SABRINA PALMISANO, FOUNDER BOUCLE D'OR STORE, IN BRUSSELS
Except for one year spent in Paris obtaining her DEA in International Relations, Sabrina Palmisano has always lived in Brussels. She worked for several years as minister attaché and then as a collaborator inside the administration in charge of asylum applications (especially after the Rwandan genocide in 1994).
In 2002, her daughter Hannah was born and this prompted Sabrina to make a radical career change: "I decided to stop everything and created Boucle d'Or." Inspired by her curly blonde-haired baby, and the new whimsical universe that is childhood, she created a dreamlike boutique: Boucle d'Or. (In English Boucle d'Or refers to the old fairy tale Goldilocks). It features a selection of lovely brands for children (Finger in the Nose, Bonton, Ketiketa, April Showers, Atsuyo & Akiko) as well as wooden toys, books, furniture and poplin bed linen. In short, it feels great shopping here and we are not the only ones who feel this way, Boucle d'Or is listed amongst the favorite boutiques of trendy moms in Brussels.
IN BRUSSELS WITH SABRINA PALMISANO
Eating out with the kids. Since Hannah became a teenager, our habits have changed a lot! Hannah has always been used to eating well. She has become a fine gourmet eater, sensitive to good products and seasonal food. She likes to eat a salmon tataki at ICI (the neo-canteen opened by Saskia and Marine near Brugman Square) or a wabi (a kind of crêpe bread prepared each day with different spices) at WABI, the new location of ICI girls, near the ponds of Ixelles (fresh products, subtle association of flavors, awesome fresh juices, cream budwig etc).
But Hannah, like all teenagers, is also fond of burgers. Manhattn's Burgers, Avenue Louise, is the place to go for great burgers. A cool (but noisy) atmosphere is guaranteed! It feels like being in NY, with lots of young people and Frank Sinatra playing in the background!
For brunch: we love to go to Dillens, a charming old Brussels bar at Saint-Gilles redecorated by a band of friends. Their brunch options are exquisite: chachouka, beef gravlax, low-temperature cooked eggs, fresh fruit pancakes, fresh juices and cinnamon, lavender, infusions... The ambiance is great, and service is efficient in this hipsters' spot!
For a good vegetarian burger in a bohemian-chic setting, I recommend the CHYL brunch, rue de l'Aurore.
Finally, for a brunch in the heart of trendy Brussels, go run Chez Franz, rue Franz Merjay. Be aware, during the summer season, seats on the sunny terrace are in high demand.
Grabbing a snack. We have our little ritual: every Tuesday after classes, we meet at Gaudron Place Brumant for a delicious piece of bread accompanied by a tea Tchaï.
Shopping for the kids. For fashion shops, I have given Hannah a taste of fine clothes. She chose old-fashioned, vintage Reebok, Adidas, and Fila sweatshirts, very 80's style at Rocking Road (67 High Street in the flea market district). The person who runs this shop is a former biker with a very personal and charismatic style. You can spend hours looking at everything! On Sunday's, the shop organizes live jazz, rock and blues concerts. A must-see!
Another second hand but luxurious version is Lady Dandy. Priscilla the owner has exquisite taste and selects only the finest. Between bags by Stella McCartney and Balenciaga, a perfect Saint Laurent, a pair of shoes by Chloe, and Louboutin, a dress by Alaia, we do not know which to choose. Needless to say, this is paradise for fashionista teenagers!
For good basics, I take Hannah to APC: think pretty knit sweaters, loose fringed scarves, soft pullovers...
For decor and accessories, Hannah is a fan of the concept store Rose, Rue de l'Aqueduc in the Châtelain district: small cases and kits, postcards, scented candles, Macon & Lesquoy brooches, Rifle Paper Co. stationery... This is the perfect place to find gifts for girlfriends.
As for me, I love going crazy at Scènes de Ménage, a delightful shop in Ixelles. You can find furniture, cushions, plaids, tableware - both new and old... In short, a real Ali Baba cave!
Two steps from Ixelles ponds, I also like Le Petit Coin for its vintage furniture, opaline suspensions, and ceramics.
Finally, I dream in front of the windows of the Brussels antiquarian and decorator Jean Claude Jacquemart, rue Darwin. A pure beauty!
Your favorite activities on a sunny day. On sunny days, we relax on a deck chair at Tenbosch Park (a very well maintained park in the heart of a residential area set in a beautiful botanical environment) and in the summer, we love to hang out on the chairs of Café Belga overlooking the Ixelles ponds.
Your favorite activities on a rainy day. When it rains (or not actually), we go and see an exhibition at the Wiels, a center of contemporary art showing works of both emerging artists and more established national and international. They have a great bookstore with a wide choice of publications around contemporary art, photography, architecture and some other nice goodies.
We also like to walk in the Saint-Hubert Royal Galeries, under the huge glass roof. We first make a stop at Mary, an absolutely exquisite chocolate artisan (the packaging is also lovely), then we stop to drink hot chocolate at Mokafé surrounded by grannies (we love the old fashioned atmosphere!) And we end at Tropismes, the finest bookstore in the world where one always finds a book from an unknown author that has not yet been read (very selective selection).
Sleeping in Brussels with the kids. Without hesitation the Jam hôtel with a pool on the rooftop! A kind of Brussels Mama Shelter decorated by Lionel Jadot, one of Belgium's star designers.
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Don' t miss Boucle D'Or if coming to Brussels!
(Rue du Tabellion, Notarisstraat 12, 1050 Ixelles/Phone: +32 2 649 96 39)