Friday, May 1, 2026

Pannel Discussion to Celebrate Pride Month

It is great the support that my company gives to ERGs (Employee Resource Groups). 

As part of the Pride Month, I participated in a panel discussion regarding change (at work, in your community, of yourself). Great discussion and really happy to be an active ally of this great community!

Jun 20th, 2023.

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Restaurant Session (in Lommel, Belgium): Cuchara

For lunch, we went to Lommel to one of our favorite restaurants: Cuchara✨✨ from chef Jan Tournier.

They also have a terrace. But actually it was so warm that we decided to stay inside enjoying the air conditioner 😊

We love the decoration.
 
On the big urn, the menu.
 
The black wall - an artwork from Esther Barend.

The glass chandelier is also a piece of art.

I had an Aperitief Chuchara (I think 😊), with yuzu, bergamot, Granny Smith apple and vodka.
[Aperitief op basis van Yuzu, Bergamot, Granny Smith appel and vodka]
 
Roger had the non-alcoholic aperitif: Everleaf Tonic "Marine" 0%. With bergamot, kelp and sand horn.
[Bergamot, kelp and zanddorn] 

The first dish of the lunch menu: tomato. The tomato soup had so much flavour!
 
Eel.

Dexter style cutlery holder 😊
 
Poor Roger. We did the bandage every day new, but he still need to use it for some days to protect the stitches.
 
Lobster.

Delicious!
 
 
This dish is a potato mille-feuille with bacon. A homage to his granny and really good! 😋
 
Spelt bread with...
 
 
...a cauliflower dip.
 
For the next dishes, I had a glass of 2021 Niederberg Helden Riesling GG from Schloss Lieser Thomas Haag.
 
Roger had a mocktail.

The menu would normally continue with lobster and then lam. As we don't like to eat lam, they did a change for us: instead of the lam, we got the lobster as main dish. And replacing the lobster as starter, we got the tuna. We loved it 😍
 
Tuna. This dish is amazing!
 
Quick view to the station where the dishes are plated.
 
As main dish, the lobster. Excellent!
 
As dessert, Dame Blanche. The fine chocolate crackers are not my favorite.
 
To finish, espresso and praliné as gourmandise.
 
As well as a sweet surprise 😊

As always, an excellent gastronomic experience!
 
Jun 16th, 2023.

Friday, April 24, 2026

Visiting the Radio Forest (Neerpelt, Belgium)

 
After check-out from our hotel, we went to Neerpelt to visit the Radio Forest. It is a radio station, but it also includes several mobile sound installations in the forest, such as the Music Boxes, Whispering Ears and Musiscopes.
  
 Very bucolic place (and interesting😊).
 
Jun 16th, 2023.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

Breakfast at Hotel Park Broekhuizen (in Leersum, Netherlands)

Going down...
 
...for breakfast.

Not really my decoration style but...
 
...a nice view...
 
...to the terrace where we had dinner the night before.
 
The bridge over the lake looks very romantic 😊 
 
Breakfast was served at the table.
 
I had egg Benedict with salmon. 
 
Bye-bye!
 
Regarding this hotel, I'm sad to say that we wouldn't go back. The building from outside is really impressive. But the room was nothing special, and the entire atmosphere was a bit stiff. Not our style. Joaninha Bacana does not recommend it.
 
Jun 16th, 2023.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Restaurant Session (in Leersum, Netherlands): Voltaire

In the evening, we went for dinner to restaurant Voltaire✨ from chef Arturo Dalhuisen. The official entrance...
 
...is in front of the building, but as we were staying in the hotel, we went directly from the inside. 
 
The weather was really nice and warm, so we stayed...
 
...on the terrace enjoying the view...
 
...to the lake and the garden.
 
Starting with the aperitif and...
 
...some first bites. Delicious😋
 
  
The first dish of the menu: yellow tail tuna | basil | tomato | ginger
 
Scallop | duck liver | kohlrabi | sambai
 
With the scallop, a glass of 2020 Chablis Broc de Biques from Ami
 
Cheers!
 
Turbot | chrolofyll | asparagus | morels 
 
Sweetbread | eggplant | cannelloni | ponzu 
 
With the fourth dish, a glass of 2018 Bourgogne "Les Charmes" Chardonnay from Thibault Liger-Belair 
 
As main dish, beef | shiitake | Parmesan cheese | black garlic.
 
With a glass of 2018 Tinto from Antonio Madeira. 
 
Across the trees... 
 
...a beautiful sunset!
 
Sweet time! A little sweet amuse before dessert.
 
 
For Roger, liquorice | coffee | hazelnut | caramel.

I got an alternative (as I hate liquorice). 
 
With dessert, a glass of 2006 Riesling Auslese Berncasteler Doctor from Weingut Witwe Dr. H. Thanisch. Very nice! 
 
The second dessert: raspberry | guave | lime.
  
Finishing the dinner with coffee...
 
...and a chocolate praliné.
 
Jun 15th, 2023.