In our Belgian dining pages thjis week we look at two more excellent venues.
Café Caberdouche
James Drew found a café that takes its beer and food very seriously. Myself and my dining partner discovered it on a recent visit, where we were greeted by co-owner Bertrand Delubac – it’s lively because the emphasis here is on great beer, food, service and ambience.
They are cooking up a storm on Thursday nights with regular live music, and their weekend brunch buffet (served Saturday and Sunday 11-15h) is excellent value, with plats du jour served Monday to Friday. I went for a classic lasagne bolognaise, while Catherine enjoyed a delicious (and very generous) chicken salad.
As Bertrand explained, the aim of the Caberdouche is to provide a genial, friendly meeting place with excellent home-made dishes, for it to be a real talking point for all its visitors, both from the perspective of its food and the fine beers and organic wines that are offered.
And the name – it derives from the Spanish expression “Cabe una dulce”, literally, “here comes a sweety”. These bars were large enough to host ladies of pleasure and over the centuries, its meaning progressively evolved to refer to a cabaret or a small Brussels café.
Le Rêve Richelle
Nestled in the heart of Waterloo for over 20 years, where Benoît Decelle, a traveller who loves the Far East, makes it a point of honour to provide a creative cuisine where one finds those far-off scented influences.
On a beautiful winter evening we discovered this generous, tasteful cooking. Some ideas to make your mouth water: Marbled foie gras with cocoa, pineapple chutney, yuzu jelly, deer fillet, sea buckthorn, topinenbours gratin…. And the desserts that are a real delight.
The menu obviously changes according to the seasons and the whims of the chef. Working the floor is Claire, who is none other than Benoit’s wife. Well settled in this cozy and warm place, she will guide you in your choices: food and wine pairing – and the cheeses…
Le Rêve Richelle offers a real garden of Eden, quiet, green and flowery, to spend a very pleasant lunctime or evening. Some meals are available to take away, and there is also a possibility to privatize the restaurant from 20 people. A quality address that you simply must discover.
www.reverichelle.eu