French but no french fries.

Languages.. If you live over here you are supposed to know about 3 languages. We have 3 official ones. Flemish- German and my favorite one French. (Note the sarcasm)

I never liked French. I do understand the basics and I am comfortable to go to a French speaking country. I even know how to speak it. But the French language just isn’t my thing. Probably also because I lived in an English speaking country for quite a while.

Because of the barrier there is an entire part of my own country I don’t know. So an entire set of good restaurants I probably will never go to. Last weekend a friend and I had a bold plan: going out for dinner in Juprelle.. Lucky form me, my friends French is impeccable. She sounds like a native!

So off to Juprelle to  ô de vie. Our entrance was a bit bumpy. They couldn’t find our reservation…  The restaurant was fully booked so there was a little bit of stress. In the end it just seemed a matter of bad handwriting. (Online reservations are non existing)

I didn’t know what to expect. We heard good and bad reviews. So it was a wait and see situation.

Well they won me over. They used their best Flemish and food was really good!!! Didn’t like the wine pairing much, everything was a little bit too sweet. But that is just a matter of taste.  I definitely will go back!!

Ô DE VIE

Princess in a castle.

So, if I cross the road and walk for about 5 minutes I am in the middle of the woods. Guess what: there is a castle too! At least something that looks like a castle. Actually it is a really nice hotel with a great wellness area. – member of relais et château. (Keep in mind they are remodeling – finished in 2017.)

Of course there is a nice restaurant.  La Source,  Chef in charge: Ralf Berendsen, Maître in charge: Kevin Vondenhoff, Sommelier: Marb Teuben. 

Food is exquisite! What do you expect when there is a Michelin Star involved. Food feels classic but also contemporary, it’s a good balanced mix. 

Surroundings- it is and looks so normal for  me- but if you are from out of town it really is a beautiful place. I am just spoiled that I live in these surroundings.

So if you are bored with the city or you had enough of the Veluwe. This is the place to be. 

http://www.labutteauxbois.be/site/
http://www.jochenleen.net/about/

http://www.lanaken.be/visitlanaken/Home

 

Menu: one out of two

  

food pictures

  

Jeweler with his office in the hotel- desiner of the napkin holder / Jochen Leën

  

La butte aux bois

 

Finally -I won-sausage

I hardly ever enter a contest. I am not the luckiest kind, I never win, so why even bother…

But I couldn’t resist the hello fresh competition: take a picture of a dish made with a product of ‘brandt&Levie’

Easy I take lots of pictures of food I make- or other people create.  Also the fact that about 10 people entered the competion was a pro.

Anyway I won!!! The price: a book about ‘Brandt&Levie’ – de worst story. Recipes and some history about sausages. I never heard of them- mainly because it’s something Dutch, not Belgian.

It took about 2 months before I received my precious book. The first one never arrived… But today is a good day!

Thanks to hello fresh, my cooking and my picture: the reading and learning can begin!!

https://www.hellofresh.be

http://www.brandtenlevie.nl

winning picture on instagram

 

my new book