I always go to Brussels on business trip and last week was no exception. It is a beautiful town and I alsways promise to myself that I will try and stay at least one day more to visit it all, including some very good museums like the Magritte Museum or the Fondation Folon.
In any case it must be said that weather is not incredibly good there – I do not rememebr a single visit without rain. This means that two things are important, hotel room and food.
Let’s start from the first. I discovered the Hotel Le Dixseptieme years ago and I have returned there already 3 times. It is located right in the heart of Brussels near the Grand Place. Walking distance from everything.
It offers huge and very confortable rooms which I consider at Suites level even if you choose the standard one, with living area and big bathroom with fluffy towels. Decoration is very classy and confortable and rates are around 220 EURO per night at starting level. Not very expensive for Brussels.
Now to food. It must be confort food all the way.
As you maybe know the national Belgian dish is mussels with french fries. Well there is a restaurant that is the king of this meal: Chez Leon, in the back of the Grand Place. It is very famous and full of tourists but it never lets you down. The ambiance is confortable and typical and the food is delicious with acceptable prices. And of course mussels with fries is what I had. With crevettes grises to start with, small shrimps you find in Nordic Countries. I love them! But the menu also offers lot of other delicacies both with fish or meat.
Second evening, I was with some colleagues, one based in Brussels who – with our big surprise in the country of aute cuisine – suggested a Vietnamese restaurant. I was not very convinced but what expected me had nothing to do with the usual staff.
An elegant restaurant opened by a famous Vietnamese chef, a jung woman called Quyen (she writes books and appears on tv), offers a menu that will make your mouth drop. Very refined dishes with fresh ingredients are all over the place and the presentation is really incredible, a piece of art. Fish and meat, you will have a problem, to choose. I had as a starter special Vietnamese croquettes with pork and vegetables and to follow fried sole with ginger sauce, both delicious. Do not miss this place, it is unique. They also organize cooking lesson in case you have time.
Hotel Le Dixseptieme – 25, Rue de La Madeleine – Brussels Tel. +32 2 517 1717 www.ledixseptieme.be
Chez Leon – Beenhouwersstraat 18, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium Tel. + 32 2 2 511 14 15
Little Asia – 8, Rue Sainte-Catherine – 1000 Brussels – Tel. +32 2 502 8836 – www.littleasia.be