"Fresh Vegetables" Lars P. © 2010. Used under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Should you find yourself curious about the dining opportunities available to you near your centre hotel, Brussels will certainly not disappoint you. Upon my last visit to the de facto capital of the European Union, I was presented with a unique culinary experience that proved to be nothing short of outstanding.
Located in the historical region of Brussels, near the Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg (Royal Flemish Theatre) and situated in a fully refurbished building of a commercial company dating back the 17th century, lies a gastronomical delight.

The venue, appropriately called, Cooking-Time, was certainly one unlike any other I had ever been to. Along with the other guests in my party, I became actively involved in the cooking of our own evening meal and by doing so it simultaneously awakened all of our senses.

Cooking-Time offers a variety of different culinary experiences, which guests can partake in, ranging from a basic thirty-minute workshop that includes one meal all the way to an in-depth three-hour course.

The host of the event I attended had arranged for us to be a part of the L’Atelier de la Vitalite Gourmande course.

When we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the staff and brought into what is referred to as, The Laboratory, where we would be preparing our meals.

Whilst there, we received an introduction and initiation to the principles and techniques that would be utilized to prepare our dishes by locally renowned chef, Francoise de Keuleneer.

Throughout the course of our evening, we prepared a lovely three-course meal and the chef enabled us to become familiar with cooking techniques that were unfamiliar to us, however relatively simple once learned.

Once our dishes were ready, we sat at a beautifully decorated table not far from the kitchen. It was true gastronomical satisfaction to eat the dishes that we had meticulously prepared.

If you do have a free evening you really should consider passing the time with Cooking-Time – you’ll find it near to any centre hotel. Brussels has a tremendous amount of traditional local dishes that can be prepared there if that meets your fancy.

In addition, there are classes that specialize in, “Grandmother’s cooking” as well as courses in modern and lighter cuisine, Japanese cooking and Mediterranean food as well as Far East cuisine.