bao with – surprise – cripsy pork belly, hoisin sauce, a salad from carrots and cabbage as well as peanuts and cilantro. Unfortunately, the meat in the black bun could’ve been slightly tenderer, but overall I really liked the combination of the tastes, the bun and the look of it. The pork belly Bao was delicious, crispy and tasty, something I would order again. Overall, their Baos are delicious, perfectly steamed, a bit sticky once they’re in your mouth and filled with a lot of flavourful ingredients. Oh, also: their plates are lovely!

The waiters are nice and food arrives quickly. For me it’s the perfect spot for a hangover Saturday lunch with friends, a spot to chill out at. I’m sure it’s a cool place during evenings too, for an after work beer along with a delicious steamed bun.

Good to know:

Price: A soup and 2 Baos 12.5E, a soup and 3 Baos 16E.
Rue de l’Aqueduc 155, 1050 Ixelles,
Website

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