Weekly A to Z, Oct 8th.
The 1st anniversary (and the one from the World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards).
What a week! On Sunday, we hit the ground running in Belgium, taking the train from Brussels to Antwerp (and checking into one of my favorite Airbnbs ever), then meeting up with friends (old and new) at Bardeau, a quaint little wine bar, owned by a 20-year-old with hustle. Honestly, what am I doing with my life? Invited by the team at Gin Mare, we made our way to Dome Sur Mer, a beautiful seafood restaurant with an excellent menu. While others chose to continue the night, after a 5 AM wake-up and all of the travel, I was ready to retire for the evening.
The following morning, I attended the press conference for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and then sat in on the Food Talks series. There was a lot of interesting discussion and positivity, and I hope the commitment to inclusivity and diversity is not just talk, but actually actioned. It was a highlight to hear Heston Blumenthal speak, and I think he might change the world with Quantum Gastronomy (watch this space). After a quick rest, we were over to the Hotel Franq, to taste the range from Nyetimber, a British sparkling wine, and quite wonderful. #invited For dinner, we had reservations at The Jane**, which was a memorable five-hour experience, and a must visit if you’re in Antwerp. While I’ll be writing a full review, you can watch some highlights from the evening here.
Tuesday was the day of the awards — the full list can be found here — and I was delighted to be in the crowd supporting all those involved. While I don’t want to take anything away from the winners (all deserving), I look forward to a future list that isn’t quite so filled with white men. I realize I need to be part of this change and can do better at seeking our restaurants that are led by other voices, or have more balanced teams. What followed the awards was one of the most fun evenings of the year at Jerom. Networking at the very highest level, jumping into cars with 2 Michelin star chefs, and lots of great gin — it was worth the 2 AM bedtime.
On Wednesday, we traveled back to Brussels to attend a special media lunch at BonBon, and it was good to see some familiar faces and enjoy a wonderful meal. #invited After checking into the very centrally located Hilton Grand Place, dinner was a quick, but authentic Spanish experience at Hispania (with an earned Bib Gourmand) and an early bedtime.
After wandering around Brussels in the morning to seek out some souvenirs (honestly, what’s better than a European city in the fall?), Thursday saw me back to Dubai. For the first time in forever, I managed to upgrade myself on EK (although my preference is still the QR suites of Qatar).
Finally, as you may realize from the title of the post, this is the one-year anniversary of the Weekly A to Z! While this newsletter might have had a few earlier versions, I’m delighted with the direction the past year has taken. If you’ve been reading from the beginning — thank you! And maybe consider officially subscribing? Or telling a friend? I appreciate your continued support.
Links, please.
Why has it taken so long to incorporate foreign language characters into English cookbooks? The Counter
This article about burnout resonates. Refinery 29
What is horchoffee? Grub Street
Why does the kitchen of today look so much like one from the past? Works in Progress
On building diverse wine lists. Eater
Why food memories can be so powerful. HuffPo
Planning ahead for Thanksgiving. Food 52
Were you following my stories this week? Twitter
What would be in your dream bar? Punch
Best flights for AV geeks. OMAAT
The best instant noodles. NY Mag
Actual truth. Twitter
The history of banana pudding. Food & Wine
The unbeatable appeal of halloumi. Taste
Fall food books. Food & Wine
Next week will most likely be a recovery from this week, and that’s completely fine by me. I’ve got a few deliveries lined up, a potential night out, but otherwise, I’m going to figure out what book I want to start writing (or editing).
If you enjoy this newsletter and want to support me, consider telling a friend, ordering from these restaurants, purchasing my books (or these novels), or buying me coffee.
C.