Bébé, Chouchou et moi

Restaurant number 020

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In the charming, pedestrianised road that runs from Place Jourdan, Francis Hocquet runs his restaurant, “Bébé, Chouchou et moi”. “I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was 15”, he explained to QuellePassion. “First of all I opened the icecream-bar next door, then as soon as I have the chance, I expanded it and opened the restaurant  with a clear idea of what I wanted to do for my customers.”


The restaurant is one of the few in Brussels to specialise in food based on Bintjes, a sort of potato which has been grown in Europe since 1911 and which is a versatile ingredient. The Bintje is the potato used for the frites belges. “In this area, everyone sells frites,” adds Francis, “but personally I wanted to put this historic potato in the place it deserves in Belgian cooking.”


The passion of this restaurant owner for the most widely eaten legume in the world is truly catching. In modern, welcoming premises, Francis works on the Bintjes with fresh market produce. The Bintje with sautéed foie gras is a dish that Francis particularly likes to prepare and one whose “taste and simplicity” he likes.


Although the restaurant has no wine list, the cellar contains some wines from France and elsewhere. However, Francis recommends the house wine. “It’s a good Côtes de Blaye that I serve by the centimetre. It goes well with the Bintjes and you only pay for what you drink.”