Antwerp(en): Fashion and Food Capitol

We only had one day in Antwerp, the fashion capitol of Belgium. We knew we were in for a treat when we arrived in the beautiful art deco train station with one of those giant vending machines--diapers, wine, or Coca-cola Light, anyone?

At Renzo, we went Italian with ham, mozzarella, and pesto panini. INK wanted to try a the handmade "warm chocolate special" to drink. JM had ice tea (peach and fizzy, of course).

We loaded up on chocolate gifts at Pierre Marcolini and biscuits at Phillip's Biscuits. We looked out for ourselves at Goossen Pastries, an Antwerp institution with a long line of locals out the door.

Much to gusta at Gusto, a mondern little restaurant with orange lights and only one cook and one waitress. We started with a mixed antipasta. JM complimented her mushroom linguini with Fanta. INK had potatoes and gambas. We would eat there all the time if it was in L.A.

A shot of Belgium 45 Degrees added to the atmosphere of dark wood and scarred cats at the neighborhood gin bar. Our dessert was a shot of hazelnut creme gin.

We finished off the Goossen for breakfast the next day before catching our train to Amsterdam.

Stuffed!

Munky King
7308 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Our Murakami day was pop art and food. This time the art was food. The Munky King on Melrose had a small, but satisfying exhibit of plush food. Handcrafted of felt and cotton by a variety of artists, the food was too cute and thus disturbing in its cuteness--Food with smiles or forlorn eyes, ready for consumption. Turkey legs, sticks of butter, cupcakes, and sushi rolls. Haminal, a pink rectangular guinea pig-like creature with a jaunty pineapple ring on his ear, came in a range of sizes and, as the ad claimed, was boneless and fit perfectly in the can. Delicacheena now has a small haminal at home. Tasty!



We planned on eating a late lunch/early dinner at Angeli Caffe for its comfort Italian since it was just steps away, but we always forget that they aren't open until 5 on the weekends. We turned around and snapped up a booth at The Village Idiot. We watched the last remaining light disappear as we enjoyed our meal of Fish and Chips with our beer and ice tea.