Chaudron

Nutritious food for all? Sounds obvious on paper, but a little less so in reality… Perhaps you’re yet to discover Chaudron, a crate-to-plate restaurant inside the farm of the same name, run by Les Gastrophes. On the banks of the Pede pond, Titouan Bussere (ex-Demoiselles) and Nathalie Vanderpas (ex-Le Local, Habibi), both in the kitchen, Pauline Canon, serving guests, and Adrien Cagan, popping open bottles, defend the food sovereignty of west Brussels six days a week. That means ultra-short supply chains, rescuing unsold goods or using their own crops, menus that change weekly and sliding scale pricing based on your ability to pay. The evening we went, the dishes were bursting with inspiration: the signature œuf parfait with charred leeks and citrus fruits; a really tasty mushroom croquette pimped out with za’atar, pickled shimeji mushrooms and a lambic coulis; juicy chicken supreme served with orange zested polenta and a rich sage jus; before finishing with a sweet combination of pistachio mascarpone, homemade summer berry sorbet and airy meringue – enough to make you want to come back the next day. The weekend bonus? The generous brunch buffet, with salads, soup, spreads, cheeses, eggs every way, vegetarian and meat dishes, cookies, cakes and pastries. // Jean Gourmand

FEELING THIRSTY? There’s something for every craving, from the natural Beaujolais Whole Lotta Love (€34 a bottle), to beers from Brasserie de la Mule (draft pilsners at €2.80 for 330 ml) and the delicious no-low drinks, like Trottinette, an alcohol-free lager from Drink Drink (€4.50 for 330 ml) or homemade yuzu and mandarin kefir (€5)
PRICE: Lunch menu €25 (standard price) or €10 (lowest price) and dessert €4, dinner menus €45-55 (3-4 courses), starters €14, mains €20, desserts €12.