Since its creation in 2002, the Brussels Design Market has evolved into the « largest European vintage design market » and has quickly become a must-see in the international vintage design calendar. Each edition attracts a larger number of exhibitors and welcomes around 7000 visitors.

Maintaining its unique atmosphere usually characterized by flea markets, the Brussels Design Market has continued to attract more and more visitors from year to year and has developed into a real meeting place.Brussels Design Market is not only a place to find original design pieces which have made the history of design, but also a welcoming place to meet and exchange. Besides buying a piece of Knoll, Eames, or Pesce, you will enjoy a break with a warm coffee or an original dish proposed by the quality food trucks on site.

Rendezvous is given to design lovers and professionals, to dealers and collectors, in the historical and exceptional setting of the exhibition rooms – Sheds 3 and 4 – of Tour and Taxis!

Who are the exhibitors ?

The Brussels Design Market welcomes more than 100 exhibitors from all over Europe (Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and beyond).

What is there to buy ?

Over the years, the selection of merchandise exhibited has increased. Arriving from all over Europe, the dealers present an eclectic collection, bringing together multiple styles and trends that have impacted the 20th century. Visitors discover original and iconic pieces from Italian, French, American, and Scandinavian design created by the biggest names in the history of design, such as Sottsass, Le Corbusier, Eames, or Jacobsen and Panton. Alongside these icons, the Brussels Design Market also offers anonymous and exclusive design pieces at affordable prices.

Practical Info

Registration through this link.

The post The largest vintage design market in Europe: The Brussels Design Market appeared first on Brussels Express.

You may have heard this question in the media, alongside sitting is the new smoking and blue is this season’s black.

The links between sugar and tobacco (which is not the case with the other examples) is that yes, these two are highly addictive and health-damaging substances. However the extent to which they are socially perceived and their effects on people around us is very different. Smokers now have to take their habit outside where they won’t bother anyone else, whereas our celebrations and ‘pleasures’ are socially accepted, sugar-filled events and we even stuff it down our children!

A study by UK/US organisation Action on Sugar says that voluntary action no longer enough – high sugar intake, including often hidden sugars, are causing huge deterioration in people’s health with massive rise in diabetes 2 and obesity.

Even if you put yourself into the category of not eating added sugar (in drinks or desserts or on cereals), what we don’t often realise is that sugar is hidden in so many things… the study revealed that even in a 0% fat yoghurt, there were 5 teaspoons of sugar… soups, sauces, and so called ‘vitamin water’ are not exempt either.

In my opinion this study is long overdue and great that it has hit the headlines! Risks of tobacco and alcohol have been known for a long time but there has been far too much hushing up over sugar.

We need to build awareness and understanding in order to change behaviour, so plenty of coverage and debate is needed.

Why do I choose to avoid sugar and not give it to my kids?

1.  Sugar depresses immunity. Studies have shown that even just a teaspoon of refined sugar can suppress the body’s immune responses for several hours.
2. Sugar Blues. Some children and adults are sugar-sensitive, meaning their behavior, attention span, mood and learning ability deteriorate in proportion to the amount of sugar they consume.
3. Adrenal fatigue. The highs and lows that sugar produces in the body has a heavy effect on our adrenal glands the triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys. They are chiefly responsible for regulating the stress response through the synthesis of hormones including cortisol and adrenaline. When they are over stimulated the result in the body is exhaustion and even burnout.
4. It’s highly addictive – eating sugar makes you want more and coming off it causes mood swings and headaches…. I don’t give my kids alcohol or caffeine so no sugar either.
5.  It’s not necessary – there are plenty of other ways to sweeten food – with fruit, dried fruit, good quality honey, maple syrup and coconut sugar. These are much better options than using white or brown sugar due to their higher vitamin and mineral content and lower impact on our glycemic index.

The best simple advice is to read the labels … if there is sugar on the label – avoid it and go for a simpler, sugar-free option.

For more info or help in coming off sugar, get in touch!

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But how does one go about changing habits? The first thing is to locate some good places to shop. In some neighbourhoods such as St Gilles, St Josse or Schaerbeek, there are many green grocers, but they might only have fruit and vegetables and not offer products in bulk. Through Bioguide, you can find shops near you with quality products and reduced packaging. Another option for fresh fruit and veg is to sign up to a box scheme, through which a weekly box of fruit and veg is delivered to your door or to a pick up point near you. If you are also looking for products such as meat, cheese, granola and other processed products, the Ruche qui dit oui (the hive that says yes) allows you to order products online from small producers and come pick them up once a week.

 

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Le beau panier de @marcia_tack ! Et vous qu’avez-vous commandé cette semaine ? 😊 #lavieenruche #laruchequiditoui

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A challenging aspect might be that you will likely not find the breadth of products available in large supermarkets. The secret is not to be a purist and aim to use supermarket alternatives as much as it is convenient: you will probably go to a supermarket by convenience (when passing by) or because some products you use can only be found there. I consider that to some extent we vote with our wallets: if some of your regular spending is shifted to these local alternatives, they will grow stronger and support the local economy. So, don’t beat yourself up over it and take small steps: Ecoconso offers advice on a multitude of ways to adopt more sustainable habits from shopping to making your own cleaning products.

Finally, I have found that switching to local alternatives to supermarkets meant I gradually bought less processed products and more in season. This meant that I had to learn new recipes and cook vegetables I had never heard of. If you join a box scheme, they usually provide recipe ideas to cook whatever they send you. You can also join the  February without supermarkets group for recipe ideas. Remember, the idea is that this is a challenge so go slow but know that it will sometimes be difficult – only after some time will these new habits settle and you will be happy not to be under a supermarket neon light.

The post Try it: February without supermarkets appeared first on Brussels Express.

The concept seems quite simple. While the supermarkets are used to being criticized with regard to the fact that the products are not fresh, the Belgian company is trying to challenge those preconceptions.

The Fresh atelier shops should be quite small, about 100 square meters, and will be located in town, to make them as urban and as accessible as possible. Then, the shops will be equipped with a dedicated area to prepare dishes, snacks and smoothies. Delhaize underlines that the dishes will be both fresh and healthy. You can also find coffee machines or salad bars.

Delhaize has also looked at new ways of innovation when it was setting up this new model of shops. The customers will be able to order all the products that the massive supermarkets offer, and to pick them up the day after at Fresh atelier. In case you know what you want to purchase, this possibility may reduce the times you need to go shopping.

The Fresh atelier will also provide you with all the typical items a supermarket is used to offering from 7.00 am to 9.00 pm everyday.

7 or 8 persons will be employed in every shop, while the checkout will be automatic. And as of February next year, you will be able to pay via smartphone.

A first one has been inaugurated last Wednesday, in the presence of Philippe Close, the mayor of Brussels, in the Ravenstein Galleries. A second shop should open in December in Leuven. And Delhaize plans to set up 200 shops across Belgium over the three upcoming years.

The post Fresh atelier Delhaize: the new way of shopping? appeared first on Brussels Express.

So when I found out about Le Marché des Chefs last week, I was kind of surprised by my bad food research skills and that I haven’t found out about this place earlier. As the name tells, this shop was initially only selling produce to chefs and just some years ago opened for the public, too. One very important thing to do, once you go here: ask the staff for a tour through the shop. I’ll tell you why; when Johan and I entered, it looked like a nice shop, but nothing overly special. Well, the cooling rooms with fresh meat looked nice and the deli part where they were slicing smoked salmon looked also good, but we were a bit disappointed, grabbed a Camembert from Normandy, walked to the cashier and were just about to leave, when the very nice lady (who later turned out to be the daughter of the owner) asked us whether we wanted to have a tour. It was a Saturday afternoon, no rush, and we had plans only later so we said yes.

I’m very happy about that, because about a quarter of an hour later, 91€ poorer and with a full bag of produce, Johan and I walked out very happy, telling each other that we would be back for sure.

What do they sell? You can easily put together a whole dinner at Le Marché des Chefs. They have amazing condiments, different peppers from around the world, freshly baked bio bread, veggies from Belgium and France, delicious French cheeses, caviar, smoked salmon, foie gras, fresh meat (all kinds of cuts), fresh fish (price changes weekly due to the catch and it’s all wild fish), delicious chocolate, a small selection of amazing wines and ice cream that tastes like a piece of heaven that’s produced in Deauville for the shop exclusively (bought the Madagascan vanilla one). There’s a story behind each of the products and if you’re lucky like us you’ll get to try a spoon of caviar or some ice cream.

This little family-run food shop is definitely worth a visit, either during the week or on a slow Saturday. It certainly became a “coup de coeur” for me and I’ll be back soon.

GOOD TO KNOW:

• Address: Rue Lens 38, 1050 Ixelles

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The UNESCO heritage Grand-Place is the medieval centre of the city of Brussels and is one biggest tourist attractions of the city as well as consistently being voted one of the prettiest squares in the world. Now, after many years, it returns to to it’s original function: a market.

The event at the Grand-Place « Market of Markets » begins on the opening day of the international campaign « I Love My Market » and aims to raise the profile of open-air food markets by stressing the often forgotten social aspects to buying as well as offering quality, local produce. Brussels has included a variety of events ranging from music concerts to raffles and workshops for this event.

40 additional markets will be participating in I Love My Market around Brussels and Wallonia with the same aim of promoting local and quality produce.

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