Located at 8 Rue Faider, 1050 Brussels is this Art Nouveau style privately owned house that was built for a photographer by Architect Albert Roosenboom (1871-1941) in 1900. The artist let his imagination run free with the flamboyant facade with its ironwork ornament balcony and Sgraffito of a languishing women surrounding the top window. Student of Victor Horta his influences can be noticed.
facade at 8 Rue Faider
Armand Van Waesberghe’s Sgraffito of a pre-Raphaelite women
la Bécasse which first opened in 1877 is another typical cosy old style tavern of Brussels with its interior gorgeously all made out of wood. Once seated friendly waiters dressed in their traditional monastic style costume made of black and white will promptly bring you the impressive beer menu. They are renowned for their Lambic beer which you should join with one of their plates of cheese and sausages. Located at 11 Rue de Tabora just next to the Bourse.
Be on the lookout for that “A la Bécasse” neon sign
Tucked away down a narrow alley street you will find its entrance.
The view I got seated at a table downstairs with the main entrance in the back
The bar
View from the opposite side
There is another less interesting room upstairs
Last glimpse of the back of the café as I leave
The Mitraillette is a typical Belgian fast food snack that is serve in just about anyone of the small fries vending shops or restaurant commonly called friterie in French or Fritkot in Dutch.
It’s composed of half a baguette with inside some form of meat (there are countless variations such as sausages, pita, fish, chicken,..) though most basic version would be with hamburger meat. To this is added a bit of salad and tomatoes which is to be then submerged in fries and topped by one of about 15 different possible sauces available. Tonight’s combination seen above was a “Mitraillette mergues frites”.
La cure gourmande is candy store where they sell a wide variety of home made sweets. First opened in 1989 their initial idea was to reintroduce the good old ancient traditional products that were popular a hundred or so years ago. They have since branched out around 25 stores around France and Belgium and now most recently opened a new outlet in Barcelona. This one is located at 38 rue au beurre on the street that takes you to the Grand Place.
The colorful exterior of La cure Gourmande
A selection of their cookies
Candy sold either individually or by the bucket
The Caramel section
Everything in the store is sure to attract the eye with its flashy colors
The Tour du Midi fountain is located on Avenue Paul Henri Spaak just at the base of this impressive building. I haven’t been able to find any information about this fountain. If anyone does know something please do leave a comment I’ll be glad to add it with the proper credits.
