Lunch favorite: Wald (Ghent)

08 March 2018


Last Monday I went to grab lunch with my mom and discovered a lovely new spot near Ghent's Dampoort Station. Wald, which is German for nature or forest, is a snug little place that offers coffee, breakfast and lunch in a unique green environment. They have a little shop from which you can buy plants and wildflowers as well!


Wald's menu covers the breakfast basics like eggs, sandwiches, croissants and granola with yogurt. On Sundays they organize a brunch buffet with lots of different types of bread, pastries, quiches and home made salads. For €25 you can 'eat your heart out', as their motto suggests.

For lunch they focus on local and seasonal products, with monthly varying suggestions. Always available are their sourdough toasts, from which I picked the 'Cheesus loves you' version with goat's cheese (yes, I'm addicted), radicchio and orange. Beautifully presented and so good! Glad to welcome this gem to my city!

Wald

DENDERMONDSESTEENWEG 39, GHENT | WALDATHEART.COM


Daisy bell


Y'all know by know I have a thing for clothing with quirky prints. I admire ladies who can make simple basics work, but I feel utterly boring when my outfit doesn't include any kind of illustration, checkered or polka dot detail. Mixing prints however is always risky business since most of the time the result either playful or downright awful. This bicycles meet tartan look kind of happened by accident as I was trying on outfits for our little getaway to Mechelen, which you can read all about in my previous post!

 

I initially bought this Forever 21 top to layer with a pinafore dress I ordered at the same time. But as it usual goes with pinafores in my experience, the bottom part fit perfectly and the top part was way too long (and sadly not adjustable). Am I the only one with this small upper body/large hips problem? If you can recommend any brands, please do!

Coincidentally I had this lovely wool skirt from New Look that until recently I couldn't find anything to pair with and loved the green bicycles in combination with the deep rust color of the skirt. I wore it with yet another Mint&Berry bag that I'm obsessed with - seriously how perfectly vintage-inspired are their designs? I just couldn't resist.

 
 
OUTFIT DETAILS | Top: Forever21 - Skirt: New Look - Bag: Mint&Berry - Tights: H&M

My tips for Mechelen (Antwerp)

06 March 2018


Instead of taking a trip abroad for our eight year anniversary, this year Rens and I decided to stay a little closer to home and spent a weekend exploring Mechelen, the second largest city in Antwerp. I'd previously fallen for its charm when I did my internship there nearly three years ago and I'd been wanting to go back ever since. With stunning architecture like the St. Rumbold's Cathedral, Mechelen is an interesting destination to spend a day or two. It's jam-packed with coffee shops and concept stores, but without all the hustle and bustle of uptown Antwerp. Just the way I like it! I've put together a little list of the places we loved and are definitely worth a visit!

Sister Bean

One of the best-known coffee bars in town, Sister Bean is located on Mechelen’s old fish market square. Sadly we were too late for breakfast and missed out on the blueberry pancakes, but my toast with goat’s cheese was very tasty as well. If you can, go sit upstairs where there’s a beautifully decorated seating area with large windows and a beamed ceiling.
VISMARKT 26 | sisterbean.be

Beans

On the Ijzerenleen you’ll find a small breakfast spot called Beans. Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, this place has got you covered with buckwheat waffles, banana bread and overnight oats as well as wraps, salad bowls and lots of bagels to choose from. They have amazing scones too!
IJZERENLEEN 37 | beansbar.be

Kaffee-Ine

The award for Mechelen’s best cappuccinos goes to Kaffee-Ine. In this no nonsense espresso bar you sip your coffee seated in worn out second-hand sofas and can feast your eyes on walls decorated with large world maps and old coffee grinders.
ONZE-LIEVE-VROUWESTRAAT 6 | facebook.com/Kaffee-Ine-Mechelen

My Ex Boyfriend

For dreamy vintage furniture and other home knick knacks, you can pay a visit to My Ex Boyfriend. I fell in love with a gorgeous dresser that I really need in my living room one day and their art prints and illustrated tableware are just adorable!
ONZE-LIEVE-VROUWESTRAAT 106 | myexboyfriend.info

Hut

HUT is a mini concept store that’s full of gifts ideas, from books and stationary to ceramics and kitchen gadgets. All items are selected from independent labels by owner Hilde.
ONZE-LIEVE-VROUWESTRAAT 88 | hutshop.be

Noen

If you fancy a break from shopping in Mechelen’s main shopping street Bruul, you’ll find the perfect lunch spot nearby. Noen offers a variety of delightful toasts, salads and daily fresh soup. For dessert there’s ice cream and milk shakes from their own brand Eiskreem.
LEERMARKT 24 | denoen.com
 
Also check out:
FOR COFFEE
Foom | foom.be
Dora's Coffee Bar | doras.be

FOR SWEETS
Niki's Bakery | nikisbakery.be
Cups 'n Cakes | cups-n-cakes.be
Zoet | snoepzoet.be

FOR THE BEST BURGERS IN TOWN!
Il Cardinale | ilcardinale.be