Museum Plantin-Moretus/Prentenkabinet is such a beautiful museum! It’s a bit like Rubenshuis, in that you are able to see where the Plantins and Moretus lived, but also on a much bigger scale because you’re able to also see where they worked (proofreading, printing, selling) and their UNESCO world heritage collection of prints and books.
Museum Plantin-Moretus/Prentenkabinet
There are so many ways to serve tomatoes, with so many varieties and means of preparation. With such a versatile vegetable, Koen and I are able to incorporate tomatoes in some form into our meals at least a few times a week. This week especially I’ve been enjoying them with the warm weather.
Oven baked tomatoes over linguine, tomate aux crevettes
Last Sunday we celebrated Els’ birthday in Antwerp. We started out with drinks at the winebar Baravin, followed by Italian at La Tarantella.
Baravin
Summer is here (mid-70s) in Belgium, so now is the perfect time for salads!
Potato Salad, Wild Rice Salad, and Thai Steak Salad
Saturday night was Museumnacht, or Museum Night in Antwerp. All of the museums were open from 7pm until 1am. To attract visitors, each museum had a special event or party. At the Mode Museum (MoMu, Fashion Museum), there was a Bal Costumé sponsored by Ra 13, Diesel Black Gold, and MoMu.
Bal Costumé Promotion
Last week I met Walter Van Beirendonck! Van Beirendonck is one of the Antwerp Six, the group of designers that in 1986 traveled to London together to present their collections, establishing Antwerp as a notable fashion city. While I was at UGA I researched him for a paper about the Antwerp fashion. It was really exciting to spot him in the city!
With Walter Van Beirendonck
As of 9 September I’ll be 26 and museums in Antwerp will go from being 1€ to 8€. So now every Tuesday and Sunday until my birthday I’ll be visiting at least one museum. Today is The Rubens House!
The Rubens House Museum
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
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
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!
An American in Antwerp 