restaurant review #286 – This review is from a visit to Karbon in the beginning of October 2020, before the second lockdown measures due to the COVID19 pandemic were enforced.
Karbon is a new place in Ghent, where you can order take away (big counter with options stalled out) or eat in the restaurant itself. It is in the city center, not far from the Belfry. We were here on the opening day (Oct 9), as we had seen a post from Chez Mariette delivering vegan pies to Karbon. They also offer several vegan lunch and dinner options, or you can ask to have your dish veganised. Vegan breakfast is also possible. Vegan options are not labeled on menu, so you need to ask. Vegetarian options can mostly be veganised (eg leave out feta).
Front view with some terrace seats in front, Karbon, GhentCounter (note: not all vegan), Karbon, GhentRead More
restaurant review #285 – Atelier Flori is a vegan wine and tapas bar in the center of Bruges. It opened at the end of 2019. It is a bit tucked away in the Korte Vuldersstraat, near ‘t Zand.
This review is from a visit to Atelier Flori in September 2020, before the second lockdown measures due to the COVID19 pandemic were enforced.
Front, Atelier Flori, BrugesInterior at the back area, Atelier Flori, Bruges
The menu only offers a handful of light options (e.g. nachos with dip), as this is primarily a wine bar. We chose the vegan etagère for two (32€) and it was magnificent! With homemade vegan cheezes, lasagne, avocado spread, a small glass of soup, bread, fresh vegetables and much more. More than enough for the two of us!
We had some alcohol free drinks (lemnade 3,50€, mocktail 5€).
Our drinks, Atelier Flori, BrugesEtagère for two, Atelier Flori, Brugesseen from the other side, Atelier Flori, Bruges
For dessert we shared a chocolate mousse (made with aquafaba) with whip (5€). Nice!
Choclate mousse with whipped cream, Atelier Flori, Bruges
We enjoyed the beautiful decor. The bar is located in an old historic building in the city centre of Bruges. It used to be the painting studio (atelier) of painter Flori Van Acker in the 19th century, hence the name. They also host live music and art exhibitions on selected dates (outside of Corona times …).
Interior seen from the upstairs area, Atelier Flori, BrugesUpstairs area, Atelier Flori, BrugesStatue of Marvin Gay at Atelier Flori, BrugesToilets at Atelier Flori. Clean, with individual towels. Why do I include a pic of the toilet? Read about it HEREMenu, Atelier Flori, Bruges
Accessibility: There is one small step to get in, some tables on ground floor. Back seat area is with several steps and toilets are also in the back (steps). Didn’t see an accessible toilet.
All in all: we really loved it! Great homemade tapas, lovely music and a nice chat with the owners.
Note: This review is from a visit before the lockdown due to COVID, so please be aware that the setting, menu, etc may have changed meanwhile.
Looking for restaurants? See my lists of restaurants where vegans are welcome in the menu section of The Bruges vegan! List restaurants in Bruges and outside Bruges.
On selected weekends Atelier Flori offers take-away. This is from a couple of weeks ago. We loved it!
This new edition of The Pornography of Meat by Carol J. Adams just arrived. Very richely illustrated with examples of how women are seen as ‘meat’ and how ‘meat’ or animals raised to be eaten are portrayed as ‘feminine’, sexual, wanting to be consumed. See also the earlier work of Carol J. Adams: The sexual politics of meat.
This updated edition of The Pronography of Meat includes a photo from me: a truck from a hatchery company (that ‘incubates’ the eggs and the chicks are sent of to egg-laying companies). The truck shows a cartoon like drawing of three anthropomorphised and female sexualised chickens, with next to them the slogan ‘Girl Power’. Yeah, being forcefully kept indoors, having to lay 300+ eggs a year and being sent of to slaughter when ‘production’ drops is really empowering these female animals.
Girl Power #sexualpoliticsofmeat
I really cringed when I saw this truck on the highway, and was determined to get a good photo! Luckily, the truck took the same exit as me, so I was able to stand still next to it and get some decent pics.
Cover of The Pornography of Meat, Carol J. AdamsPhoto of the image on the truck in the book
“The Sexual Politics of Meat, Carol J. Adams and her readers have continued to document and hold to account the degrading interplay of language about women, domesticated animals, and meat in advertising, politics, and media. Serving as sequel and visual companion, The Pornography of Meat charts the continued influence of this language and the fight against it.
This new edition includes more than 300 images, most of them new, and brings the book up to date to include expressions of misogyny in online media and advertising, the #MeToo movement, and the impact of Donald Trump and white supremacy on our political language. Never has this book–or Adams’s analysis–been more relevant.”
Shop review #62 – A couple of weeks ago we stopped in Brussels on our way to Leuven for a visit to vegan shop V.GAN. It is located in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe, on the east side of Brussels.
front and entrance, V.GAN, Brussels
V.GAN is medium sized vegan shop. It has large section of cosmetics and wines. And the usual suspects like plantbased milk drinks, cereals, flours, bread spreads.
cosmetics, V.GAN, Brussels
vegan wines, V.GAN, Brussels
look inside V.GAN, Brussels
a look inside V.GAN, Brussels
Also a fridge section with tofu, seitan products, bread spreads and some other things. The freezer mainly contained vegan ice cream, and some Beyond Meat products. I was hoping to find some more items in the freezer.
freezers, V.GAN, Brussels
Yarrah dog food and cat litter, V.GAN, Brussels
cleaning products, V.GAN, Brussels
gluten powder to make seitan, V.GAN, Brussels
bags and wallets, V.GAN, Brussels
T-shirts, V.GAN, Brussels
We bought some items that are not so readily available in other shops, like large TVP chuncks and vegan ‘egg’ omelet from Soyana.
restaurant review #284 – Naturell is the ‘sister restaurant’ of ‘t Aards Paradijs in Nevele, which we have visited a couple of years ago (see restaurant review #156 here). In 2010, chef Lieven Lootens was awarded the title of best vegetable chef of the year (beste Groentekok). Our visit to ‘t Aards Paradijs was a great gastronomic experience, and we have been wanting to go to Naturell for quite a while. A couple of weeks ago it finally happened, as we went there to celebrate my 50th birthday. Yeah 🙂
This review is from a visit to Naturell in October 2020, before the second lockdown measures due to the COVID19 pandemic started.
Naturell, Ghent, outside terrace on the right (not set up in Winter)
restaurant review #283 – Wiphada is a Thai restaurant in Bruges. We were here a couple of weeks ago for lunch. This was before the new lockdown went into place due to the COVID pandemic, and all restaurants had to close again.
restaurant review #282 – ‘t Vijfde Seizoen is a gastronomic restaurant in Aalter (between Bruges and Ghent). This literally translates as ‘the fifth season’. There is always a vegetarian menu standardly available, which can be veganised upon request (it’s advised to ask it in advance, and we did when making the reservation).
I already posted a review of a visit to ‘t Vijfde Seizoen in 2018 here.
This review is from a visit to ‘t Vijfde Seizoen in February 2020, just before the lockdown measures due to the COVID19 pandemic started.
Upon making the reservation for dinner, the restaurant also asked us to notify them by noon whether we choose the 4-course or 5-course menu. We went for the latter which is 70 euro per person.
These appetizers came with our drinks (we had an alcohol free cocktail, 8€): tofucroquette, paprika coulis, pomegranate quinoa butternut, and courgette soup.
restaurant review #281 – Slot Oostende is a traditional restaurant in Goes, which is in Zeeland just across the border, and not that far a travel for us. We had already passed by on several earlier visits to Goes in the past, and noticed that they have a seperate vegan section on the menu.
This review is from a visit to Slot Oostende a couple of weeks ago, before the new lockdown measures due to the COVID19 pandemic went into effect.
One of the 15 million mink who are currently being murdered (euphemistically called ‘culling’).
Running for her life, wanting to live, wanting freedom 😓
#animalresistance #dierenverzet
Denmark is killing (not ‘culling’, that’s a euphemism) 15 million mink in an effort to prevent a mutant of the coronavirus from spreading.
The conditions in animal factories (thousands of animals confined together) in the meat and fur industry again and again lead to the outbreak of zoonoses (bird flu, swine flu, Q-fever, …) , and in some cases also spreading to humans (like now).
Don’t contribute to this system in which animals are seen merely as disposable products. Don’t buy fur or other animal products 😔
For the animals, your health and the environment
#vegan
restaurant review #280 – A couple of weeks ago, we had dinner at Mary’s Irish Pub in Kortrijk. We originally wanted to go to vegan restaurant BK6 just around the corner, but that was fully booked for the evening.
Note: this is from a visit just before the current lockdown measures due to the COVID19 pandemic started (closure of all pubs and restaurants mid October 2020).
Front and large outdoor terrace, Mary’s Irish Pub, Kortrijk
