Discover the atmosphere of our "place to be" through this small movie (3'15'')
A word or two from Rudy Vanlancker
“Dear Clients & Friends,
September will be another exceptional month for Léon. Léon Beer will be the centre of attention at a major European travel event organised by the prestigious international hotel group Marriott. Once again Chez Léon will be playing its part as an ambassador for Belgium.
And hold on tight because in October, Léon will really be taking off. But I’ll be telling you more about that next time…….”
Léon's September
Yes, Marriott is another fan of Léon beer which will be flowing freely at their ‘Global Pursuits’ exhibition in Paris, 4-5 September. Chez Léon is the official supplier to the Belgian stand and to mark this new partnership we have invited Marriott’s Sam Van Campenhout for his comments further on in ‘What others say’.
Yes, and don’t forget that this year’s mussels (as we mentioned several times in the July edition) are trulyexceptional. There are mussels to suit every taste at Chez Léon. And they can be exotic, like Alexandre’s choice below of ‘mussels with Léon beer and endives’. In fact there’s a choice of 14 different mussels’ dishes on the menu. Anne Edwards from J&P (UK) Ltd recently emailed us to say: “The mussels were superb. Next time we go to Brussels we will definitely book Chez Leon again.”
Yes, and there’s still time for some alfresco dining before autumn sets in and the restaurant world moves indoors. We are all hoping and praying for a soft September.
Alexandre's choice
Sadly, the holidays are over for most of us. So Alexander’s choices are a little warmer this month, although his desserts still remind us of long summer days, which we are hoping will continue for yet a while …..
Salade au fromage de Maredsous (A salad with soft Belgian Maredsous cheese)
9.95 €
Cassolette de scampis à l’ail (Scampi stewed with fresh garlic)
15.75 €
Cuisses de grenouilles à la diable (Frogs legs in a hot tomato, onion, red pepper sauce)
10.50 €
Fricassée de dindonneau moutarde à l’ancienne (Fricassee of young turkey in a course-grained mustard sauce)
12.95 €
Moules à la bière Léon et aux chicons (Mussels with Léon beer and chopped Belgian endives)
19.75 €
Filet de cabillaud aux crevettes grises (Fillets of cod in a grey shrimp sauce)
17.85 €
Crêpes Mikado (Thin pancakes filled with vanilla ice-cream and covered with chocolate sauce)
7.25 €
Banana Split
7.95 €
Coupe glacée « Kriek » (Ice-cream dessert lightly flavoured with ‘Kriek’ cherry beer)
7.45 €
And don’t forget our free menu for children under 12, accompanied by their parents. Take a look.
What's on near Chez Léon?
September is busy in Brussels with an incredible variety of events, plus the new seasons for music, opera, ballet and theatre. It’s hard to make a choice but here are a few ideas:
Design 2007, 9 – 30 September Design Week changes its name to Design September. For 3 weeks there’ll be a series of events on the theme of design taking place in various key locations around the centre of Brussels. www.designseptember.be
Brussels Heritage Days, 15-16 September Behind the scenes and the facades, Brussels opens up some of its many its inner secrets…. www.monument.irisnet.be
And the parking is always easy - there are several parkings nearby, with a total capacity of 5.000 spaces.
Just forward this eNewletter to family & friends, and arrange to meet up with them too, around one of these many events. Reserve your table on 02 511 14 15
The smiling faces of Chez Léon
Still smiling after 40 years at Chez Léon, Mario Zucca is ‘Directeur de Salle’, responsible for 35 waiters and the smooth running of the restaurant’s service.
A long time at Chez Léon? “Yes, I came here in 1967 and have been here the longest of anyone. I’ve worked with 4 generations of Vanlanckers!
I was born in Italy in a small village near Turin and started working in my grandparents’ hotel at the age of 13. I went on to work in luxury hotels in Italy, Switzerland, Holland and Germany.
I came to Belgium when I was 20 and spent a year and a half at the Hotel Metropole. I was planning to go back to Germany, but then one night I went out dancing, met my wife, and stayed!”
Magic moments? “Many! So many celebrities have come to eat at Chez Léon, and still do. I always remember one internationally famous Belgian, harmonica playing Toots Thielemans at the opening of a new part of the restaurant on the 1980’s.
Famous foreigners? – French singer, Jean Jacques Goldman came here for dinner one night after a concert in 1985 with the Red Army Choir and spontaneously they all started singing!”
Chez Léon since the renovations? “We get a lot of compliments from clients, especially about the 1st floor which is much better.”
Your favourite Chez Léon dish? “I’m Italian, what do you expect? Spaghetti Léon with mussels, shrimps, mushrooms and cream sauce, but always accompanied by water when I’m at work!”
And in your free time? “Again I’m Italian and of course love football. In Belgium I support Beveren Waas. My wife was at school with a number of their former players. In Italy? no, not Juventus, Inter-Milan is my team.”
Mario is a fountain of knowledge on restaurant history & traditions as well as of fascinating stories which one could go on listening to for hours…
What's others say?
Léon’s guest this month is the Manager of the Hotel Marriott at the Stock Exchange/Bourse in Brussels. Sam Van Campenhout, now approaching 40, has been with the Marriott for 10 years. He has a wife of Hungarian origin and is father of two wonderful boys of 9 and 6.
Marriott International & Chez Léon? Marriott, just like Chez Léon, has the real spirit of a family enterprise, where the family is still very much present maintaining their traditional standards.
Marriott International Inc. is the top hospitality company in the world. Its humble origins go back to a root beer stall opened by J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott in 1927 in Washington DC. Today Marriott International operates almost 2800 properties in the United States and 69 other countries.
What does Léon mean for you? A quality restaurant, with a good atmosphere and sense of humour, which is a great place for the family, friends or colleagues to meet up around a casserole of mussels with a delicious Léon beer….
What I appreciate about Chez Léon is Madame France ’s telephone welcome and the personal touch of the Maìtres Ds. They are all so flexible and ready to help.
The ‘brasserie’ is also set out in a cosy way, where you don’t get the impression you’re in a big restaurant and feel lost among so many clients. And yet I know Chez Léon serves hundreds of customers every day.
Don’t forget the free children’s menu for children under 12 accompanied by their parents. Take a look.
Just forward this eNewletter to family & friends, and arrange to meet them too.
Reserve your table on 02 511 14 15
Chez Leon is open 365 days a year non-stop
Sunday to Thursday, 11h30-23h00 Friday & Saturday, 11h30-23h30 Individual bookings by telephone only: 32 2 511 14 15
Chez Leon has special menus for groups of 20 to 350 guests. Contact: Mrs France Vander Schueren by phone (as above), fax: 32 2 514 02 31 or email: welcome@leon1893.com
Chez Leon is right next to the Grand’ Place in the historic centre of Brussels. It’s easily accessible by bus, tram & Metro. There are several parkings within walking distance, with a total capacity of 5.000 spaces.
And if you are feeling ‘green’, you can even come on a rented bicycle. The nearest Cyclocity pick up & drop-off point is either Place d’Espagne or Place de la Monnaie.
VIP card
playing its part as an ambassador for Belgium.
Design 2007, 9 – 30 September
Brussels Heritage Days, 15-16 September
Still smiling after 40 years at Chez Léon, Mario Zucca is ‘Directeur de Salle’, responsible for 35 waiters and the smooth running of the restaurant’s service.
“Many! So many celebrities have come to eat at Chez Léon, and still do. I always remember one internationally famous Belgian, harmonica playing Toots Thielemans at the opening of a new part of the restaurant on the 1980’s.
Léon’s guest this month is the Manager of the Hotel Marriott at the Stock Exchange/Bourse in Brussels. Sam Van Campenhout, now approaching 40, has been with the Marriott for 10 years. He has a wife of Hungarian origin and is father of two wonderful boys of 9 and 6.
beer….
Sunday to Thursday, 11h30-23h00
Chez Leon is right next to the Grand’ Place in the historic centre of Brussels. It’s easily accessible by bus, tram & Metro. 
