Spotlight On Belgian Instagrammer The Flying French Toast

Brussels foodie blogger Bruno Xuereb’s Instagram, the_flying_french_toast, is packed with mouth-watering pictures of meals. It’s also a handy profile to follow if you’re looking for new restaurants, bars, bakeries or even snack bars in the city.

How did you begin your foodie journey?

When I was a kid, I used to go into the kitchen while my parents were baking, to lick the bottom of the pots for scraps of dough. I guess I thought that learning how to cook would get me even more leftovers, and pretty soon it had become a passion.

How do you choose which food to photograph, or what restaurant, café or bakery to visit?

I am very curious, I love to walk the streets and discover new places, and when I have a good feeling about a nice café, a hidden bakery, or an exotic restaurant, I give it a try. Usually my curiosity is rewarded. I also have many foodie friends, so we exchange good places to eat.

What’s your inspiration in the way you capture Brussels’ delicious food?

I believe that when it comes to food, inspiration comes from the belly. I try to capture my experience, so I can remember it later. It is a really good feeling to just look at a picture I took, and instantly have the taste come back in my mouth. Also, as I said, I have many friends I like to share good places with, so this is a nice way to show them. I think food, like other pleasures, has to be shared in order to be complete.

What’s the best discovery you ever made in Brussels?

The first time I went to Brussels I passed by a small bakery. There was a smell of warm croissants, and there were some nice cakes displayed at the window, so I entered and tried their almond croissant. It was amazing. Now it is one of my favorite spots in Brussels, and the bakery is really cool; you can actually see the bakers prepare the pastries in front of you.

You call yourself a daring explorer of the taste jungle. Is there any dish that you call your favorite?

That is a tough one. There are many dishes that I can’t get enough of; creamy pumpkin soup, tiramisú, or Indian rice pudding (kheer), for example. But I am sure that I haven’t tried my favorite dish yet. That is why I keep exploring the taste jungle.

You don’t limit yourself to Belgium – how would you compare your experiences in other countries?

The difference is that I don’t have as much time to explore other countries as I have to explore Brussels, so my strategy for other cities is to look up places to eat in advance and try to contact locals for some tips. But I am definitely sad when I leave a city, knowing that there are so many places I haven’t tried. Actually, I still have a long list of places to try in Brussels too.

What foodie havens in Brussels do you recommend?

There are some really nice brunch places all around Brussels. I think restaurants and cafés surpass themselves to propose top quality brunches, because locals love to brunch at the weekends. Here are some examples for all budgets, tastes, and appetites: Les filles, L’oriento, Living room, L’industrie, L’orangerie du parc d’Egmont, Oma, and John & Rose.

What’s the one thing you love most about Brussels?

One of the good things about Brussels is that there is a great cultural diversity. And as a result, you can find all kinds of food. In the same street you can come across a Chinese bakery, a British butcher, a sea food deli, a Belgian meat restaurant, a French baker… You just have to keep an open mind, and be a bit curious, and you will love all the aspects that Brussels can offer.

About the author

Ayla Sileghem

Ayla is a 20-something Belgian with roots in other places. She teaches Japanese, writes pieces in English and is always open for a change. Raised in Kenya, she picked up English at a young age and still prefers writing in English instead of Dutch. She studied Japanese at the Catholic University of Leuven and did a Master’s degree in Journalism at the Catholic University of Brussels. Ayla also spent some time in Japan, at Fukuoka Women’s University. She loves reading about history, and only remembers the funny facts. Her family includes a boyfriend who does the cooking and a rabbit that loves watching the Wizard of Oz.