About 15 months ago, I spent the better part of an hour searching Brussels for a restaurant I had previously visited and enjoyed very much -- the problem being that I could remember neither the name nor the address. Amazingly enough, though, I did eventually stumble upon La Villette, and as I reported in the July, 2001, World of Beer, my meal more than justified the search.
Getting back to La Villette, located just off the Place Ste-Catherine at 3 rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains, was a whole lot easier this year, and if anything, my meal was even better. I began with an assortment of small sausages ("boudins") which included a curried sausage, a boudin noir and one flavoured with what I suspect was paprika. My dining companion, Janet Forman, had some herring in a wonderful dressing sweetened with slices of apple.
While I left to Janet the main course that so delighted me last year -- pork loin served with Orval cheese and in a sauce made with Orval beer -- I was anything but disappointed with the fabulous steak I selected, cooked blood rare and topped with a delicious cheese sauce made with gueuze. And though I was quite stuffed by the end of it all, I still found room for a perfectly rich crème brullée made with Chimay, while tiny Janet astounded me by finding space in her stomach for a tender tarte tatin that was positively swimming in calvados sauce.
If anyone still doubts the merits of la cuisine á la biére, I suggest most strongly that they pay a visit to La Villette. Their skepticism won't survive past the first course.
We're very interested in your news, notes, comments and questions, so please feel free to contact SBWoB by clicking on the link below. Or you can add your comments when you sign up for the World of Beer Update, a mid-month e-mail newsletter that brings even more of the world of beer to your computer.
