EAT! BRUSSELS

Reposted from Brussels Express  https://brussels-express.eu

List of Brussels chefs taking part of eat! BRUSSELS

 13 June 2018

eat! BRUSSELS is a free event that will take place in September. Around twenty Brussels chefs will be running pop-up kitchens in the heart of Brussels. Every day, they will take turns to present to you their cuisine by offering their signature dish. To taste our chefs’ dishes, you will need to use credits. One credit = €1. One dish = 9 credits. All the dishes are offered at the same price.

The chefs

Laure Genonceaux – Brinz’l

Laure Genonceaux affirms and proudly showcases her Mauritian roots with a little nod to the Brinzelle, Mauritius’ local aubergine. Her cuisine is nevertheless French, and highly creative. Laure will be present on Thursday and Sunday

Alex Joseph – Rouge Tomate

Without a doubt, one of the finest spots in town. Since he took over its kitchens, Californian Alex Joseph has led Rouge Tomate toward a refined contemporary cuisine that always offers something new. Alex won the San Pellegrino best young chef title in 2015. Alex will be present on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Denis Delcampe – Le Tournant

Le Tournant is located in the heart of Ixelles at the edge of the Matongé neighbourhood. This is where Denis Delcampe puts together a gourmet market cuisine influenced by cuisines from all over the world. The restaurant also emphasises its natural wine menu and the food-wine pairings that come from it. Denis will be present on Friday and Saturday.

Giuseppe Zizza – Il Passatempo

A well-kept secret in fine Brussels Italian cuisine, Il Passatempo has a good many fans both famous and anonymous who love Pino Zizza’s instinctive cuisine. This is a place where the chef’s inspiration determines the course of your meal, much to your great delight. Pino will be present on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

François-Xavier Lambory – Stirwen

Alain Troubat ran the Stirwen from 1992 to 2014 and in that time developed a formidable reputation among foodies. Succeeding him in 2014 was a challenge that François-Xavier Lambory has passed with flying colours! Having previously learnt his trade is great sea food restaurants such as the Sea Grill and Bon Bon, his cuisine is regional and seasonal, without nostalgia. A gem nestled in a neighborhood close to the European institutions. François-Xavier will be present on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Minoru Seino – Restaurant Seino

Whatever you do, don’t talk to Minoru Seino about fusion cuisine. Seino serves French cuisine peppered with Japanese influences within the walls that saw Pascal Devalkeneer blossom in his day. His food has an extremely personal touch, the result of the chef expressing himself as he goes off the beaten path. Seino offers the best of both worlds: French culinary heritage and the refinement of Japanese cuisine. Minoru will be present on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ugo Federico & Francesco Cury – Racines

Above all, Racines is a culinary journey. It’s a trip to an authentic, flavourful, and lyrical Italy. An Italy that offers us a limitless supply of first rate products. An Italy where the Slow Food Movement began, which shines through the cuisine of these two partners. The soul of Racines can be summed up in a few words: “From Capri and Florence to Flagey.”Ugo & Francesco will be present on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Issa Abdul – Restaurant Vincent

Restaurant Vincent is a century-old institution that showcases Brussels specialities. You can savour home-made dishes prepared with care, such as North Sea prawn croquettes and delicious meats selected by Hendrik Dierendonck. Issa will be present on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Joël Geismar – Garage à manger

The Garage à Manger is first and foremost the story of a food truck, El Camion, which Joël Geismar has presided over for several years. To complement his rolling restaurant, the chef took over an old mechanic’s garage where he offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks over the course of the day. He even does brunch on weekends. It’s a spot where it’s always the right time to come in and enjoy his cuisine. Joël will be present on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Luigi Ciciriello – La Truffe Noire

La Truffe Noire has been delighting lovers of fine food for nearly 30 years with the truffle as the star of the show. Whether black, white or summer, the truffle is turned into poetry by Luigi Ciciriello in his elegant venue near to the Cambre. This eatery dedicated to refinement and to the powerful magic of this extraordinary ingredient ensures an unforgettable experience at this gem of the culinary world. Luigi will be present Thrusday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

ANTHONY MON AMOUR

The foodie and television world was shocked and stunned exactly one month ago by the news that Anthony Bourdain had taken his own life by hanging.  As the news filtered through, disbelief spread through the legions of his fans.  Not Tony - fearless, brash, combative Tony?  There must be some mistake!  

Well there wasn't.  It was indeed suicide.  There was no suicide note, indicating it was a spontaneous act.  There were no narcotic drugs in his system, although plenty of alcohol, but that wasn't unusual for him.  He was working on an episode of Parts Unknown, set in Strasbourg, when he suddenly decided to check out. 

I sat down and re-read his autobiographical book Kitchen Confidential and then the follow-up book Medium Raw.   I realized that he was a much better writer than anything else.   A self avowed fan of Hunter S. Thompson, his style aimed at a kind of gonzo journalism for kitchen workers.  He was fearless (or so we thought), and without pity for those he despised, and especially for himself.

I reviewed his early work on "A Cook's Tour", in which his unfamiliarity with presenting (or perhaps the demands of the Food Network) showed through in his uncharacteristic winsome smiling for the camera.  In later work, over which he had more control, his sardonic gonzoness came through.  He didn't do winsome very well.  He was more attractive when snarly and world-weary.  I imagine the election of Trump and what has happened to America since then may have made him even more so.  I first encountered him midway through No Reservations, when I stumbled across his second trip to Lisbon, and was immediately hooked.

By the time he got to "Parts Unknown" which he wrote himself and filmed with his own hand-picked production crew at Zero Point Zero Productions, he had got the gonzo travelogue down to a fine art.  It was barely about the food any more.  A whole load more social commentary.  A smattering of dark humour.   And a kicking rock 'n' roll soundtrack. And the camerawork and editing was superb   It was like a smouldering Clive James meets Simon Reeve filmed by Michael Slovis.  Only better.  And highly addictive.

Suicide is an incredibly selfish act - especially if you have children, parents, partners and other people who love you - but it's also something that can happen in a moment of madness.   Impulsiveness can be an attractive trait.  It can also be deadly.  

Fans were reluctant to believe it was simply a moment of madness.  But he had been so happy this last year!   He had an 11-year old daughter he adored!  He was so in love with Asia Argento!  Parts Unknown was in its 13th series and had scooped up the awards last year!  He was now best friends with the chef whose shoes he famously did not deem himself fit to clean when he started off! He had been clean of drugs for over 20 years!  There must have been something else. 

Asia Argento had been papped in Rome snogging a younger man.  They had famously declared they had an 'open relationship'.   I don't think he would have topped himself over the betrayal.   It may however have brought home to him that there would always be someone younger.  He hated the idea of getting old.  So, not that fearless then.  

Personally, I reckon he was working too hard and was exhausted;  why didn't he just take a holiday, you may ask?    Well ... fearless Tony was afraid of showing weakness.  His gonzo swagger betrayed all the signs of deep insecurity and shaky self-esteem.  It was probably getting better, with the success of Parts Unknown, but those little demons of doubt will creep up on you at the most opportune moments.  Nothing like success to remind you it can all come tumbling down in the blink of an eye.  Maybe they already had visited him before and someone had been there to hold his hand until daylight.   He didn't need an open relationship with a much younger woman.  He needed a mum.  

Thank you Tony for all the journeys, the meals, the laughs, and occasionally tears.  In the intro to No Reservations you said:  "I eat.  I write.  I travel. And I'm hungry for more."  You left us hungry for more.