A cheerless chill. Watching yet another Netflix production, I felt tricked into a mind-numbing waste of time once more. That uncanny feeling of seeing without believing. Until I found my salvation: Video Express and chill.
I enter Juan Borbolla’s shop, the last videoclub in Brussels. Rental DVDs abound. Juan is a prophet preaching the power of the motion picture since 1999. His goal? To spread his personal visions. But video killed the radio stars and now internet is killing the video stores. In the last decade, the number of video shops in Belgium fell from several hundreds to a couple of tens. Revenues plummeted. But Juan got by with a little help from his friends. In 2016, Amis du Vidéo Express organized a crowdfunding campaign to counter the loss of clientele. It allowed Juan to continue his daily movie services.
I stroll along the displays. Nostalgia gets its grip on me. I'm taken back to more tactile days. I caress the cases. The more than 25,000 movies seem chaotic. But clusters of Flemish, Iranian, Japanese, Russian, Korean & Italian cinema appear. Many smaller-scale productions unknown to me. Instead of looking for specific genres, directors or actors, I randomly pick a movie for the sake of surprise.
And God is in the details: I receive a DVD case with a hand-drawn cartoon and I pay €2,48 (i.e. 100 franks, Belgium’s former currency). I return the copy too late and should be fined. But not really.
Juan knows the end is inevitable. But before the apocalypse, Video Express saves the neighborhood.
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I haven't yet been able to identify all the villages/churches marked on the small stone wall but I'm sure I will at some point!
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The Perché rooftop bar is on top of the JAM hotel, which is why not many people wander up here, but it's so worth it! It has a great view and comfy chairs.
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With a cozy interior and a pleasant scent of toasted coffee beans, Caleo offers different options for brunch, from viennoiseries to delicious pancakes.
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If you come with a group, I suggest taking the “Moriawase” (Japanese for “assortment”), a larger plate that is easier to share and to try different things.
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With an extravagant vintage decore, the bar takes its name from Queen Fabiola, a Spanish noblewoman who was a very beloved Queen consort of the Belgians.
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The name Nenu comes from the Vietnamese concept of “an nhau”, a style of drinking and eating culture, sharing small and large plates with friends & family.
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The stars of the menu are the homemade fluffy pancakes - an explosion of flavors, which come in different flavors, including a tiramisu and matcha version.
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One bite and you will forget all about your next day’s meetings or other adult-life tasks. Crispy fries and fried chicken come as an extra...
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As a meat lover, I absolutely enjoyed the dishes based on Iberic pork, including the spare ribs and the Jiang Rou Bao, which literally melted in my mouth.
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Peaking at my neighbors' plates, I decided to try the bass with garlic oil, ginger, and furikake, and the tartare de boeuf with pepper mousse and pickles on the side.
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At Piola the specialty of the house is the “Siciliana o’ Cornicione” pizza, but it is only for the bravest: it comes with a ricotta cheese stuffed crust.
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Mexican dishes with popular central American influences. But be ready to share: the options are way too many (and delicious) to just get one dish.
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