DeDicateD to BRUXPATS&BUSiNeSS PEOPLe iN Brussels FREE-N°5/NoV. DEC. 2007 Togethermagazine Subscribe for free at www.together-magazine.eu CHOCOLATE & DIAMONDS DISCOVERY A guided Tour & Taxis tour REAL ESTATE ‘Master plan’ for EU-quarter facelift ? eDITORIAL The new Saab 9-3. www.saab.be Design and power from the nature. Saab was born in the heart of Scandinavia. FIRST LAST WORD No surprise then that the new Saab 9-3 range features a sleek, sporty design that breathes purity and undeniable purpose. Next to diesel and petrol engines, each new Saab 9-3 model is available with BioPower. This engine fuelled with bioethanol (E85) is designed to respect the environment and to give you even more power with radically less emissions. The new Saab 9-3 BioPower. 007’s fifth and final we offer good luck wishes for launch of our website will edition of Together 2008 and some free advice – bring even more exclusive Magazine make getting up early one of (and regularly updated) celebrates our your New Year’s resolutions! content, and we are also first year of aiming to increase our 2publication. A time for us all From our perspective, such publication frequency, to take stock. Following the competition in fact pushes us to make the move to monthly. not-so-auspicious first to keep providing our readers Join us in January, for edition, we managed to find with top-quality, fascinating a further update on our our natural rhythm – features. With each new innovations. Until then, a constant dialogue with edition, hundreds of the Together Magazine team our readers and partners subscription orders wishes all our readers a very has enabled us to position have been placed at merry festive season and the title as a significant player www.together-magazine.eu – a Happy New Year – on the expats leisure why not join the happy Joyeux Fêtes! magazine scene. ‘BruXpats’ who receive the magazine free in the post Our success has inspired every month? Keep those several opportunists, eager to subscriptions coming, take advantage of our because that greatly publication’s position, to encourages the team too. Jérôme Stéfanski ENVIRONNEMENTAL INFORMATION (R.D 19/03/2004) WWW.SAAB.BE launch copycat versions. Publisher FUELCONSUMPTION SAAB 9-3 BIOPOWER: PETROL, 7,7-9,7 L/100 KM. CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION (CO2): 183-232 G/KM; To our would-be competitors 2008 will be a key year for us: WITH E85, UP TO 80% REDUCED FOSSIL CO2 EMISSIONS. (and they know who they are) the approaching official CAR SHOWN WITH OPTIONAL EXTRAS. BEHERMAN EUROPEAN Together November December 2007 – SMA_pinguin_A5_GB 31/08/07 16:53 Page 1 CONTENtS POUR OU CONTRE National debate, from the bottom up 6 BELGIAN TEMPTATIONS Above all, Belgian! 9 TEMPTATIONS Personal warming 10 DRess to impresS Chine in your hands 12 To have Together Magazine Reminiscences 14 delivered free, subscribe at www.together-magazine.eu SPECIAL FEATURE We work mainly with national Frozen star fragments 18 and international advertisers. BRUXPAT STORY If you are interested in our Bringing Bruxpats together 26 advertising rates, please contact. MONEY Jérôme Stéfanski : Chocolate, jewellery [email protected] and retirement ? 28 or +2 75 1 6 62 REAL ESTATE Nothing in this magazine ‘Master plan’ for EU-quarter facelift may be reproduced in whole 32 or in part without the written SPECIAL FEATURE permission of the publisher. Chocolate: Bringing The publisher cannot be Belgians together 38 held responsible for the views and opinions expressed in this SOMEWHERE IN BRUSSELS magazine by authors and A guided Tour & Taxis tour 46 contributors. Together Tour & Taxis: You’ll be back 52 Magazine is neither responsible for nor endorses the content SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD of advertisements printed on Back in Beijing 54 its pages. Together Magazine DISCOVERY cannot be held responsible for any error or inaccuracy Secret Château, secret garden 58 in such advertising material. READING Founder & Publisher : Waterstone’s Selection 60 Jérôme Stéfanski FItnesS Editor : Stay motivated and James Drew reach your goals 62 Project Manager : TEE TIME Alexandra Colleye [email protected] It’s all in the timing: The Hamilton Trophy 64 Translation : Attimedia S.A. WINTER PLEASURES Writers : Cold comforts 67 smart.com James Drew THE PLACES TO BE Alex Hewetson Winter’s knocking at the door 68 Sarah Higgs Hélène Nöel BY the glasS Josephine Overeem Stylish singles 70 Ken Reist Jeremy Slater EAT AND DRINK Jérôme Stéfanski Gastronomic discovery 72 Together Fine Arts DiarY media Sensual sculpture 78 >> Who does better? Rue d’Alost 7 SPECTACLES DiarY (Centre Dansaert – 2nd C) Diary 80 B-1000 Brussels Phone: +2 75 1 6 62 Comic StriP [email protected] Le Chat 82 Emission de CO2 (gr/km): 88 - Consommation moyenne (l/100km): 3,3. Informations environnementales AR 19/03/2004: www.smart.com - Donnons priorité à la sécurité. – Together November December 2007 000_lp_annonce 31/10/07 15:43 Page 1 PoRurEA Lo Ue ScTATEoNtRe? ©Sloggi An Exceptional Encounter NATIONAL DEBATE, frOM THE BOttOM up If you’re reading this, our photograph must have shocked, amused or, ahem, Limited edition box* captivated you. No doubt, it will have provoked a reaction… the three best behinds - in the centre, winner Fiona Butorac’s beautiful bottom t matters not understandable) outrage, on Whether you are for or against that one speaks (also, somewhat predictable) this kind of advertising, one good or ill, only ethical grounds. thing is certain: the campaign that one speaks Regardless of these non-too- is certainly a worthy subject about me.” It favourable opinions, Sloggi for debate. But which? The “would appearI that Sloggi has once again pushed the place of women in Belgium? underwear has made this boundaries, with its The role and impact of maxim its leitmotiv. You may announcement of the results advertising? For my part, recall, some weeks ago, that of its recent national contest I believe that one should the brand caught the attention to honour ‘Belgium’s most perhaps instead reflect on the of motorists and pedestrians beautiful bottoms’. While the reasons why girls would want alike, with its national country’s Flemish- and to exhibit their bums in public. advertising campaign. French-speaking citizens play Perhaps the answer lies with The by-now notorious posters their respective moves on Andy Warhol’s oft-cited theory presented numerous young Belgium’s political chess- concerning the universal need ladies posing with Vespa board, the winner, young Flem for fifteen minutes of fame? scooters, showing off their Fiona Butorac, from Mortsel, Over to you... splendid derrieres. Feminist has achieved national accord, organisations and consumer thanks to her perfectly formed Jérôme Stéfanski associations immediately gluteus maximus. A Flemish *Grand Siècle, the great vintage of Laurent-Perrier, a bucket with black saddler-leather handle and two elegant engraved champagne glasses. expressed their (perhaps victory, then? Know-how to be savoured with moderation. www.laurent-perrier.com 6 – Together November December 2007 REAL eSTATE BeLGIAN TEMPTATIONS Above all, Belgian! With Belgium peering into the abyss of a national split and opinion divided according to taste and territory, we present a compact guide to showing national colours with a little more flair than merely hanging a flag in your window. Declare your allegiance in style! SHOPPING meaning, combining chic representing the national pages 8 - 24 with an authentic passion symbols. Hence, we have for nationality. ‘Vive la the black lion, the yellow Belgique’, is available iris and the red coq – exclusively from the colours of pride! DegandTailleur for 200€. - Belgian Temptations Jewellery De Greef - Temptations Degandtailleur Rue au Beurre, 24-26 - Dress to Impress Avenue Louise, 415 1000 Brussels - Special Feature 1050 Brussels T. +32 (0)2 511 95 98 T. +32 (0)2 649 00 73 James Drew ‘ViVe la Belgique’ ‘united ColleCtion At first glance, ‘Vive la of Belgium’ Belgique’ is a marine/ And Jewellery De Greef grenadine silk tie that fits is making a point, too - neatly into the Pierre Degand in reaction to the current tradition of easy elegance. Belgian political climate, Take a closer look – there’s which seems anethema also a lesson in patriotism. to taking stands or making Embroidered at the top of the decisions, the renowned tie, a discrete Belgian flag Brussels bijouterie is offering reveals the wearer’s passion a way to express yourself with - Belgium forever! Pierre certainty in a country divided Degand gives the term by a lack of the same – three ‘stylish expression’ new beautiful key-ring lockets Together NovemberBELGIUM OF DecemberCOLLECTION UNITED 2007 – Rue au Beurre 24-26 Boterstraat Boterstraat 24-26 Beurre au Rue BRUXELLES 1000 BRUSSEL BRUSSEL 1000 BRUXELLES I Tel : 0032 2 511 95 98 98 95 511 2 0032 : Tel I Fax : 0032 2 511 47 48 48 47 511 2 0032 : Fax I [email protected] [email protected] I www.degreef1848.be I temptations temptations PERSONAL WARMING FoR hiM… The weather’s caprices won’t prevent a altamir certain esteemed gentleman in red having by ted Lapidus 1Ted Lapidus’s ambition has insomnia. Let’s see what he might leave always been focused on purity, no matter how much under your Christmas tree, which may soon work, to obtain elegant Dunhill Members be a Palm tree… simplicity. This new eau de Green holdall toilette for men is a savant Dunhill’s cricket holdall is FoR heR… fugue in precious wood a classic and deserves its scents, with a detour into reputation. This washed- jasmine and cyclamen. cotton canvas and soft suppleness and lightness. Pineapple and orange give tumbled leather version The result is spectacular the final fruity line to this of the luggage makes it and very smooth, thanks to discreet and sophisticated an impeccable sports bag, the cottonseed, jojoba and golden-shaded ensemble.