Detavernier is the Patisserie
Carpe Diem is the Tea-room
Garden Room has off street outdoor seating
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Blog Post #91
BRUGGES, BELGIUM
UNESCO World Heritage location
dubbed "The Venice on the North)
This post is all about our
favorite dining spot.
Not only is the food divine, but the staff is most cordial
The decor is period, the music is classical, the fragrances are delectable and the owner, Stefaan, is engaging and oh so friendly. Our waiter, Jerome, is exceedingly efficient and takes complete our order without a notepad.
To be delivered swiftly. (his words)
The renovated facade holds two bricks carrying the inscription 1624, one of which is written in Roman numerals. (Yes, that is over 400 years ago) 1624 was the year when a certain Marco Cassetta bought three small houses on this spot. Later they were turned into a single house.
For the past hundred years, the house has been occupied by four generations of the same family.
The house owes much of its splendor to its six Bays and its crow-steppe gable. The facade of the house also shows several blind windows, once made to escape the city’s excessive housing taxes. In 1952 Gerard Brondel placed a statue of the Virgin Mary in a niche above the side gate to thank her for protection from WWII.
The charming interior of the house has been maintained in its original state during successive renovations with manufactured decorative copper objects in the “Flemish tearoom”. A heavy copper chandelier hangs in the center of the room with six arms decorated with cherubs heads. The stained glass windows denote four escutcheons: one of Brugges, one of sinners, one of the forger man and one of the original owner’s family. The walls are still paneled with the original wooden wainscoting along with a sculptured mantelpiece.
Stefaan Detavernier and Virgina Carleer welcome you to this beautiful, vintage venue in the heart of Bruges. They left the historic character when transforming it into the current business establishment. (description from the back of the menu)
Visit Belgium,
a never to be missed UNESCO city,
and Carpe Diem, a never to be missed Tea-room.
We love the food and the awesome coffee at Carpe Diem, but maybe even more importantly, we have found FAMILY there in the owner, Stefaan, and his amazing staff. It’s like we are all cast in roles for the imaginary Ballet, On Your Toes, that is set in an historic Belgian restaurant environment where we and the staff are all characters enjoying the moment, while we interact pleasurably together.
This morning we had the additional surprise of meeting Antoine, the owner's son, who works at the restaurant only on Sunday’s. At his regular job, Antione is a risk management analyst for a large flour mill here in Belgium. His college degree, in finance, was earned in the United States. Go Figure.
Cheers until next time,
Roger and Ron
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