Welcome to an always sunny Chez Léon !

A word or two from Rudy Vanlancker Dear Clients & Friends, You’ve perhaps read or heard that it’s still possible that VAT on restaurant meals will come down from 21% to 6%. Even if I were one of the only restaurant owners or the only one to do so, I would apply this VAT reduction immediately and in full to the complete benefit of my clients from the very day this law came into force. Yes, you have read correctly – as soon as this law is passed, you will be the first to benefit and I will be delighted. In the meantime, I’m keeping my prices extremely competitive, and since our street terrace has already been open for some time now, I wish a very sunny meal here at Chez Léon. Bon Appétit! Rudy Vanlancker

Léon's highlights  Guess who is coming to dinner! Chef Alexandre describes how on Thursday, 5th March he was cooking quietly in the kitchen in the early evening, when the restaurant got a surprise visit to find out if they had a table for 6. After all the necessary security checks, who should walk into the restaurant, but US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton on her first visit to Europe since she took office! And she looked very natural and smiling. “The clients got quite a surprise too”, remembers Alexandre, “especially two young French hikers with their Guide du Routard. They were so amazed they even forgot their wallets at the end of their meal and had to come back to get them the next day!” “That’s Chez Léon”, says Alexandre. “It’s like going to a basketball game in the States and finding you’re sitting near Tom Cruise. Here at Chez Léon it’s the same, anyone can sit down next to anyone.” “We were very flattered”, concludes Alexandre in modest Belgian mode. Chez Léon goes Baltic At the end of March, Chez Léon partnered with Brussels Airlines for the inaugural flight of their new Brussels-Vilnius service. “We sent Léon beer, our best glasses, and ‘mascot’ Serge to serve the local VIPs in Vilnius with his legendary Belgo-Brussels smile and love of the golden brew. Lithuania was impressed. And so was Serge, it was the first time he had flown in his life! Thanks to the flight attendant’s charming smile and a calming Léon beer, he arrived safely in Vilnius” commented Commercial Director, Thierry Scheers. REMINDER: Magritte Museum opens 2 June Over 200 of the artist’s works will be on display and it’s as big for Brussels as Van Gogh has been for Amsterdam. But don’t forget, you’ll always need food for the body as well as the spirit, and it’s just down the road to Chez Léon and within easy walking distance. www.musee-magritte-museum.be

Léon's highlights Your name’s LEON? …Then you are indeed in luck. All the Leons who celebrate their Birthday at the Restaurant Chez Leon will enjoy a free meal and Léon 1893 beer, provided they are accompanied by a minimum of 3 paying guests (That makes a table for a minimum of 4 people) If you have any questions, call 02 511 14 15 and ask for France or Marie. Léon’s London success In January we took part in a big Marriott Hotels event at the famous Grosvenor House Hotel. At the end of the working day, guests came running to the Belgian stand crying “Give me a real Belgian beer!!”. They certainly appreciated Léon 1893 and it was good promotion again for Belgium and Marriott Brussels…And naturally Chez Léon. Léon @ EMIF 2009 As always Léon will be supporting Belgium at the European Meetings Industry Fair at Tour & Taxis, 18-19 March. Chez Léon will be on the Association Village stand this year, alongside MPI and SITE, and invites the meetings & events industry to come over and have a Léon 1893. Magritte’s own Museum opens 2 June One of the real highlights in 2009 for both Brussels and Chez Léon is the opening of the long-awaited museum, dedicated exclusively to our very own Brussels surrealist, René Magritte. Over 200 of the artist’s popular works will be on display and it’s going to be as big for Brussels as Van Gogh has been for Amsterdam. But remember you’ll always need food for the body as well as the spirit, and Chez Léon is within easy walking distance. www.musee-magritte-museum.be

Suggestions Chef Alexandre recommends the special group menu on offer during weekday lunchtimes – a bargain at 13.65 Euros with one drink included. He also comes up with his own specials, according to what’s available in the market. There’s bound to be some new spring specials. Just click here to go straight to the online menu in English.

What's on near Chez Léon ! Yes, it’s Spring and the city is livelier than ever. If you’re bringing a group to Brussels, you’ll find that Chez Léon is never very far away. It’s a great place for a group lunch, either before or after a museum or exhibiton visit. And there’s a coach park close by in Rue Cardinal Mercier, right next to the Central Station. Here are just 3 highlights for the month of May. Iris Days, 8-10 May Brussels celebrates its emblematic Iris with a weekend of concerts, street events and entertainment all over the city. On the Saturday, it’s ‘la fête de l’Europe’ when the European institutions open to the public for the day and on the Sunday, the whole city centre turns pedestrian. http://www.fetedeliris.be   On 9 May in the European Quarter http://www.fetedeleurope.eu Sophie Calle @ Bozar, 29 May-13 September Following highly successful shows at the French National Library, the Venice Biennale and Beaubourg in Paris, Sophie Calle is coming to Brussels for the first time for an exhibition at Bozar. This talented French creator of ‘artistic productions’ will be presenting a collection of her works. www.bozar.be Brussels Jazz Marathon, 29-31 May It’s time for a laid-back long weekend of jazz over 3 days with over 160 performances all over Brussels, both outdoors on stage and indoors in clubs and cafés. The nearest stages to Chez Léon are in the Sablon or at St. Catherine. www.brusselsjazzmarathon.be And there’s plenty more…… To see everything that’s on near Léon ….and for information on all Brussels events www.brusselsinternational.be And don’t forget to drop over to Chez Léon for a bite before or after your favourite exhibition, concert, film… The parking is easy - there are over 5.000 parking spaces nearby. Just forward this eNews to family & friends, and arrange to meet up @ Chez Léon. Reserve your table on 02 511 14 15

The smiling faces of Chez Léon This is very much Alexandre’s edition. Alexandre Vanlancker is Rudy Vanlancker’s elder son and has recently taken over as Executive Chef at Chez Léon. Your studies? I spent a year at Namur and 3 years at Limal studying hotel management. After work experience at a restaurant in Nivelles, I came to Chez Léon. How long @ Léon? I worked weekends and in the holidays since I was 14, but started full-time when I was 19. That was 12 years ago. And I’ve done everything here – security, maintenance, washing up, everything except administration. Your job? I’m in charge of the kitchen and the two floor-restaurant. I have 70 staff working with me, but only two report direct – the head chef and my Restaurant Director, Mario. The most difficult part of my job? (Ed. And he thinks long and hard). It’s the everyday planning of the staff and the raw materials we need. We can have anything between 500 and 2000 clients in one day – the record was 2250. So you can see how important it is to get it right. It gets easier with experience…. Your favourite Léon dish My tastes are simple – a grilled steak with ‘frites’ and a béarnaise or pepper sauce. I always eat lunch here and then take something home to the family for dinner. Léon beer? Everyone in my neighbourhood drinks Léon Beer. My garage is still full of cans…. Hobbies? My family takes up all my free time – my wife, Carmen and our small daughter, Elisa Vanlancker. Yes, I’m an Anderlecht supporter and I like golf, but there’s no time any more for team sports like go-kart racing….

What other says Baudouin Gillis is Vice-President Belux of one the world’s most successful travel agency chains, Carlson Wagonlit Travel which he joined in 1988. He was born in Brussels, although his roots are in the south in Lustin, on the River Meuse between Namur and Dinant. He’s married with 4 children and 7 grandchildren…… to-date! Tell us a bit about Carlson Wagonlit Travel…. CWT has its origins in Belgium. It was in 1872 when Georges Nagelmackers founded the international Wagon-Lits company and he also set up the first ever travel agency to sell rail tickets. Today Carlson Wagonlit Travel is a world leader with a turnover of $26 billion and a team of 22.000 staff. Here in Belux we employ 550 people and our turnover is 500m euros. Apart from specialising in business travel, we also sell leisure tourism products & services. Chez Léon for you? Chez Léon has always meant ‘mussels & frites’ to me. When I was young it was always a treat to go out to a restaurant, and the biggest treat of all was Chez Léon. It’s a restaurant which has kept its spirit and soul without turning into an impersonal fast food outlet. It’s not only a place where you always eats well, but you’re relaxed there and so is the atmosphere.   Brussels & Chez Léon? Brussels & Chez Léon have much in common. • Both are often better known abroad than by the Belgians themselves. • Both have an international reputation. • Both have that special ‘zwanze’ atmosphere of friendliness and simplicity. • Both say to visitors and natives alike, ‘it’s good here, it feels like home’.   Your favourite Léon dish? I have two – ‘mussels & frites’ and ‘américain (steak tartare) & frites’ . And the beer? For me personally, it’s not the atmosphere for wine. Only a Léon beer is really refreshing.   A last thought….. I hope that in a few years time my grand-children will be able to come for a meal in the same spirit as today, and that the owners of Chez Léon will continue to pass on this independent spirit from generation to generation.

Chez Léon - The simple facts 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 230 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 5.000 parking spaces within walking distance. 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.