After picking up the mystery item*, we had a drink near the local village hall – ‘Maison Communale (FR) or ‘Gemeentehuis (NL) the Belgian equivalent of the French ‘Mairie’. Due to the heavy rain we had earlier that morning and the autumn-like temperatures, the tables and chairs that usually make for a very cosy sidewalk terrace, were neatly stacked by the door. We had no other option than to sit inside where most of the patrons were involved in a lively discussion about the fact that as from July 1st, smoking in a ‘public house’ – cafés or bars – is no longer authorized. The owners of these bars and cafés are afraid that it will stop people from coming in. There is quite a lot of controversy about the whole thing here in Belgium. We didn’t take part in the discussion, as I don’t know which stand to take, my friend being a smoker and me a non-smoker! Tell me, what’s your opinion?
The village hall - maison communale - of a nearby village.
At quarter past twelve we set out to Rob’s Gourmet market, the gourmet food store on the outskirts of Brussels. I’ve blogged about this exceptional indoor food market before. On Friday, however, we didn’t only go there to do some shopping, but also to take part in the ‘Festival des Demoiselles’. In this case the ‘demoiselles’ or damsels not being dragonflies (see Ken's blog), but Canadian baby lobsters. This is what Rob’s website says about this transatlantic delicacy:
« De la mi-mai jusqu’à la mi-juillet, le plus savoureux des ambassadeurs de la gastronomie canadienne revient sur l’étal de nos poissonniers. Pêché dans les eaux profondes et froides de l’Atlantique quand vient la saison, le baby homard pèse entre 300 g et 400 g et est bien charnu malgré son nom. Plus tendre, plus maigre et plus savoureuse que celle de ses aînés, la chair du baby homard, riche en zinc et potassium, séduira également par ses qualités nutritionnelles. Il est vendu vivant, ou cuit avec un mélange d’épices secret pour encore mieux vous régaler. »Which in English more or less reads:
“From mid-June till mid-July, Canada’s most tasty ambassadors of gastronomy arrive on our fishmonger’s stalls. Caught in season in the deep and cold waters of the Atlantic, the baby lobster weighs between 300 and 400 gr. and is, despite its name, very meaty. Its meat, which is more tender and savoury than that of its elders, being rich in zinc and potassium, will also seduce by its nutritional qualities. You can buy it alive or boiled in stock containing a secret spices mixture.”
What this text doesn’t mention is the fact that you can also enjoy a baby lobster in the restaurant which is located on a mezzanine overlooking Rob’s Gourmet store. And that’s where we were heading for last Friday when we left the little bar at the foot of the local village hall.
Do you like lobster or do you think it’s cruel and wrong to boil these crustaceans alive? Mind you, we do the same with prawns, shrimps and scampi’s!
(*) Sorry, I'm not ready to tell you what it is. But I realize that it is almost impossible to guess. So here's a second hint. I'm not a back-pack tourist, but Craig is pretty close! Good luck ...
« De la mi-mai jusqu’à la mi-juillet, le plus savoureux des ambassadeurs de la gastronomie canadienne revient sur l’étal de nos poissonniers. Pêché dans les eaux profondes et froides de l’Atlantique quand vient la saison, le baby homard pèse entre 300 g et 400 g et est bien charnu malgré son nom. Plus tendre, plus maigre et plus savoureuse que celle de ses aînés, la chair du baby homard, riche en zinc et potassium, séduira également par ses qualités nutritionnelles. Il est vendu vivant, ou cuit avec un mélange d’épices secret pour encore mieux vous régaler. »Which in English more or less reads:
“From mid-June till mid-July, Canada’s most tasty ambassadors of gastronomy arrive on our fishmonger’s stalls. Caught in season in the deep and cold waters of the Atlantic, the baby lobster weighs between 300 and 400 gr. and is, despite its name, very meaty. Its meat, which is more tender and savoury than that of its elders, being rich in zinc and potassium, will also seduce by its nutritional qualities. You can buy it alive or boiled in stock containing a secret spices mixture.”
What this text doesn’t mention is the fact that you can also enjoy a baby lobster in the restaurant which is located on a mezzanine overlooking Rob’s Gourmet store. And that’s where we were heading for last Friday when we left the little bar at the foot of the local village hall.
Do you like lobster or do you think it’s cruel and wrong to boil these crustaceans alive? Mind you, we do the same with prawns, shrimps and scampi’s!
(*) Sorry, I'm not ready to tell you what it is. But I realize that it is almost impossible to guess. So here's a second hint. I'm not a back-pack tourist, but Craig is pretty close! Good luck ...
10 comments:
Martine,
I am in the camp which absolutely agrees with the smoking ban. Evidence of the harm caused by passive smoking is clear.
We have had such a ban in the UK for a few years. We were invited to the 25th wedding anniversary party of some Dutch friends who live in Enschede. We commented of our surprise that some other guests were smoking inside the party, which was held at a hotel. Another of the guests, from Sweden, was also surprised as smoking was banned in public places in Sweden too.
I dislike being around smoke, and it is noticable that one can now return from an evening out and not reek of other peoples smoke.
The hazard now comes when walking in or out, as in order to do this one has to pass through the smoke haze of people gathered around the door, smoking outside!!
PS It's the smoke I dislike, not the smokers!!!
Regarding your quiz...is it a new case for your trip...or is it a special travel bag for Junior? Bars and restaurants in the UK are now much nicer since the smoking ban. I think I like lobster but it's so darned expensive here that I can't remember.
Veronica
It's so pleasant now to enjoy a meal in a restaurant but if one decides to go Al Fresco, then all bets are off.
Was the lobster hard shell or soft shell? It is the season here and I buy only when the supermarket have them on sale. It is also expensive in Montreal.
I rather like lobster but prefer not to think about how it is cooked and I'd never cook them alive myself. Shallow I know but hey... :)
Smoking ban is fantastic. I still can't believe that France did it a couple of years ago and people actually obeyed it! The only negative is that everyone who smokes goes outside so if you want to enjoy some al fresco time too you have to deal with the smokers.
Oh... and perhaps it's a toilet bag?
Many people still grumble about the non-smoking laws here in France. I think it's great! Now I can go to any restaurant or bistro and not have to worry about choking. You'll love it.
As for the lobsters, yummy!
We once asked for a non-smoking table in a really expensive restaurant in France and were given a tiny table by itself on a slightly raised area so that we could get all the smoke as it drifted upwards !!
I love the smoking ban - it makes dining out so much more pleasant. But as others have said, all the smokers now get the outdoor tables so it's a mixed blessing.
I think plunging live lobsters into boiling water is probably cruel and seem to remember Raymond Blanc having an alternative and more humane method on his TV series earlier this year - but I can't exactly remember what it is.
PS I have no idea what your mystery item is - it looks like some kind of pleated fabric - did you order a kilt for your holiday ??!!
I totally support the smoking ban in public places and think it should be extended to areas within a premises that includes outdoor eating areas as well! I believe that far from discouraging people from pubs and restaurants, it encourages those of us who stayed away from going again -- I avoided pubs for years because the smoke made visits so unpleasant.
I, too, was astounded that the French obeyed the ban -- if it can be done there, it can be done anywhere!
Still puzzled over your mystery item, but travel bag sounds a good guess -- though the pleats -- still a mystery to me!
To all,
I 200% support the smoking-ban in restaurants and other places where food is being served. This rule was introduced in Belgium in 2007, and has since then been accepted and overall well respected. As from July 1st, smoking will be forbidden in bars and cafés that normally don't serve food. As a non-smoker I applaud this new law. As a companion of a smoker, I have some reservations, though, simply because it means that I will be left sitting there on my own for 5 minutes or more each time my friend wants to have a smoke and has to leave the premises to 'enjoy' a cigarette. Looking at the matter like that, the smoke-ban can become a bit of a party pooper :)!
Of course, I could try and convince my friend to quit smoking ... but that's entirely his decision, not mine.
Now as for the mystery item. All will be revealed as soon as I get home from work ... Let me just tell you that everybody is pretty close; except perhaps the kilt, suggested by Jean! Nice try though, Jean! That is what I call 'lateral' thinking !:))
Thank you all for playing the game!
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