I am always surprised at how few people know about or have been to Lac du Genval, just 20 minutes away from Brussels. In a way this is better since this scenic lake is not too crowded. The lake is part of the Rixensart and Overijse villages in Wallon Brabant and Flemish Brabant and is surrounded by beautiful turn-of-the century homes. There is also a hotel by the lake, the Chateau du Lac. For those looking for a day trip out of Brussels, then you could also visit the Chateau de la Hulpe which is not too far away. This small lake also has a number of restaurants and cafes and is therefore a perfect place to chill out either on a summer evening or during the weekend. The walk around the lake takes around 30 minutes and you will pass by a small yacht club, beautiful houses, fishermen enjoying the silence away from the hustle and bustle of central Brussels. You can just stroll and enjoy the scenery but many people also come here to jog or bike in this scenic environment. But the reason … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2014
My top patisseries in Brussels
When you live just around the corner from Le Saint Aulaye it is extremely difficult to justify a detour to try other bakeries in Brussels given that this patisserie is one of the most well known in the Belgian capital. There is a risk of disappointment given that this bakery/patisserie sets the bar extremely high. There is a reason why there are queues every morning and especially on the weekends. Whatever you try here is of exceptional quality. Whether you buy bread (for which he is famous for), his pastries or cakes, you will not be disappointed. He uses bio ingredients but on top of it is is obvious that the ingredients used are excellent. I have yet to come across a pain au chocolat which is better than the one of Le St Aulaye. You can actually taste the quality of the butter used. A trip to Le Saint Aulaye is also worthwhile because of the other shops in this neighbourhood (more about that in a future post). So my recommendations for the patisseries are what the Michelin guide … [Read more...]
What I enjoyed reading this week
Every week I will try to post a few links of what I enjoyed reading the week. Here is a short mix on travel, food, a controversial application which makes a reservation in popular restaurants and then sells them for a small fee and what looks like a fantastic ice-cream recipe. Some tips on the Costa Amalfitana A great article on work life balance A fantastic article on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria A great ice-cream recipe A controversial application … [Read more...]
One of the 50 places to visit in Europe is in the Island of Gozo
I haven't really written about my home country yet, that will come at a later stage but I wanted to highlight one idyllic spot which has been earmarked by the website Business Insider as one of the fifty places to visit in your lifetime. http://www.businessinsider.com/places-in-europe-to-visit-2014-6?nr_email_referer=1&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_content=emailshare#snap-a-photo-at-the-azure-window-a-natural-limestone-arch-on-the-maltese-island-of-gozo-7 The Azure Window as it is known is indeed stunning and worthy of the recommendation. Make sure to visit sooner rather than later because the arch is suffering the effects of weathering … [Read more...]
Does anyone really care about tourist traps?
One of the most famous streets in Brussels among tourists or people on business trips is the Rue de Bouchers. It can be found just a few metres away from the Grand Place. Walking from the street at the Grand Place area last week on the evening when Belgium was playing against South Korea and locals were obviously nowhere near any restaurant without a television set, I could not help but wonder what makes people visit such restaurants around the world. What are they looking for? Why would locals consider such places a tourist trap but so many have no qualms in sitting down and eating there. What is so attractive about waiters greeting you in all languages as they try to guess your nationality to try and get you in? In the case of Brussels, are the mussels and fries served in such places so different in quality to restaurants which cater mainly for locals? Do the tourists who sit down to eat in such places care about the difference? Are they more interested in the experience of eating … [Read more...]