I have lived around Ixelles ever since I moved to Brussels, but only a few years ago I started going to the Flagey Sunday market regularly. In these few years I have noticed a slow drift from a fruit, vegetables and meat market to a gathering spot for the locals living in the area. And I love it.

I actually find myself looking forward to my weekly trip to the market.

At first I check the fruit and vegetable stall to do my weekly shopping. I skip the meat wagon, mainly because I don’t like to stand in line to buy my roasted chicken (which is actually cheap and very good!). Next in line is the fresh pasta seller where I chat about holidays and which kind of pasta I’ll eat for dinner that night (I particularly love the pumpkin ravioli, but they’re all good). I can’t miss the Greek stall for some feta and spanakopita. Finally I buy a few kinds of olives and spreads and then I’m ready for the biggest question of the day: what I am having for lunch!

Not easy when you have African, Moroccan, Italian, Indian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, oysters and more to choose from. They are all good and most of them even have tables and chairs where you can comfortably eat your food and drink that glass of champagne you absolutely need to have.

Now you see why I love my Sunday market?