Recent Eats

I am obsessed with the lettuce here.  Obsessed, I tell you!  My salad spinner's been going non-stop!  So happy to have a kitchen again...

Lentil salad with red peppers, carrots, parsley, celery and a mustard vinaigrette over such fantastico lettuce!

Salsa verde.  So far I am preferring Alice Waters' recipe to the Moosewood Collective's, but every batch is sorta different anyway.  I mean, it's best to relatively wing it here.

Funny thing.  I don't know all of the translations for the fish and meats in French.  Sure, I know the basics (poulet, dinde, viande... sometimes I even remember that cod is "cabillaud"), but when there are all sorts of fish filets in front of me with mystery names, the only one I can really pick out is salmon.

So my new game is picking out something that looks appetizing (tried this over the weekend with a mystery "pork" from the Ardennes... turned out it was their salt-cured pork--and delicious!), taking it home, and translating it.  So today I picked out some lovely filets of "sebaste".  Care to venture a guess??  Sounds kinda like "sea bass", hmm?  Turns out it's redfish/ocean perch.  Good by me.  I baked it with some fresh lemon and herbs. Yum.  Tune in tomorrow for the next mystery food!

Delicious lettuce with apples, celery, Danish blue cheese, and a honey-balsalmic vinaigrette.

Feelin' owl-y.  Britt gave me this lovely pin when I left Philly.

Window kitteh, 4-evah!

The Farm and The Beach

The other week I had a most extraordinary day.  I had read about a patch of land in an urban part of Brussels that had been reclaimed as a farm.  And I'd also heard about a temporary "beach" that the city'd set up on one of the quays.  Turns out, the two were only blocks away from each other, so I headed out to see them both.  This involved transferring to a metro line I hadn't taken before (exciting!).

Just as I surfaced from the escalator at the Yser metro station, I saw this:

Clearly, there's an urban farm nearby.

And here it is!  It's the  Ferme du Parc Maximillien, and it was set up in the '90s to replace a car park.  It is such a glorious respite from all of the traffic buzzing around just outside these fences.

There were fancy chickens with roosters with peacocks all in the same pen.  A little old lady came out to feed them, and the biggest bunnies I've ever seen were chasing each other under the fences and through all of the pens.

This gentleman was very proud of his pen just off the street.  He came closer and posed regally for me.  I think I got his best angle.

Fence-climbing to get up close and personal.

So... more about the farm.  They also have a small vegetable patch and some fruit trees, and I believe they give instructions on setting up your own garden and composting, etc.  They also have a hutch of Guinea Pigs (you know I love this) and smaller bunnies.  I like the way that different species are put in the same pens, and everyone just gets along.  What a great place!



Now... on to the "beach"!  It's called Bruxelles Les Bains, and it's magic!  They've brought in tons of sand, so that there's a beach on the quay.  But the best part is all of the FOOD.  There are booths set up on both sides of the whole stretch, offering Jamaican, Mexican, Argentinian, Brazilian, and... um, some Italian and French food.  But 95% of it is all Latin or South American or island cuisine.  YUMS.  I want to know where are all of these people are cooking when they're not at the beach because I want to go to their restaurants!

I stopped by on a Tuesday afternoon at around 2 pm.  All of the booths were open and there were some people out.  Not bad for a random weekday afternoon.  When B and I came back on a Saturday night, the place was jumpin'!

Random Tuesday afternoon.... but you get the point.

Status Report: Apartment

This is the current state of things 'round the house.  

The extra hanging rack in the bedroom is already filled to the gills.  Need to get some under-bed storage to get the off-season things away.

Unpacked some art yesterday!  There's the fox from Felipe, two foodies from Hawk, two pretty ladies (one with fire-breathing puppies!) from Chau, and a nefarious bunny bank I bought B in Paris a while back.  Can't wait to hang all of these beauties up!

More art!  My SF dog painting from Dave, the Japanese cats from Elizabeth, Refugio from LA, the pretty lady owl from Byron, and the Tim Biskup dog print that I call "Pierre".

Cochino wonders why all this unpacking is taking so long.

Surprise!  It's an outfit post!  Feeling the '80s yesterday... if only the blouse was bigger and boxier!  The jeans are samples from my old company, and they are super-stretchy!  They have an amazing purple acid wash on them.  (Well, Nicki could tell you what it is exactly, I just know it's cool and purple-y!)  The '60s-inspired shoes are super-old Steve Madden.  And the brooch was my grandmother's.  I had this fuzzy, brightly colored faux fur coat back in grade school and I used to have this broach pinned on it.  Me and the broach, we go way back.

Shoes and the purple-y wash, which doesn't look that purple here but trust me, it is!

The broach and a V of ruffles.

Appartement!

Finally... pictures of our new apartment.  These were taken early in the morning the day we moved in.  So the apartment is a little dark.  And in my swoop with the camera, I neglected to take shots of our front windows and our courtyard.... but I'll post more as we get settled.  Right now, the whole thing is filled with boxes--some empty, some still full.  I've got the kitchen and bedroom basically unpacked, but there is an issue of storage space.  We knew it would come to that, didn't we?  Closets just don't exist over here and, well, I've got CLOTHES.  We've got a utility closet (incredibly!), but it's filled to the gills already.  And we've got a "cave", which basically means we've got a big storage room in the basement.  The problem is, it's all musty down there so we can't store extra clothes down there.  Looks like we're going to have to invest in a big wardrobe from ikea.  Oh well.

Anyway, on to the photos!

This is the view from the entryway.  At left is our second bedroom/office.  The hall leads to the kitchen, salle de bain (shower/sink room), toilet (in a separate room at right), and the bedroom.

This is the second bedroom/office (or more appropriately, where YOU will stay when you come visit!).  The door leads to the salle de bain.

Built-in shelves in our hallway.  Love the original doors, as well.  (This hallway is now filled with 7 of the overflow wardrobe boxes, the contents of which are waiting to be hung in a real wardrobe.  Woe is me.)

This is it!  The glorious kitchen!  It has a gas range, Smeg oven, dishwasher, and the fridge is even covered in the same wood so that it all looks so nice!  It opens onto our bricked in "yard."  It is my favorite room in the house.

The little bedroom at back we're using as our bedroom.  It gets the best light and has a lovely view of the trees and our courtyard.  It offers the most peaceful feeling.  There are two built-in wardrobes just at the right of this photo but, alas, they are already full.  Ack!

This is the front room, the living room.  I didn't take pictures of all of the windows that open onto the street, but trust me they are there.  Pretty marble fireplace, hm?

This is a cute nook off the front room.

An Outfit Post

Well, sorta!

These. Are. My. New. Boots.

(Funny that I came to Europe to buy something Opening Ceremony.  I mean, not that that was my specific purpose in coming here, but you know.)

Nice, right?  I love how they're a little gothy, a little granny, a little woodsman.

And I got them on SALE!  The sales in Belgium are regulated by the government, so all shops must have their sales at the same time.  The sales here are in January and July--and run the entire month of each.  I tell you, I was really good at sticking to my rule of only buying things that I could eat or drink (read:  no clothes!)... until the sales hit.  Does it make it better if I promise to wear these 4 out of 7 days a week come Fall?  Well, I promise!

This is my new skirt.  It's from Cos, H&M's newest concept.  (Oh, and don't mind the crappy bedroom of our crappy temporary apartment.  [The only way for a full-length view in the mirror is to stand on the bed.  Seemingly unnoticed by the diners outside the cafe across the street, I do it often.]  We're moving to our real apartment on Friday!  Woop!)

Do you know about Cos?  It's my new favorite.  Print and pattern take a backseat to interesting silhouettes and cuts.  It's very modern, yet very timeless.  Not trendy, but quite fashion-forward.  Because there is little print/pattern, some of the pieces feel like updated basics.  And some of them are just that--a black cardigan with a slightly ruffled drop shoulder, for example.  But others are made of extremes of fabric (coated cotton crochet "lace", starchy power mesh, neoprene) or cut that I think the unsung heros of Cos are their technical designers.  I can't imagine cutting some of these patterns!

Anyway, the quality's better than H&M; they push the fabric boundaries much farther; and the prices are still quite reasonable.  So if it's on sale..., I'm sold!

Also wearing my White Rabbits t-shirt, which makes me feel like a sell-out because I thought their second album was booooooooooooring (except for that "Percussion Drum" song).  But I honestly like the graphic on the shirt, and so it made the cut of what would be brought with me to wear for the 3 months until our things arrive here.

The shoes also have become a staple of my wardrobe of the past 3 months.  They are Comme des Garcons/Heschung, and I got 'ems in Hong Kong last year.  They are the most comfortable (and cute!) shoes, and I feel bad that I've worn them into the ground here.  I just need someone to give them a new gold polish, and they'll be good as new.

So that's the rundown for now.  Back to more Brussels haps.

Amster... damn, they lost!

Dear Amsterdam,
I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot.  But see, I've only really visited to meet with recruiters or go on interviews, so I've been tethered to your Centraal Station each time as there was always a return in sight.  Sure, I tried to explore, shopped a bit--even tried some herring--but you and I both know that we never clicked.  (Perhaps that's why you haven't found a job for me yet.)

Well, last Sunday was magic, Amsterdam.  I know we both felt it.  You were exuberant, oozing orange out onto your sidewalks.  I know this was a big time for you, but still you were quaint and charming (like a first date who didn't get too drunk at my cousin's wedding).  Even though it was your big day, I saw you for who you really are--neighbors leaving their doors open, tiny tapas places, floating gardens, quirky old architecture, boats snaking through the canals... oh, you knew exactly what you were doing, Amsterdam!  I'm so sorry I ever referenced you as a "college campus."  Really I am.  We just weren't able to spend proper time with each other until now.  So please forgive me.

Love,
Jodi

PS--I am still in love with that sandwich from the Hema at the train station.  I've had it 4 times now--twice on this last trip.  I've had it with dark bread and light bread, and though I prefer the dark bread, the light bread ain't half bad, either.  Sometimes I think of it, sitting here in Brussels and I feel sad that I can't just walk out the door and get it.  Not that it needs to be right around the corner, because this is a sandwich I would WALK for.  Oh, would you just hire me, Amsterdam, so I can eat the sandwich every day???

PPS--I didn't know you had so many mosquitos, but it figures with all of the water.  Anyway, it's not a problem.  I'm from the midwest, so I can totally hang.

Sea of orange.  Wish you could hear the techno music that was blaring, as well.  They were showing the game on those giant screens in the background and playing the techno to get everyone (except me) revved up.

Blow up couch.  Complete with beverage holders.

It's like a beer sombrero!  Well done, gentlemen.

Byro's winking because he really wants Paul the octopus to "win."

Nick and Miz (Team "Orange") all dressed up for the game!  Or for their show in Vegas!

Cruisin'.

Our lovely hosts, Mark and Celia.

My favorite fans.  The guy on the right kept springing up to open his lion mouth/flap, displaying what he hoped would do in the Spanish.

Me in my orange collar.

Loving Celia's apartment.

Aftermath of fireworks outside a Spanish restaurant.

Orange fuzzy worms strewn in the train tracks, the day after.

Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudule

Yes, yes, another church....
Well, liven up!  This is the CATHEDRAL, friends.  Featuring my new favorite saint:  St. Gudule!  Don't even pretend like you knew the story of the devil blowing out her lamp (we all know you're not as up on your 7th century AD saints as you should be).  Act not like you knew she was a patron saint of Brussels (along with that macho Michael the Archangel).  Anyway, Gudule gives me so many indie rock saint points, because she was basically forgotten but I checked out her early stuff and I'm totally bringing her back.

Anyway, here are some photos of the church.  And here are some BETTER photos (along with some history), not taken with an iPhone and not taken by me.

St. Gudule!

St. Michael.

They have these loungers just outside of the church.  I reclined here for a while and read a book and nobody even bothered me.  So nice.

And here is my latest discovery!  How to drink Get 27 without feeling like you're drinking mouthwash.  You cut it with some San Pellegrino!  I assume it's quite refreshing on a hot day because multiple people at L'Archduc in Chatelain were rocking some glowing green bevvies.  Much better than when we tried to take it straight that one time in Paris.  Blech.