Tag Archives: belgium

GingerLove – From Belgium With Love

  By | | ,
1 Comment

At City Connect, we’re always looking for new and interesting food and drink from the UK and further afield which will tickle your tastebuds and please your palate. So when we heard about GingerLove drink from Belgium, we just had to share it with you. After all, if GingerLove is enjoyed by the likes of Sting and Jamie Cullum, then we think our City Connect readers in Belgium, France & Luxembourg should try it too. And for everyone else, watch this space… GingerLove deserves to go global!

Read the Press Release below for more information on the gorgeous GingerLove drink…

Next time someone asks you to name five famous Belgians, make sure to add spice to your list. Make sure to mention the coolest hot shot in town: a newcomer that is stirring quite a commotion among aficionados of good taste that gather from all corners of the world to savour its heartwarming sensations.

But guess what: this golden boy is a beverage. No, actually, it’s an experience. No, it’s what people who know what’s good for them are craving for in Antwerp these days. And in Paris, and soon, in the rest of the world. It’s called GingerLove and the only way to find out just how delightful it is, is by allowing your taste buds to soak in its golden aroma and indulging in its soothing playfulness.

Already awarded as MOST INNOVATIVE DRINK, GingerLove is “The New Hot Drink” never tasted before. Based on ginger & fruit juices, GingerLove revives you with the extra health kick to keep you going. This warm frothy drink is caffeine free.

GingerLove took its first zesty taste in Lombardia, the organic & vegetarian restaurant since 1972 in Antwerp. Lombardia’s food creator Alain Indria is the founder of GingerLove and has excited the world many times with his creative food & drink inventions.

Rock stars like Sting, Moby and Jamie Cullum adore GingerLove and even Sting says it’s good for your voice!

GingerLove is a way of living and has a strong marketing backbone. The concept exists out of extended marketing material for the food service and retail industry.

To enjoy the lively aroma of GingerLove, we’ve even designed the perfect cup. The only thing you need is a sachet of GingerLove, to which you add boiling water. Stir or shake, and your own GingerLove is ready to drink!

GingerLove is as comforting as it is enticing, as exhilarating as it is sexy. So be warned: when drunk hot, it is known to go straight to the heart. Lovingly made by a connoisseur of soulfood (Alain Indria of bio store Lombardia) and now ready to take on the world. Prepare yourself for a taste of what the future has in store for you!

For more information about GingerLove and where you can buy it in Belgium, France & Luxembourg, please check out their website: http://www.gingerlove.be/

Text taken from GingerLove 2012 Press Release
Images courtesy of GingerLove

Belgo – Belgian for Beer, Mussels and More Beer

  By | | ,
Comments Off on Belgo – Belgian for Beer, Mussels and More Beer

Belgium – famous for beer, Belgian chocolate, Hercule Poirot, and earlier this year it achieved the record for the country with the longest time without a government in modern history. But before the political deadlock, Belgium was also famous for its national dish of moules et frites – otherwise known as mussels and chips.

Which brings us on to one of London’s most popular Belgian restaurants – Belgo Centraal – where they’ve been serving mussels and other Belgian dishes since opening in 1992. Nestled in the heart of Covent Garden, this flagship restaurant of the Belgo restaurant chain specializes in simple Belgian dishes and Belgian Beer at a very reasonable price.

Belgo Centraal is on Earlham Street and the subterranean location is very atmospheric. It is noted for its open kitchens and its waiting staff dressed in monastic inspired uniforms. As well as offering a good selection of wines, Belgo is renowned for serving over 70 different types of beer – everything from Stella Artois and Leffe to more unusual fruit beers flavoured with strawberry, banana or even chocolate. The latter perhaps should be reserved for the more adventurous drinker!

There is an appetizing selection of Starters to choose from. The Goose & Sauterne Pâté is delicious. Or why not try the Warm Salad of Smoked Bacon, Shredded Duck, Eggs & Black Pudding if you want something more substantial. The Salmon Fishcakes are also very good and come served with baby spinach and lime hollandaise.

When it comes to Mains, the signature dish is unsurprisingly the Mussel Pots – a kilo of steamed mussels served in one of four sauces: flavourful Traditionnelle, creamy Marinière, tomato-based Provençale, and oriental Green Thai. Platters and bowls of mussels are also available for diners with smaller appetites. For those who’d like to try a classic Belgian dish, go for the Waterzooi – a tasty combination of chicken, leeks and potatoes in a light cream & chicken broth. Other popular mains include the Rotisserie Chicken – a half chicken basted in Belgian blonde beer & apple juice and served with a choice of delicious sauces; the Beef Carbonnade – beef braised in sweet Gueuze beer with apples & plums; and the Wild Boar Sausages – served with Belgian stoemp mash & berry jus.

If you still have room for Dessert, the Crème Brûlée is highly recommended as is the Brussels Style Waffle. For those wanting to be more indulgent, try the Bread & Butter Pudding or the Belgian Dark Chocolate Cheesecake. If you fancy some fruity liquid refreshment after your meal, the selection of Genever Schnapps is sure to please – the bartender will line up a random choice on a Mixed Stick for that touch of Russian roulette.

Belgo have a range of promotions on offer throughout the week. The Express Lunch Menu is available daily between 12pm and 5pm and is a very good deal – £7.95 gets you one of a selection of main courses served with a choice of Cristal lager, a glass of house wine or a soft drink. There is the special “Beat The Clock” menu – every Monday to Friday between 5pm and 6.30pm, your main course costs the price of the time you order, e.g. order at 6 o’clock and pay £6. There is also a reasonably priced children’s menu if you’re treating the little darlings to a meal out.

As well as Belgo Centraal, the chain also has restaurants in Bromley, Camden, Clapham and Kingsway. The Belgo brand is owned by Tragus Holdings, which also owns the French-styled Café Rouge chain and two chains of Italian restaurants – Strada and Bella Italia.

So, if you’re in the mood for mussels, a visit to Belgo Centraal is highly recommended.

Images reproduced from thewanderingfoody.com