The 1040
Rating: 4 stars
Here’s a good trivia question: What do famous Belgians Amélie Nothomb, Franquin, Stromae and Marouane Fellaini all have in common?
Well, novelist Nothomb, comic artist Franquin, Stomae, the singer, and footballer Fellaini were all born in the Brussels district of Etterbeek.
That famous Belgian quartet has been joined by a 5th member: The 1040,a restaurant located in the same commune.
The 1040 – it takes its name from the post code for the locality –is not gastronomic or “just another” brasserie but “bistronomie.” It is situated on ground floor of a 5-star hotel, the Sofitel Brussels Europe, but its clientele is drawn more from non-hotel guests.
There’s a special menu until the New Year which includes several dishes from Alsace in France and you can observe Italian-born executive chef Gabriele Petrucci and his team from an open kitchen.
Starters include “the treasure of the Vosges”, a delightful buckwheat crepe parcels filled with Munster cheese from Alsace, ricotta and sautéed chanterelles from the Ardennes, delicately scented with sage.
Recommended dishes include a wonderful Sauerkraut (a real regional speciality) which consists of confit pork shank, Strasbourg sausage, white pudding, braised white cabbage ‘a la Binchoise’ soaked in Belgian beer and potatoes. Round things off with a lovely chestnut and pear charlotte, the Alsatian desert.
The 1040
Hotel Sofitel, Place Jourdan 1,Brussels
Manhattn’s
Rating: 3 stars
The “J’aime mon Horeca” is a campaign to boost support for the resto/catering industry in Brussels.
Manhattn’s, though, needs no such help as it has continued its rapidly expansion by opening its 10th burger restaurant.
Launched by Belgian brothers Jerome and Philippe Vandermeulen, it prides itself on what they call a “fast-casual dining experience.”
Jerome once worked for a spell in a food truck in New York’s Central Park selling something that Belgium is well known for (waffles).
To mark the 10th anniversary of the business they have brought out a special burger which, like the others, is sourced from grass-fed Irish Angus beef.
Belgium’s also known for its frites and they do not come much better than here (nice names too: “Godfather Fries”; “Yankee Fries”).
There is also great range of Belgian beers, served either as small or a pint. If you have room, check out the lovely “Liberty” milkshakes.
Recommended: the black truffle mayo, a perfect accompaniment to both burger and frites.
Manhattn’s
Avenue Tervueren, Brussels
02 424 0339