The first « competition for the best shrimp croquette in Brussels » was organised by visit.brussels on 22 October 2018. The big winner of that first competition was Fernand Obb Delicatessen. The other winners up on the podium were The 1040 and Beaucoup Fish.

This year, the competition was held in public within the context of the eat! BRUSSELS drink! BORDEAUX festival on Saturday 7 September. 19 establishments took part this second time around: The 1040, Aux Armes de Bruxelles, Beaucoup Fish, Les Brasseries Georges, Callens Café, Les Caves d’Alex, Chez François, Chez Gaspard, Chez Léon, Chez Ta Mère, Cospaia, Fernand Obb Delicatessen, Lola, Ma Jolie, Le Patio, Les Petits Bouchons, Racine Carrée, Le Rossini and Sanzaru.

They stepped up to the challenge and put their talent to the test against one another in their conceptualisations of this delicious, typically Belgian dish.

In their assessments, the jury of food journalists used a scoring grid to establish a hierarchy for the products they tasted. The distribution of points was based on several criteria, including crunchiness, taste and shrimp quality.

Fernand Obb Delicatessen may use the title of « best shrimp croquette in Brussels » for the entire year following the announcement of the results.

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Classified from A to Z they cover every neighbourhood in the city plus all genres and prices.The guide continues to apply a « rigorous » selection procedure and inclusion is much sought after. It has won an enviable reputation for giving an objective, accurate and detailed analysis of restaurants of all kinds and types.

These range from gastronomic establishments to relatively humble and low-priced places. All are based on 10 separate criteria such as the welcome given to diners and all are judged on their price/quality.

About 60 restaurants have been deleted in the 2019 issue, either due to bankruptcy or non-compliance with the strict selection criteria. As it has done since 2011, the guide once again includes a Delta Discovery Pass which offers 30% discount (excluding drinks) in 45 restaurants in and around Brussels, all scrupulously selected by the Guide’s gastronomic columnists.

For the second year in a row, the publisher, Stephane Desmet has also included, under the heading « Tips from the Delta Guide », about 60 restaurants considered « essential to discover. »

These are classified in four categories: trendy, gastronomic, must-sees and those classed as cool.

The 45 gourmet addresses have been scrupulously selected and are classified by district and category (gastronomic table, good value for money, favourites and those in a beautiful setting). The Discovery Pass is also available at these restaurants.

The guide, first published back in 1977 and the only one of its kind in Belgium, is also available as an electronic version

With an average of 7,000 visitors per day and a database of 5,620 hotels and restaurants, the website (as is the book) a reference to find a good restaurant or a hotel in Belgium and also the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Each year, it also presents awards to mark the new edition and 2019 is no different. Desmet, publisher for the past 11 years, explained that while the temptation, with each new edition, is to honour well known chefs who have helped win Brussels its culinary reputation the « Delta Guide philosophy is more about discovery than consecration. »

This year, the guide has therefore honoured relatively new restaurants and young chefs.

The 2019-2020 nominees are:

Golden Delta: Hispania Brussels (Brussels) Adrian Mancheño;

Silver Delta: Origine (Etterbeek) Xavier Lizen;

Bronze Delta: Willy’s Workshop (Brussels) Bogdan Streinu;

DELTA by specialty (in alphabetical order):

Bissetoun (Iranian cuisine);

Chez Anesti (Greek);

From Brussels and Elsewhere (world);

Gallery Resto-Boutique (Vietnamese);

Mon Fou d’Mari (Belgian cuisine);

Osteria Romana (Italian);

Meadow of Chez Nous (bistronomic) and

Tang Dynasty (Chinese)

The guide, which sold up to 10,000 copies in 2018, is available in all bookshops.

Further info via

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The classes take place in the dining room of Sophia’s apartment in Ixelles either on a weeknight or during the weekend. Everyone is welcomed with a seasonal drink – be it a quince Bellini, a Mezcal and fresh grapefruit cocktail or a glass of Prosecco with blood orange syrup and rosemary. After a short meet and greet the class begins and Kaja and Sophia introduce everyone to the evening’s dishes and talk about unusual or special ingredients.

After participating in the preparation of the dinner (usually 4-courses) everyone sits down to eat, chat and enjoy some glasses of wine. There’s always ‘a twist’ to the food served. Be it a sumac and preserved lemon butter, a whole orange cake with cardamom cream, slow-cooked short ribs glazed in Korean gochujang paste, or buttermilk pancakes with miso butter. Both ladies have lived in and travelled different parts of the world, which is where the inspiration for their dishes comes from. In total, the evening typically lasts about 2.5 hours.

Kaja and Sophia find it important to use good-quality ingredients only, and to use local and seasonal produce as far as possible. They want to cook something that people will like and that will hopefully inspire them to also prepare the dishes at home after the class. “We are happiest when people leave with a smile, a full belly and maybe also a new friend by their side”, they say. After all, the Supperclubs & Cooking Classes are also a great opportunity to meet new people, mingle and to talk about food, life and everything in between.

The most recent Two Kitchens Brussels event was ‘The Brunch Edition’ on 16 & 17 March, featuring a large range of sweet as well as savoury dishes such as banana bread with Tahini frosting, turmeric and cardamom granola made with puffed quinoa, toasted Zucchini bread with grilled halloumi, chipotle sour cream and tomato jam, and BLT sandwiches with gochujang and maple glazed bacon.

The Spring Edition on 6 April and 26 April, is their next event. Participants will learn how to make Ricotta Gnocchi as well as spring Fattoush (a Middle Eastern salad with fried flatbread croutons, which Kaja and Sophia will be giving a twist) and homemade tarragon butter with roasted sunflower seeds. During the Nordic Summer Edition on 14 and 18 May, the two will prepare gravadlax and other dishes that recall a Swedish or Norwegian summer – as always with a little twist.

Price: 35€ for a brunch class, 50€ for a dinner class

Contact and reservation: twokitchens.reservation@gmail.com

To hear about next events, follow their @twokitchens_brussels Instagram page or Two Kitchens Brussels on Facebook

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The restaurant recently got refurbished and gained even more charm than it had before. In a cosy Brasserie-setting you can enjoy various stews, homemade terrines and foie gras while washing it down with great natural wines or with a beer if you’re coming for the fair-priced and delicious lunch.

Denis, the chef and owner of the restaurant, is keen for a chat about his visions and sources of inspiration, as well as his views on natural wines. The restaurant has existed for quite some time now and has always been the go-to place for people who want proper, non-pretentious and well-portioned food. The food is rather on the heavy side of things, made from good and fresh produce.

When you come to Le Tournant you know what you’re getting. Tried the juicy, perfectly seasoned, hand-cut beef tartare with mushrooms once? It will be the same, or better, the second, third and fourth time you come here.

The menu is frequently changing, but the highlights are definitely the homemade foie gras, the terrines, the Nomande Entrecôte and the various stews from duck or beef. The beef cheek stew is cooked in beer for many hours, which makes it perfectly soft and tender and gives it the flawless flavor to go along with some roasted vegetables. The desserts are also not something you should say ‘no’ to. Their sorbets are truly an experience with tastes like white cheese and orange blossom water that goes perfectly with the pear and apple crumble it’s served with.

Another important detail at Le Tournant is the wine. The wine selection is diverse, all being biodynamic or natural wines from mostly France, but you’ll also find a few bottles from Italy and other countries. What’s important, is that all wines accompanying your meal are chosen carefully with a lot of thoughts behind it. Each of your delicious dishes can be matched with a white or red wine, along with some explanations by the very nice waitresses and waiters.

Good to know as well is that they open during lunch time on Monday-Wednesday and Saturday if you’re a group bigger than 15 people. You prefer eating at home? They also have a catering service.

Price: Starters around 10-18€, mains around 19.50-24€, wine bottles vary but are fairly prices and of great quality

Address: Chaussée de Wavre 168, 1050 Ixelles

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Henri, the owner, moved to Belgium five years ago. He moved from France, where his father is a vigneron (someone who produces wine) and where most of his family is working with wine. He’s quite a character and you’ll want to become friends with him immediately.

When you step inside of La Trinquette, there’s several seating options to consider. Either you sit right at the long bar – decorated with plants, glasses and industrial lamps – where you’ll be facing Henri and his crew, who are always up for a good laugh and some French humour. The other option is to find a romantic corner somewhere in the back at one of the rustic wooden tables, surrounded by decorative, antique gimmicks. There’s even an old piano and some paintings in the open room at the back of the bar, which is great for big groups. If you’re more of a ‘see and to be seen mood’, you can also sit on one of the bar stools around a big wooden barrel. It serves as a table for your numerous glasses of wine – because you will most probably want to try all of the different ones.

What’s special about this bar? It’s the atmosphere, the people and of course, the wines and the food. The wines and the food produce all come from Languedoc, a region in the South of France. Wines are usually made from  Syrah, Carignan, Grenache, Bourboulenc, Mourvèdre, but the list of grapes from Languedoc is long. You can get them by bottle or by glass and Henri is more than happy to talk you through the selection. Not only are the wines from Languedoc, but also the rillettes, the sausages, the ham, olives and cheese and everything is fresh and of the highest quality. Sometimes they also serve Croque Monsieur or Mont d’Or, the highly addictive low cholesterol – just joking – melted cheese that is eaten by using a piece of baguette as a spoon. Nights can get long here so fuel yourself up with some French food!

Keep your eyes open for any special events that are often taking place at La Trinquette. They’re usually announced on Facebook and Instagram and involve Oysters, Beaujolais Languedoc-style or other special treats that make everyone’s heart who likes food and wine beat faster.

You like your wine cold? They also have seats outside. Follow them on Instagram to hear about upcoming events: @latrinquettebruxelles / @lescanonsderiton

Price: A glass of wine 5-7€, cheese and charcuterie 7-12€

Address: Rue de l’Aqueduc Rue de l’Aqueduc, 1060 Saint-Gilles

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His is a relatively modest background but one thing he’s never been afraid of is hard work. Indeed, Mustafa started work at the age of 16 and, now in his early 40s, he hasn’t stopped since. After entering the horeca trade he was trained by top chefs and head waiters and previously managed a Michelin-starred restaurant.  The discipline he learned at an early age has clearly stood him in good stead. Such is his thirst for perfection that he has not stopped to perfect his culinary knowledge.

Better known simply as Mus, hence the name of his restaurant, he opened the restaurant in 2015 and it was not long before he – and other businesses in Brussels – faced a massive test. That was the lockdown that followed the March 2016 terrorist attacks on the city. Such was the impact of the adverse publicity that some places went to the wall while others suffered a terrible hit to their trade for months on end.

Not so Mustafa’s business which continued to thrive after the terrible events of three years ago. Actually, given the particularly high quality of the cuisine at this intimate 40-seat restaurant the fact that it managed to buck such a trend shouldn’t have come as a surprise. This is sophisticated fine dining at best, as you’d expect really from someone who, like Mustafa, spent over 20 working in gastronomic, starred establishments before taking over the reins at his own place.

Worth bearing in mind that there’s no a la carte but, rather, a selection of equally-wonderful five fixed menus, each with carefully chosen and matched delicious wines, mostly French and Italian. The contents of each can vary but might include starters oyster-flavoured swordfish from Australia, served with a lemon cream from Japan and caviar.  A second starter might be sea bream served in a white wine with courgette and an aubergine platter.

These are from the so-called « Freedom Menu » which also comprises a mains of cod fish and, to finish, desert. There are also a 5 course « Love Menu »; a 6 course « Tentation Menu » (the most popular) and a 7  course « Mus Menu ».

Like the food, an awful lot of care goes in to the presentation of each day, a work of art in itself, thanks in part to the attentive staff but also, of course, the restaurant’s head chef Khaled Boughamidi, who hails from Algeria and has worked with Mustafa for years. Indeed, such is the importance of his right hand man, that Mustafa says, « As long as this restaurant exits, Khaled will be here. »

Their shared love of fresh, seasonal products is matched by a passion for good food and superb wine. Considering the quality, the prices are actually quite modest and certainly affordable.

Judging by the popularity of his new restaurant, the very welcoming Mus has clearly hit on a winner here. He’s proud to say that the place has been regularly fully booked (if you want a reservation on a Saturday, make sure you book well ahead) since it first opened. That is reflected in the commendations he has received, including by Delta, the renowned Belgian restaurant guide. Trip Adviser allocated it a « certificate of excellence » while it most recently was ranked 14 out of 20 by Gault&Millau.

It counts ambassadors, politicians and lovers of gourmet food among its clients and, if you were in doubt about the influence Mus has here just look around you: some excellent portraits of him are displayed around the restaurant. They add to the unstuffy, casual nature of the interior which also affords diners a chance to see the tenacious and talented chefs at work from the open kitchen.

Mus currently looks after things « front of house » but says that the imminent recruitment of new staff will enable him to spend a bit more time in the kitchen, overseeing the plates before they are dispatched to customers. One of the menu selections (each differently priced) is called « Passion » which very accurately sums up the approach Mus and his staff give to the art of good cooking. Recommended.

Good to know:

• La Table de Mus
• Address: Place de la Vieille Halle aux Bles 31, Brussels
• Contact: 02 511 0586

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But let me start from the beginning. Sophia and I were following each other on Instagram, taking inspiration from each other’s work. One day, I received a message from her asking to meet for coffee and just talk food. A few days later, we met at Living Room (more here) enjoying the warm July weather, an iced latte and a piece of cake. Yes, one piece to share, that’s were foodie friendships start. We talked about the Brussels food scene and how we both want to start a Supper Club: dinners (or other occasions), where we cook for people and teach them some food tricks and recipes.

And so it happened, quicker and more efficient than expected. We met a couple of times in September and October, brainstormed ingredients and recipes, wine and decoration and within the blink of an eye it was beginning of November. We designed menus and invites, published the event and organised a test dinner for our closest friends to brutally rate our cooking performance.

Three weeks of recipe testing and tweaking later we were finally happy with our menu. Our philosophy is to use mostly seasonal, local and regional ingredients for our dinners, ingredients that are often being forgotten or seen as boring, but have huge potential to be one of the most delicious things you’ve ever eaten.

26th November was the day. At 1pm we were quite relaxed, trying food, laughing while being quite nervous to talk in front of 12 to us unknown people, who found our event via Facebook and Instagram, and what’s more, cook a four-course dinner for everyone while staying cool and maybe being funny as well. At 5pm we got a bit stressed and started rushing and when the first guest arrived we were still assembling the little recipe books which we prepared for our guests to take home after the event, but it was fine, we stayed calm.

We greeted everyone with a glass of Cremant from La Trinquette and the evening began. Together with a very motivated bunch we prepared butter with preserved lemon and sumac (a dried berry with a sourish taste) paired with some slices of homemade sourdough bread, baked by us. Followed by a grain salad with cilantro, basil, parsley, mint, roasted almonds, golden raisins and a dressing from fresh orange juice and olive oil as well as homemade Labne with Ras-el-Hanout oven-roasted carrots and Zhoug, a Greek and also Middle Eastern spice vinaigrette. Everyone sat down and we started serving the actual dinner.

On our autumn inspired menu:

1. Honey & orange roasted beetroot feta dip, chili-thyme-cinnamon butternut squash & chickpea dip, sumac-preserved lemon butter, homemade sourdough bread
2. Herby grain salad (as described above), Ras-el-Hanout roasted carrots
3. Maple and Bourbon roasted short ribs (or the veggie option: Japanese marinated Hokkaido pumpkin with melted maple-Piment d’Espelette butter), celeriac potato mash, kohlrabi apple salad with black sesame seeds, cilantro and black lime
4. Whole orange cake with cardamom cream

We decided to go for French wines from La Trinquette only and to serve some coffee from Belga & Co along with dessert.

People seemed very content and it was an amazing experience. It felt great to having managed such a challenge; it was great to see that so many people are interested in what you have to say about food but also to exchange views and ideas together with people with different nationalities and eating customs. We’re definitely going to host more of these events. For now, the next cookery class we’re offering is a Christmas Cookie Class (check here) which will happen on 11^th and 19^th December. There are still a few free spots and we would be delighted to meet new people, so feel free to drop us an email and to register for this Christmas inspired experience.

Website

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Most have not only remained loyal ever since but have also introduced their children to the delights of this lovely Vietnamese restaurant. It means a whole new generation of diners are now among the regulars here. Given the quality of the food and also the remarkably reasonably prices that should not come as much of a surprise.

Aside from the business success story she oversees, the story of how the lady owner arrive here is fascinating in itself. Born in Laos, she ended up in Belgium (via Vietnam and Thailand) thanks to a Catholic humanitarian organisation. Indeed, she was among the first ever Vietnamese Catholics to arrive in Belgium.

Her first point of call was Antwerp where she stayed until romance and marriage brought her to Brussels in the late 1980s.Looking for a new direction, she and Maurice, a political scientist and her then new husband, took the plunge and decided to try their luck in the horeca trade. Their target for a restaurant – what at the time was a furniture showroom – seemed an inauspicious choice.

But the sheer longevity of the business and army of loyal customers has proved the move absolutely right. Three decades down the line, the restaurant remains more popular than ever. That is partly thanks to its wonderful position, just around the corner from the imposing Palais de Justice, but mostly due to the fact that it can be relied on for great food, great service and great prices.

It has a lunch menu, fixed a la carte and also a short suggestions list that changes every couple of months or so. Typically, this might include a trio of scampi mayo wasabi sauce, Thai basil mussels, sweet and sour pork sauce or grilled duck breast with honey and ginger.While it serves unashamedly traditional Vietnamese food this comes with a decidedly modern twist.

There’s a classic choice of starters, including assortment of nem, dim sum and rouleaux de 4 saisons – all delicious. For mains, you have a selection of chicken,beef and seafood. The chicken dishes include poulet au noix de cajou with fresh pineapple while there are some equally very tasty brochettes de boeuf aux feuilles de « lop. »

From the veggie section, a personal favourite is the tofu while the seafood selection boasts a super scampis grilles a la citronnelle fraiche. The crustaceans and fish range are beautifully prepared and also include grilled monkfish medallions with lime leaves and Thai-style steamed cod traps. With winter almost upon us, you may well be tempted by the fine range of scented soups which, like everything else on the card, are very reasonably priced indeed.

Renowned for its home-made dim sum, you should also try the Vietnamese-style carpaccio, spring rolls and assortment of four-season rolls (a platter to share with two).

For some, an Asian meal isn’t complete without some noodles and here, the nouilles sautees au poulet is particularly recommended. To round off a great meal (and if you still have room for more!), you really should indulge a little by trying one of the delightful deserts. These include the restaurant’s own version of a great Belgian favourite (dame blanche).

To best accompany these fine Asian dishes, a selection of red, rosé and white wines can be found on the Gallery’s menu. These include wines from France, the Loire and Alsace via Bordeaux and Provence. The impressive list also features wine from Chile and Argentina while, for lovers of bubbles, the champagne of Edmond Roussin and Laurent-Perrier, is also available.

Dining here takes place in a refined atmosphere far from the cheesy kitsch of some Asian eateries. You are seated in ultra-comfortable cream-coloured armchairs surrounded by subtle lighting and all in a casual atmosphere. The very welcoming owner has added beautiful paintings and furniture, some directly from Vietnam, and some personal touches, which complete the harmonious décor.

With the addition of nice service, the scene is set to sample some great Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant, located very close to a Metro line, has 65 tables and is also suitable for group meetings, birthdays and private dinners.

For decades generations of the same families have come here to eat, along with businessmen, diplomats, professionals and of course, lovers of Asian cuisine. All have remained faithful to this restaurant, attracted by its refinement and the sheer quality of its authentic cuisine. Like many Vietnamese who came to Belgium in the 1970 and 1980s, the owner has worked very hard to make a success of her life in her adopted homeland.

The results are plain to see at her great restaurant where the true values of Vietnamese cuisine really do tickle the taste buds.

Good to know:

• Gallery
• Address: Rue du Grand Cerf 7, Brussels
• Contact: 02 511 80 35

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