Brussels: An experimental culinary place in the European quarter

BRUSSELS, Belgium – This week, a new urban culinary space will be launched in the heart of Brussels.

BRUSSELS, Belgium – This week, a new urban culinary space will be launched in the heart of Brussels. “European cooking” is an experimental culinary experience on Place Jean Rey, in the European quarter, offering the possibility to Brussels citizens, expats, tourists and residents to share a table, a barbecue and recipes.

This is an experiment to test new uses for this public space and to build a more desirable neighbourhood. The setting of the installation will increase the attractiveness of Place Jean Rey and will offer the possibility to users to get to know the shops which have recently opened their doors in this new commercial pole.


The project will transform Place Jean Rey into an experimental cooking lab’ providing the red picnic tables “European canteen”, which have been launched last year in the European quarter, extended with amenities such as a BBQ installation, cooking tables, an illuminated canopy, and an urban garden with around 600 edible plants.

Alderwoman of Economic Affairs of the City of Brussels, Marion Lemesre, has participated from the start in the creation of this project, in close collaboration with the shops of Place Jean Rey, to ensure a perfect integration of the project in this new neighbourhood of Brussels.

“In this European quarter, where more and more mixity can be observed, with the arrival of new inhabitants and shops, it is important to imagine activities for this new public space, which is Place Jean Rey, that contribute to the creation of an identity in line with the desires of the inhabitants”, says the liberal elected Alderwoman.

“The launch of European Cooking will allow creative Brussels talent to be put on the European culinary map! Moreover, the innovative approach for the European quarter, in a difficult economic context, will be a major advantage in terms of attractiveness and I strongly believe that it will reinforce the development of the commercial offer of the European quarter”, says Minister of Economy Didier Gosuin.

The cooking lab’ will host different types of events from European culinary workshops to self-organized barbecues for testing new recipes in order to create a lively space of meeting and cultural exchange:

Take part in a cooking event

As from Wednesday June 29, during 4 consecutive Wednesdays, 4 culinary events will be organised after business hours in a convivial and festive setting. Each event will highlight recipes from a different European country, offering the possibility to participants to recreate these recipes with Belgian products, under the guidance of a professional chef/blogger.

Participants are invited to book their places in advance via TicketScript on the website europeancanteen.be

The urban experiment is a project of the non-profit association eQuama (European Quarter Area Management Assocation), developed by the urban design agency Talking Things. The cooking events are organised by LUC, the garden has been created by Atelier Grue and the construction and the installation has been handled by OpenAir.

“More and more citizens of Brussels and visitors find their way to the European quarter. We want to give the public space in this district back to the people. Small interventions such as “European cooking” enable people to meet each other. With this initiative, we want to bring back life to Place Jean Rey for inhabitants and visitors of the European Institutions”, says Minister of Mobility and Public Works Pascal Smet.

The project is made possible by the support of the Brussels Capital Region, the City of Brussels, visit.brussels, The National Lottery, Belview, Urbicoon, Befimmo, Kokuban, Chez Mauricette, Living Room, MeetMeat and Accoya.



About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...