Alsace cuisine is heading to Brussels at the city’s annual “wine days” event, a month-long jamboree showcasing some of the best food and drink from the French region in France.
The region, located on the west bank of the Rhine River bordering Germany, is known for the quality of its food and drink.
These include Sauerkraut, a signature dish of Alsace, which consists of fermented white cabbage served with various types of meat, such as knacks, kassler and bacon.
But there are lots of other Alsace specialities and, during the month of October, you can sample some of these classic dishes, and wines, at the Sofitel Brussels Europe hotel at Place Jourdan, situated close to the EU Quarter.
These all come courtesy of a couple of top rated chefs: Mathieu Klein, chef of the Sofitel restaurant in Strasbourg Grande Île (it is 60 years since the first Sofitel opened in that city) and Gabriele Petrucci, chef of “1040”, the restaurant at the Sofitel Brussels Europe which is hosting this month’s event.
Klein has worked at Michelin-rated restos in both France and Switzerland while Petrucci, from Italy, has worked at the 1040 resto since 2021 and was first Chef de cuisine at “La Meilleur Jeunesse”.
As the name of the event suggests wine is also a key ingredient of the success of the event and this year is no different.
Refreshing or coating the palate with thousands of aromas, the Vins d’Alsace can either accompany dishes with elegance and finesse or with force and character and some excellent Alsatian wines will be served during the “Wine Days” event.
These come courtesy of Arthur Metz, a well-known Alsace wine produce which, this year, is celebrating its 120th anniversary.
Its contributions include Crémant d’Alsace Réserve de l’Abbaye Rosé Sec and the classic Riesling from Maison Arthur Metz. They will go well not only with the Alsatian dishes but also other dishes on the “1040” menu.
The same wines can be ordered by the glass or bottle and will also be available at the hotel bar for an aperitif tasting.
So what else can customers expect?
Well, boxes of buckwheat pancakes, stuffed with Alsatian Munster cheese, ricotta and Ardennes chanterelles flavored with sage are offered as starters; the emblematic Alsatian sauerkraut is the main course while a charlottine with pears and chestnuts promises to also go down a treat for dessert.
Topping the bill, on October 18 and 19, will be a couple of exclusive evenings during which the two aforementioned chefs will create a special 4-handed dinner (reservation required). This costs a modest €69 pp (excluding drinks and cheese). A wine/food pairing or wine by the glass package is also available.
The special dinner is described as “a unique meal” combining Belgian and Alsatian cuisine in “perfect harmony” with the selected wines.
On October 18 and 19, a representative of Arthur Metz will also be present to present their Alsace wines.
The event, which this year also aims to mark Sofitel’s 60th anniversary, lasts until the end of October.
An event spokesman said
“Wine Days has proved a very popular event in the past in Brussels and is a great chance to taste some Alsatian specialities accompanied by wine from the region. “
