Chef Five Bites: Bart Vandaele

Chef Bart Vandaele took a break from his kitchen at Belga Café this weekend to head back to his native Belgium for a little visit ... oh, and to be knighted by the country's beer society. The chef grew up in Northern Belgium and worked in several renowned restaurants there, before moving to DC. After cooking for diplomats for a bit, he opened Belga on Barracks Row in 2004.

1. Tasting menu and wine pairings at J&G Steakhouse

2. Chocolate croissants from Le Pain Quotidien

3. New toys for the kitchen from Sur La Table

4. When I need to meet and talk to the farmers instantly... and gain ideas for menus, I head to Eastern Market.

5. Belgium, home sweet home, for beer, returning to my roots, reinvigorating my menu at Belga Café and simply for keeping things pure and real.

Previous Chef Five Bites: Cathal Armstrong, Dani Arana, David Guas, Josh Short, Michel Richard, Haidar Karoum, Ryan Morgan, Shannon Overmiller, Anthony Chittum, Jonathan Krinn & Jon Mathieson, Victor Albisu, Vatche Benguian, John Snedden, Nicholas Stefanelli, Travis Olson, Brian Robinson, Cliff Wharton, Alex Bollinger, Massimo Fabbri, Daniel Bortnick, Rob Weland, Olivier Perret, Dennis Marron, Dean Gold, Mike Isabella, Bryan Voltaggio, Geoff Tracy

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