Belgian restaurant | cheriecity.co.uk

Le Pain Quotidien Becomes Carbon Neutral

April 25, 2017 by cheriecity

I don’t think I’m alone when I say that Le Pain Quotidien is one of the best all-day chain restaurants for a healthy lunch on the go. There are no less than 30 across London and the latest opening is at Monument – an oasis of calm in the City with rustic interiors and the relaxing sounds of classical music.

It’s fair to say that the Belgian brand is pretty influential in how we enjoy casual dining – first there was the communal table with the generous pots of speculoos and chocolate spreads, then they embraced great home-style vegan cooking and now all of their UK outlets are carbon neutral. Major high five on that eco initiative – hopefully more restaurants will follow!

Last week, I was invited to celebrate this great achievement with the movers and shakers of the brand over a relaxed vegan dinner at Le Pain Quotidien Monument.

But before I rave on about the yummy food, what exactly does being a carbon neutral restaurant mean? For Le Pain Quotidien, it’s about calculating their carbon emissions and making them as low as possible. This was started by using energy-efficient lighting, recycled wood for furnishings, compostable take-away packaging, managing food wastage and even arranging night deliveries from local suppliers to reduce transport miles and congestion.

Unavoidable emissions are then offset by investing in a carbon-reducing project in Uganda. This sustainable practice has resulted in all of Le Pain Quotidien’s UK oulets being certified carbon neutral by the climate advisory organisation CO2logic and founder Alain Caumont’s next target is to implement this globally.

To start, we grazed on a Hummus Menage à Trois (try ordering that with a straight face) and it was absolutely divine. The fresh and cooling hummus bowls were filled with sweet roasted carrot with a hint of cumin, earthy beetroot and garlicky chickpea, served with chunky crudités and LPQ’s signature freshly-baked bread. I will definitely be ordering this for a light and healthy lunch in the summer – even better if you have someone to share it with.

We then followed with Chilli Sin Carne, which I’ve wanted to try for a while but couldn’t tear myself away from my regular LPQ avocado toast. This hearty, slow-cooked dish had a lovely blend of spices but wasn’t too hot and the soya was nice and tender. The accompaniments of fresh guacamole and soya sour cream gave it a touch of indulgence.

The next tasting dish was an Organic Vegan Pot au Feu – a quintessential French stew. Without its usual beef, it resembled more of a rustic broth with chunky root vegetables, springy quinoa and piquant harissa on the side, but it was super-tasty and comforting.

A fresh and uplifting Organic Lentil and Avocado Salad was then served. It’s a French tradition to have salad before dessert or cheese, but for me it’s a hard one to get onboard with and I was ready for my pud. Not just one but two – a bit of a treat for those of us with a sweet tooth.

My big slice of Cocoa and Pear Cake was moreish and not overly sweet, while the Organic Chia Seed & Coconut Milk Pudding was cool and creamy with a hint of vanilla. I first tried chia seed pudding at a baking masterclass at Le Pain Quotidien at Bicester Village and have since started making it at home using their cook book recipe – it’s so delicious!

Le Pain Quotidien really impressed me with its vegan menu and I can’t wait to try more plant-based dishes on the menu. All of the restaurants do actually serve meat and I personally enjoy the high quality smoked chicken and prosciutto, but it’s helpful that LPQ has a balanced menu with vegetarian and vegan dishes that are just as enjoyable and flavourful.

For more information and menus, visit: www.lepainquotidien.co.uk

Photos by Chérie City

Ghent, Restaurants

A Great Dinner at Brasserie Pakhuis Ghent

December 16, 2011 by cheriecity

Brasserie Pakhuis is one of those great restaurants that I feel privileged to have discovered. Pakhuis has style and atmosphere in abundance and its spectacular design is sure to impress.

Down a narrow lane in the Old Town of Ghent, Pakhuis feels like a secret that only those ‘in the know’ could find. This isn’t exactly the case however, as Pakhuis is one of Ghent’s most talked-about restaurants, but it does still feel special.

The restaurant

Housed in a large 19th century warehouse, Pakhuis was designed by Portuguese architect Antoine Pinto, who is also responsible for nearby hip restaurant-bar-club, Belga Queen.

Pakhuis serves a contemporary French-Italian menu with New World wines and was recognised with a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide 2011.

Together with two restaurants in Antwerp and Brussels, Pakhuis owns a farm called Le Devant, in the Bresse region of France. High quality meat, seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs go from the farm to the table and the restaurant’s signature dish is Bresse chicken.

The terrace

On a balmy summer’s evening, the terrace is the place to be, with its attractive white canopy. As we were a large group of European writers, we occupied a whole side of the terrace and ate from the Pakhuis set menu.

The group starter was smoked eel and mussels, but instead I chose a simple yet delicious Celeriac Soup with fresh herbs (my seafood palate has yet to appreciate eel).

Dishes

The soup was light and peppery with tiny pieces of celeriac and topped with fresh herbs – a good start to the meal.

I particularly enjoyed the main course of Roast Duck with blueberries, cabbage and Bintje potatoes. The duck was cooked medium rare, so was especially tender and the skin was golden and nicely scorched.

To finish, we had a slice of caramelised apple tart with a delicious biscuity crust, topped with crème fraiche. I washed it all down with a fresh mint tea, which they do really well in Ghent, served in an elaborate glass tea pot.

Brasserie Pakhuis is an absolute ‘must’ when visiting Ghent, whether you’re soaking up the bustling brasserie atmosphere inside or lounging elegantly on the terrace with cocktails. It really brings a new meaning to the words ‘warehouse chic’.

Chérie City was a guest of Brasserie Pakhuis.

All photos by Chérie City.

Ghent, Restaurants

A Great Lunch At Belga Queen Ghent

October 22, 2011 by cheriecity

If you’re looking for an ultra-stylish brasserie for a memorable meal in Ghent, Belga Queen should be top of your list.

Designed by bon viveur Antoine Pinto, Belga Queen is a high-end hot spot, located in a former 13th century grain storehouse on the Graslei canal, just three minutes walk from where I was staying at Marriott Ghent.

Described as a ‘Belgian Wonderfood Place’, Belga Queen serves contemporary Belgian dishes using locally sourced ingredients, many featuring beer.

The restaurant

Belga Queen is a real dining destination set over three floors with variety of casual and more formal spaces including a brasserie, cafe, restaurant, club bar and terrace.

The imposing stone building with wooden beams and authentic features has been given a modern twist with touches of chrome, plush leather chairs and cool statement lighting. Add to that lashing of black and gold and Belga Queen signature crockery and you have one swish restaurant.

The terrace

The terrace at Belga Queen occupies a perfect spot right on the buzzing Graslei and is the place to be spotted in Ghent. In the summer, it’s the perfect place to spend a few hours, enjoying good food and wine.

The dishes

I started with a chilled tomato parfait with a rocket and parmegiano reggiano salad, basil-infused crumbs and a warm basil soup.

The tomato was refreshing and went well with the rocket and the thick creamy soup was an interesting, delicious after-thought.

This was followed by Belgian Charolais tenderloin with an Orval sauce (a kind of béarnaise sauce made with Belgian beer) and a cone of Belga Queen fries.

The steak was tender and juicy, cooked perfectly medium, and came with sautéed mushrooms and hot, crispy slim fries. It was perhaps a little heavy on the mushrooms, but there was also a generous amount of steak, which I struggled to finish.

We finished with a Café Gourmand featuring five mini desserts. I loved the praline cake with chocolate ganache and another highlight was the Cuberdon – a blackcurrant sweet local to Ghent, that’s hard on the outside and gooey in the middle.

Instead of coffee, I had a fresh mint tea, which came in a glass teapot and was the perfect end to the meal.

Belga Queen is all about indulgence and the high glamour dining experience, so you’ll need a hefty travel budget to dine there, but the food won’t disappoint.

All photos by Chérie City.

Chérie City was a guest of Belga Queen and Ghent Marriott