Chatelain Market

Here are some pictures from my favorite market in Brussels. It happens on Wednesdays from around 2:00pm to around 7:30pm. Ali and I go there almost every Wednesday to buy our produce, olives, cheese, and sometimes bread. Several of the vendors have gotten to know us and are very nice about letting us taste before we buy. In fact, one of the first French phrases Ali learned soon after she arrived in Brussels was "pouvons-nous goûter s'il vous plaît?" -- can we please taste?

As the evening approaches and people get off work, Place Chatelain is transformed into a place to meet for happy hour. The serious shoppers go home and the market stalls that sell beer and wine become packed with people. On nice evenings, the party extends to all of the bar and restaurant terraces on the Place as well as into the streets.

I am a serious shopper so I often go early. On a few occasions, however, I have stayed to have a drink. Unfortunately, Rick's work schedule has only permitted him to go to this market once.

Emilie and Ali

My Favorite Produce Vendor

My Favorite Olive Vendor

My favorite cheese vendor

Obviously, not one of my favorite vendors

Happy Hour Has Begun

Wine and Cheese Party

The "Wine & Cheese Club" is a group of friends who get together every couple of months to socialize and try new wines and cheeses. It began with a few women, including myself, who are abnormally passionate about cheese and who want to try as many different kinds as possible before leaving Brussels. This is a daunting task even for us as Brussels is a cheese-lovers paradise. The sheer amount of French and Belgian cheeses one can indulge in is awesome! Not to mention cheeses from other countries like the Netherlands and Germany. As you can see, this task keeps us very busy.

Of course, you can't have cheese without wine so each person brings a bottle of wine and some cheese to share. The host usually provides a few other snacks, such as olives (that's a whole different topic in and of itself) that go well with cheese. However, these snacks should not outshine the main star of the show---CHEESE :-)

Here are a few pictures from a gathering that I had in May.

There are 2 cheese boards full of cheese and I had not even put all of the cheese out yet!

Stephanie and Elitza (Founders and Executive Directors of the Wine & Cheese Club)

Me and Ali (Co-Directors of the Wine & Cheese Club)

Ena (our neighbor, Ivana's daughter), Emilie, and Maria

Christinia and Ivana