Le Pain Quotidien - Breakfast place in Belguim

Breakfast is a meal most often eaten in the morning, of course, no matter how late you wake up. Actually, this Breakfast word came about because it means breaking the fast after one has not eaten since the night before.

What about breakfast in Belgium? It normally consists of breads, toasted or untoasted, with several marmalades, jams, and nut spreads, such as Nutella or just with a bar of chocolate. Other common toppings include sliced meats and cheeses. Pastries and croissants may be served on. Belgians often enjoy coffee, tea, hot chocolate, water, or fresh juice with breakfast too.


Now, look at what we had for breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien Shop ... Actually, this shop is a franchise type of patisseries under the company name of Village du Pain. Le Pain Quotidien also has stores in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Turkey, USA (New York, California and DC), Australia, Canada, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Qatar and Bahrain.


But for me, since I saw this shop first time in Antwerp, this is a kind of my dream shop ... I still want to own this kind of shop where customers can eat and drink with no rush. Owner no need to prepare anything much since most of food were pre-made, just greeting and delivering foods to customers only.

Same as Le Pain Quitidien, there was only 2 waitresses for getting order, delivering food, getting money. In addition, they knew where was the territory between shop staff vs. customers since customers would easily sat and read newspaper with no disturbing. Look at the overall shop design (easy wooden style which look comfort and calm) while the way they serve including the utensil (plain but with design which also make easy and comfort feeling). I just wonder how comes Belgian people don't need to rush for working ?!?!

Bread (sliced sour dough bread and croissants) were served in basket which was linened with grey clothes -- no plate since customers were served with marble board and knife. Coffee or Tea were served in a cup (no ear, then it's more like a bowl). Same as when ordering tea, it was served with no ear cup (in the pictures below are one cup over the other since we ordered mint green tea -- green tea bag was in small cup while fresh mint tea was in the pot). All jams and spreads were left on table -- so envy weather & temperature in Belgium since in Thailand we can't leave them like this ...

Paul Preud' Hoome - Gastonomic Dining Experience

This is a place that able to give me a memorable dining experience in Antwerp named ‘P. Preud’Hoome’. The name of P. Preud came from Paul Preud -- He was a guy who own this dining place (elegance one and famous one) -- now is the 3rd generation already ... This place was recommended and received Michelin Stars which could be a great proven in Europe Quality -- so it's one of the finest restaurants in Antwerp.

This place was not only because the grand surroundings of beautiful Art Nouveau Building outside (opposite Ethnografish Museum) or the elegance the setting inside was with Art Nouveau or Big Plate on table with a visual of previous owner but also the food itself since … it was the place where I experienced traditonal flemish dishes of Belgium from white asparagus and eel !!!

Dish made from white asparagus named ‘Asparagus in the Flimish Way’. In Belgium, white asparagus is an early summer specialty and finest produce of this country. The way white asparagus usually served is with crushed boiled-eggs and lemon sauce. Look at how big it was ... Too bad, I could not put the taste on here since it was so sweet (natural sweet) !!!










The amazing of Belgium's white asparagus did not stop me at only this starter since I was also interested in White Asparagus Soup ... It was served with chopped boiled egg and chopped parsley ... it should be the way to eat white asparagus here that it goes well with white asparagus.










We could call both dishes as ‘comfort’ food … But the next one was rather ‘excited or challenge’ food … I recommend you that this dish is well worth seeking out for …

It was an uniquely Belgian fish dish called 'anguilles au vert (paling in’t groen)' which is large chunks of eel, cooked with chervil sauce with 14 herbs -- as it said, it was mass of finely chopped fresh herbs so greeny !!! It was served with Frites (French Fries)

It might look like pork spare rib but it's actually eel ... It was a fresh eel cooked and served to us with bone in (no skin) ... if you expect that it would be like Japanese Eel, you can change your mind since you can taste the real taste of eel -- don't panic, eel is one type of fish !!! Besides, this was covered with a lot of green herb ... the waiter said to me that it consists of a lot of herb that were grown locally which he could not name them all.

P. Preud’Hoome
Suikerrui 28, 2000, Antwerp, Belguim
Tel : 03-233-4200

De Lantaden Coffee House in Antwerp

We also went for hot tea & coffee at one small shop on Haarstraat, Antwerp after a long walk around the centre of town. It was a small tea room which was established since 1988.

The reason we stopped by was that the cutey seen from outside together with a new modern setting inside (black chromium mixed with oak wooden furniture). In addition, the menu was interesting ...


'Theescorten - Munt per pote' which was a Fresh Mint Tea ... Don't you feel what it should be served ?!?!? As I could guess, it was a bunch of mint leaves inside a white tea pot pouring with hot water. Yes, when pouring out, the yellow water came out ... so refreshing. It was served with brown sugar and white sugar (together with a piece of chocolate -- Belgium Chocolate of course).



If you grow mint at home, you can try it yourself ... I sometimes make it at home but mixed with green tea (leaf or powder) and honey ...





Another interesting thing was the special coffee menu since there was one menu called 'Antwerpse Koffie' ... Don't you want to know what's the Antwerp Coffee ?!?! Yes, it the coffee mixed with liquor call 'Elixir d’Anvers'. It is an traditional Antwerp yellow liquor based on plants. It’s produced in Antwerp only for more than 100 years with a secret recipe. Many bars and cafes make some drinks with this liquor.


With this order, I still got the chocolate accompanied with but no sugar since at the bottom of cup consists of a lot of chocolate bits already !!!

Here is the picture of Elixir d' Anvers which I also took from the liquor shop in Antwerp ... By the look, it looked secret and grand already !!!

De Lantaren
Haarstraat 14 - 16
2000 Antwerp
Tel : 03-233 83 65

Verona Ristorante - Italian Speciality

Antwerp is a major port and this reflected in the very exotic range of tastes from all over the world. Same as the food, you can simply find Chinese, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Cambodian, Russian, Turkish, Greek, and of course from nearer such as Spanish and Italian.

Therefore, we decided to taste Italian Food one evening -- After walking around, we found that at the back of Groen Plaats on Oude Koornmarkt Street, there were a lot of Italian Restaurants (including other nationality). However, there was one restaurant name 'Verona' that catch our eyes -- not only it's near Belgian Heritage Shop (Famous Tin Tin character shop) but also a lot of local customers seating outside (since before dark). The clear glass with black frame at the front was able to show people outside how pack the restaurant inside was also. The size of 'Verona' was big as seen from outside, 2 floors with a big stair at the front of door. Seating was set in casual wooden material.










Now, about food, it did not destroy our intention to taste Italian Food since it's a real Italian taste -- starting from chef and waiters, they are from Italy. Therefore, if you close your eye and listen all of them talk, you would think that you are in Italy !!!

Proven by the pictures, Tomato Soup (6.10 Euro) ... a very big hot creamy tomato soup in a big bowl. When I mentioned real tomato soup, I mean real since the texture of soup still has the fibre of tomato shown (see below right picture)

Next we also ordered Pasta one was Spaghetti Serina (8.80 Euro) which consisted of artichoke, mushroom, and garlic. As the colour shown, it was mixed with tomato base again but with a little aroma of garlic. This made the taste was not boring. The other pasta dish was Tagtallini alapesto (9.10 Euro) which was pesto sauce. This was not a normal pesto which made from only normal basil ... it should be special recipe since I can taste more than Italian Basil and Pine nuts. Look at the colour since it's not greenish !!!

Ristorante Verona
Italiaanse Specialiteiten
Oude Koornmarkt 28a
2000 Antwerpen
Tel : 03-226-86-22

Belgium's Fries -- Fritkot Max

This is one of Belgium’s National Dish called ‘frites or frieten’. It is actually french fries, hand-cut and double fried an even crispiness. There are all over town serving in café, taverns, or street stalls. The way to serve is enormous portions of french fries with mayonnaise or other sauces for customers to select.

The outlet that I had Belgian Frites was at ‘Fritkot Max’ which was established since 1842 on Groen Plaats (or Green Squares) of Antwerp. This type of place is called ‘fritkotten’ in Belgium since it sells French fries and other fried food for a reasonable price. However, things that get my attention at ‘Fritkot Max’ was long queue from shop till outside. Even there was not enough place to sit , people still stood eating outside. In addition, I have heard that Belgian ‘frites’ are probably the best in the world due its utmost care preparation …

Inside the shop, it was just only a counter where inside consisted of big fryer and a big pile of cut potato. All of these was operated by one man who took care of getting order, frying, and cashiering !!!

I have to admit that it was so yummy since it had typical crispiness and flavour … and it was such a big portion (even we ordered small size as seen in the picture). Anyway, we had it all … and the mayonnaise also had a great taste !!!

De Bourla Cafe & Dining at Antwerp

This is a Professional Establishment Eating Place behind the Bourla theatre in Antwerp named De Bourla. It was established for long since the setting inside was so classic with yellow light chandelier, oak wooden chair & table, brown leather sofa, and so on. However, since this is a kind of café or tavern, there was also seats outside facing the sun & fresh air for customers seating outside enjoy Belgian Beer.

It’s the place offer ‘petite restauration – light meals’. However, the word ‘light’ does not apply since it really kept me going from lunchtime well into the evening. Note that menu was written in French but waiters were able to speak English. However, with my a little memory on some French Food words helped me getting something right.

This is the place where I had Tradional Flemish dishes (French-Belgian Cuisine) called ‘Tomato Crevettes’ which was tomato filled with tiny shrimps (crevettes). Here at Bourla, it was called Belgische ‘tomate aux crevettes’ 12.00 Euro. To explain, it the boiled big tomato (with skin off) filled with shrimp & onion in mayonnaise. The big tomato was sat ontop of green salad. What I impressed was the size of tomato (so big and so meaty) … Such a wonder light lunch to enjoy.

Another plate was ‘quiche met geitenkaas en gerodete zalm’ 8.50 Euro. It was a simple quiche for Belgium who experted in baked things. Zalm means salmonm- one of the fish which was catched from North Sea. Belgium is the place for Fish dishes – popular ones are cod, salmon, and sole. This dish was cooked from salmon and butter whisked with cream and eggs then baked in a crisp pastry shell. Same that it was also accompanied with green salad.

As usual (I could say tradition here in Belgium), a basket of bread variety was served with butter. This will help accompanied us well especially on tomato crevettes !!!

De Bourla
Granmarkt 7
2000 Antwerpen
Tel : 03-232.16.32

Open everyday except on Sunday