Le Petit Mercado

Where’s the hippest spot for Saint-Gilles locals to stock up on provisions? Le Petit Mercado, brought to you by Pia Renaudat and Mano de Robiano. Take a tour of this old bathroom fittings store with parquet floors and huge windows, moving in a clockwise direction around the central tiled island. Start with the primarily organic fruit and vegetables harvested by Terroirist; opposite, the display fridge stacked with cheese from La Fruitière (Trèfle du Perche, Bleu de Tremblay, pecorino romano), Italian charcuterie (pistachio mortadella, guanciale, speck, herby roast porchetta), green olives alla calce and pastries from Juliette Farges (tonka bean flan, caramel-miso brioche, cookies, croissants); then there’s the fridge shivering with Cypriot halloumi, Bioferme cream, stracciatella, Ligorio fresh pasta; and the shelves showing off organic or natural bottles from Pépins and Nestor, among others, plus Appelfabriek and Aixandri juices, local beers and other exciting rarities: coffee from Parlor Coffee Roasters roasted in Anderlecht, sardines from Galicia Balea, Swet Brussels hot sauces, and chips from Madrid… not to mention the dried flowers from Loulou too! // Ringo de Balmalon

THE HIDDEN GEM: Drive Me Nuts natural peanut butter, made in Belgium, €6.70 for a 300g jar.