Discover Benelux | A Taste of the Benelux | Bistro Brasserie Koeppchen & Grand Café de la Gare
A fresh approach to traditional Luxembourgish food TEXT: ANNA VILLELEGER | PHOTOS: KOEPPCHEN
This family-friendly bistro on the banks of Luxembourg’s Mosel river valley is considered an institution with a history going back to 1907. Delicious food, friendly service and a cosy atmosphere is what you will find here at Koeppchen. Alongside traditional cuisine, the young team has taken a fresh approach – so all the most popular dishes such as Mosel fried fish remain on the menu, but burgers and a variety of contemporary dishes are available too. Other best-sellers include chicken puff pastry, flour dumplings, steaks galore and the hugely popular veal cordon bleu with local cheese and ham. Another big attraction is Koeppchen’s extensive Luxembourgish Mosel valley wine list, as nowhere else in the world will you find a list so dedicated solely to Luxembourgish wine. And, given that many local wine producers are regulars here, you may be lucky enough to
find yourself sitting next to one when you drop in for your ‘friture de la Moselle’. The team at Koeppchen deal directly with most of the valley’s wine producers, so they are real ambassadors for the whole valley, especially for the Riesling, the pride and joy of the Mosel valley. There are also over 30 different types of gin and tonic concoctions to choose from, as well as an array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails.
So, when you are next passing through Luxembourg, why not take a detour and enjoy a traditional meal and a delicious glass of local wine in this countryside bistro high up on the banks of the river Mosel? You will not be disappointed and you can be sure that most produce is locally sourced and all of it is super fresh. Web: www.koeppchen.lu
A contemporary restaurant in an iconic location TEXT: CHÉRINE KOUBAT | PHOTOS: GRAND CAFÉ DE LA GARE
Housed in the emblematic Liège-Guillemins railway station, Le Grand Café de la Gare has defeated all odds. Despite its utilitarian location, the streamlined restaurant has become a destination eatery for locals, where tourists mingle with local commuters and regulars. But do not expect a stuffy welcome here: with its buzzing atmosphere and relaxed, spacious setting, it is a real hive of activity.
for breakfast, drinks, or a quick bite to eat, and a restaurant area at the back. “Considering our location, we have an amazing proportion of returning customers. In particular, our restaurant attracts a lot of regulars, whereas the brasserie is mostly visited by people on the go,” says Stassart. Aside from the fish and duck specialities, old-world dishes, such as black pudding, mille-feuille and grilled pig’s trotters, are a key attraction here. Season-
al recipes are also updated on a weekly basis. Clients keep coming back for the quality of the food and the warmth of the welcome, while the energetic ballet of travellers provides them with endless entertainment. The restaurant is open all year round. Web: www.grandcafedelagare.be
In keeping with the station’s stunning design – the most photographed building in the city – the well-established Grand Café de la Gare serves traditional, regional fare in contemporary, minimalist surroundings. The venue changed hands in 2017 and the dynamic duo now in charge – successful entrepreneur Stéphan Uhoda and young manager Pierre Stassart – made the conscious decision to maintain the venue’s winning formula: a classic, French-style brasserie area Issue 61 | January 2019 | 61