What are your favourite Belgian fries in Brussels? Although you might mention your local Belgian fries shop, it seems the Brusselians have no doubt about their favourite place: Maison Antoine has smashed the competition this year.

Every year, BX1 and Vivacité Bruxelles hold the ‘Fritomètre’. This poll aims to ask Brusselians what their favourite Belgian fries shop is. It can seem quite nothing, but please keep in mind that you live in Belgium, where the fries are definitely an emblematic dish.

More than 30,000 people have taken part in this survey this year, which was held between 30 November and 13 December.

And it was serious stuff. 41% of the voters voted in favour of Maison Antoine, while Chez Jef, which was champion in 2016 and 2017, only got 29% of the votes. For your information, Frit’ Flagey, which is a very popular place both for tourists and Ixellians, ranked 3^rd with 13% of the votes.

Maison Antoine got the title back, as it won the competition in 2014 (Frit’ Flagey won it in 2015).

What is the reason why this score is so impressive? The works which have taken place in Jourdan over the last months may explain this ranking. The shop is now bigger, with three sale points, and the square will be nicer and nicer in the upcoming months.

It is also worth having fries there, as you can sit down in one of the bars around to have a beer with your fries.

The post Maison Antoine at Place Jourdan wins the award: Most popular fries in town appeared first on Brussels Express.

An evening about the origins of the fried potato, animated by Pierre Leclercq, food historian and gastronomy expert.

Discover the extraordinary story of this emblematic dish of the Belgian gastronomy and dive into the origins of fried potatoes. Between legend and folklore, the history of fries has been the subject of many fantasies in recent years.

Let’s see present what the true story of this little golden stick is.

Good to know:

• Date: Saturday, November 24, 2018 from 19:30 to 23:00 

• Address: At Party Tables, 29 rue Alphonse Asselbergs, 1180 – Brussels / Uccle.

• Price: The menu: 35 € / person (excluding wine and beer, water included). The menu + wine and beer formula: 45 € / person.
• Reservation: francoise@tablesenfete.be – An email will be sent to you with contact details for the payment of the evening: 35 € or 45 € payment to be made by November 16.

The post Discover the history of Belgian Fries appeared first on Brussels Express.

The jury of the architectural competition consisted of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Brussels, the chairman of the National Federation of ‘Friturists’ and an architect and professor at the ULB. They had a separate interview with each of the 52 candidates and their evaluation was made on the basis of three decisive criteria:

• identity (iconic character, adjusted according to the specific nature of the fritkot)
• functionality (practical and ergonomic)
• integration (in the city)

The winning project

The design is simple and refined and the reflective coating of shiny aluminium stimulates the dialogue with the environment. The fritkot has a stylish, colourful, warm and cosy interior, consisting entirely of small tiles, reminiscent of the shops, cafes and restaurants in Brussels. The icing on the cake is the luminous signboard of the fritkot. Each shop manager will be able to make one for himself to reflect the identity of his or her chip shop.

Next steps

• Beginning of 2018: launch of the contract for drawing up the specifications required for the building of the fritkots
• End 2018: submission of applications for a planning permit
• Beginning of 2019: designation of the contractor who will carry out the works
• 2019: creation of the fritkots

The post The fritkots of the future arrive in Brussels and their look is rather surprising appeared first on Brussels Express.