Last Sunday we celebrated Els’ birthday in Antwerp. We started out with drinks at the winebar Baravin, followed by Italian at La Tarantella.
Baravin
Baravin and La Tarantella
Category Archives: Food & Drink
Summer Salads
Summer is here (mid-70s) in Belgium, so now is the perfect time for salads!
Potato Salad, Wild Rice Salad, and Thai Steak Salad
Antwerp’s China Town and Vietnamese Summer Rolls
This week has actually felt like it is really Summer here in Antwerp. What better way to celebrate than with Vietnamese Summer rolls? Sunday is always my day off, so I took advantage of the sunshine and visited China Town. Although it’s called China Town, maybe Little Asia is a better name because they sell food from all Asian countries, including Vietnam. It’s also the only recognized China Town in Belgium!
China Town is located close to the Central Station and the Koningin Astridplein. I passed the fair on my way. There always seems to be a fair somewhere in Antwerp.
Ferris Wheel at Koningin Astridplein
Weekend in Roosendaal
The 21st of July is the Nationale Feestdag van België. The south of the Netherlands proclaimed independence to form the Kingdom of Belgium (the official name) on the 25th of August 1830. This was the start of the Belgian Revolution, which ended on the 14th of July 1831. Leopold I became the first king of Belgium the 21st of July 1831, and every year on this day everyone celebrates in Belgium.
But because the 21st was on a Saturday this year, I went to the Netherlands to spend the weekend (it’s rare that I have 2 days off in a row!). Koen and I had a relaxing time in Roosendaal, enjoying good wine (from Grand Vin, of course), food, and weather.
Friday the 20th
2011 Minuty Rosé, AOC Côtes de Provence
Southern dinner
I have fond memories of my Grandpa’s fried okra, and as a Southern girl, the only way I wanted to prepare my okra was to fry it! So tonight I made a Southern dinner for Koen and me: BBQ porkchops, fried okra, and mashed potatoes. I also feel it’s worth noting that I used American barbeque sauce (Sticky Fingers’ Habanero Hot, my favorite, that my mother brought me in April). If you buy barbeque sauce here, whether as a sauce or even as a chip flavor, it tastes completely different – and to me, not nearly as delicious!
Café Zurich
Last week I got together with a few friends to enjoy the weather. Lately in Antwerp we’ve actually been able to see the sun! We decided to go for drinks in the south of Antwerp at Café Zurich. The carnival was also going on, so we had an interesting view haha.
Cobb Salad
A few nights ago Koen and I had Cobb salad for dinner. Cobb salads are typically American, so I wanted to make it for Koen – plus a lot of his favorite things are in it! In order of the rows I made, from left to right, the ingredients are: avocado, boiled egg, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, and Roquefort, all over mixed greens with a red wine vinaigrette. The salad was a success and in Koen’s top 5 of dinners I’ve ever prepared!
Belgian endive salad with apples, egg, and bacon
Belgian endive, as the name suggests, is a very popular vegetable here! In Dutch it’s just called witloof. Loaded with vitamins and a delicious bitter flavor, Belgian endive is available year round to make a variety of dishes from salads to casserole type meals. One of my favorite summer combinations is with apple, bacon, and egg. Tonight Koen made the dressing with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, and cilantro, which made it extra fresh!
Caffènation
My favorite place to get coffee in Antwerp is at Caffènation and it’s a convenient 5 minute walk from my apartment! The new location by the Nationale Bank van België is huge (3 floors) and now I’m always guaranteed a seat. Caffènation is the only real coffee house in Antwerp other than the Starbucks in the train station. Over here there’s more of a café culture, so the atmosphere at Caffènation feels a lot more American and like home to me.
Nationale Bank van België
Het Kathedraalcafé
The most famous site of Antwerp is of course the Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkathedraal) and situated behind is Het Kathedraalcafé. Like the hand of Antwerp, Het Kathedraalcafé (The Cathedral Cafe) is one of the places I take all of my guests!
View of the Cathedral of Our Lady from the Groenplaats
An American in Antwerp 