The GAIA Health Blog

Some Healthy Food Fun:    The Wanderlust Food Diaries (of a chronic daydreamer)

"Seven Days"
(.... a.k.a.,    The Jane Restaurant,     Antwerp, Belgium)

On the Menu:   Seven Days of   "Brunch In Belgium" (European Style Brunch Inspirations)
Video:   The song "Seven Days", by Craig David

"Met this girl on Monday,   took her for a drink on Tuesday,   we were making love by Wednesday
....and on Thursday     ...and Friday     ...and Saturday    .............we chilled on Sunday"
    --Craig David (from the song "Seven Days")

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Not sure what's going on with these "Wanderlust Food Diaries" articles lately, but as soon as I see an inspiring photo shoot, the whole article jumps into my head and writes itself. I mean, the theme song jumps in my head, the food theme jumps in my head, and when applicable, the "female trigger incident" jumps in my head.

When I ran across the amazing photo shoot of the Jane Restaurant in Antwerp Belgium, the site of a former Military Hospital Chapel, this one was too easy, I said, "Pssssst, I can do this one in my sleep".

The story goes back to 2001, when I had the only "Seven Says" of my life where all my sexual, emotional, passionate, and erotic energy totally aligned and clicked full throttle with that of an equaly sexually charged and passionate woman. And I still can't get that "Seven Days" out of my head (It's what they call "memory burn" !!)

I was on the elevator going to my apartment in Chicago, and this girl, originally from Holland, but living in Belgium, was visiting her friend on my floor. Her name was Jana (not exactly the "Jane" name of the resturant, but close enough to feel a little creepy in my warped mind, as I scrolled through the photos of this Belgian restaurant)

"Long Story Short", Jana stuck a note on my door, we went out for a drink, and after that, we "went at it", for seven straight days....non stop!!! And brothers you know what I'm saying here when I say I was in RARE FORM!!! To this day, I put extra 45lb plates on the leg press machine at the gym in case I'm in that situation again :)

Jana was so stunningly sexy, one of those "Model Girls", but not stiff, arrogant, or cold. Strangely, totally warm and open, and funny, like a cute Comedian. I still can't process it til this day. Though she was on vacation, I had to work every weekday of that "Seven Days", but she would pull me back into the bed on my workday mornings, we'd go at it again, I'd come home for lunch, we'd go at it again (... and a special shout out to her amazing turkey and melted cheese on croissaints Jana made for me for lunch!)

Jana was wearing me out (typed with a smile). One of those seven days I told her I HAD to get back to work, not sure if she was joking, but she said "Come on Doug, one more time before you go". With my "Will Smith fake cool pose" on the way out, I said "You know why a man can't be a prostitute? Cause a man can't pull and 8 hour shift!"

My other cool joke was when she asked me to come over to Belgium and spend a week ("Seven Days") at her place, and I responded "Oh, so you want the 'home court advantage' in the USA vs. Europe, Sex-Marathon next time huh?" The problem was, she asked me to call her a week ("Seven Days") after she flew back to Belgium, but when I called, she was acting very flaky and stand-offish.

Found out later Jana had a fiancee over in Belgium she was having trouble with, but they patched everything up. Damn, it hit me I just got used by a female for her self gratification (not pissed that it happened, pissed that it ended!) But, no regrets, it was such great energy for "Seven Days", totally true to that crazy creation called "me" :)

Oh wait!! I do have one regret. I was so looking forward to going to some "Chic" Belgian restaurant and being the "Cool American" guy with the accent, having "Brunch in Belgium". The Jane Restaurant did not exist back then, but is was EXACTLY the flow my mind's eye envisioned for "Seven Days" in Belgium.

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"Seven Days" of Brunch in Belgium

....this is not the actual Jane Restaurant Menu, just "Setting my Scene" with a few Euro-Style Brunch inspirations, you know how I sling it :) Making brunch for a woman is like making romance, a guy may not truly know what the hell he's doing, but sometimes, a guy gets that recipe just right, and we both end up having a real good time :)

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One Pan Spicy Eggs and Potatoes with Goat Cheese                                                         Green Onion and Salmon "Dutch Baby"
(chick photo below for recipe)                                                                                                                 (click photo below for recipe)

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"Croque Madame" with Spinach and Smoked Salmon                                                                               Pesto Potato Skillet
(click photo below for recipe)                                                                                                                                              (click photo below for recipe)

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(1 photo above and 4 photos below)    Ricotta Crepes with Whipped Ricotta, Citrus, Honey, and Mint    (gluten free)
(click any of the 5 photos for recipe)

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Caramel Espresso Lassi                                                                                                                          Poached Egg over Spinach Polenta with Crispy Mushrooms & Herbs
                                                                                                                                                                              though I might insult the Chef by asking for my egg "over hard" :)
(click photo below for recipe)                                                                                                                        (click photo below for recipe)

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Strawberry Grapefruit Champagne Mimosas   (mimosas totally mandatory after my brunch!!!)
(click photo below for recipe)

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My next "real life" trip is the British Virgin Islands, but after that I gotta hit Europe for a week ("Seven Days"). The current plan is to hit Holland for a day, then Euro-Rail over to the D-Day Battlefields of Normandy, France (that's a "Guy Thing", BTW), then "Chunnel" over to London for the bulk of the week ("Seven Days").

But, since Belgium is between Holland and France, I figure, why not stop off in Belgium or a day, have brunch at "The Jane", then jump back on the train to France? If for nothing else, it will be funny to answer to the waitress at "The Jane", when she asks "So what brings you to Belgium?" ...and I answer (with my "Cool Guy" American accent), "Oh nothing, just thought I'd fly over here, have Brunch at The Jane" and fly home". If she looks confused, I'll just give her the link to this post.......yep!!!!

~stay healthy~

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"Sail Forth. Steer for the deep waters only. Reckless O soul, exploring. I with thee and thou with me. For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared go. And we will risk the ship, ourselves, and all." --Walt Whitman

for the story behind:
"The Creation and Design of The Jane"
go here

 

The Jane Restaurant
Paradeplein 1, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium
+32 3 808 44 65
www.thejaneantwerp.com
The Jane on Facebook

 

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"The Wanderlust Food Diaries"

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