BOUCHERIE ISTACE
Read moreRight in the center of town, this family-run butchery and charcuterie is a true tribute to the Ardennes region. Most of the cured meats and charcuterie are homemade, salted and smoked the old-fashioned way. Specialties include saucisson à la bière Godefroy, pavé des croisés and saucisson de sanglier à la Chartreuse. Meat comes from family farms and regional farms. Magnificent choice of game in season. The cheese shop also sells oeillet du château, a sheep's milk cheese matured in the cellars of the Château de Bouillon!
LES CHOCOLATS D'ÉDOUARD
Read moreAmong Édouard Bechoux's specialties, depending on your appetite and the season, you can choose between palets (available in pralines, mendiants, with a special mention for the exceptional rosemary praline), spice-flavored ice cream, cakes (don't miss Édouard's classic), and genuine hot (or cold!) chocolate spiced and revisited by the master. All made with pure cocoa butter. The portions served on the premises are more than generous, and we take this opportunity to take a look at the workshop, open to the curious as well as the gourmet.
SAINT-MONON
Read moreSaint-Monon (ambrée, brune, au miel; Mix Hop) The Brasserie Saint-Monon was founded in 1996 by Pierre Jacob, the youngest member of a farming family. It is situated in Ambly in the province of Luxembourg and gateway to the Ardennes.It was, in fact, in 2000 that the brewery took the name of St. Monon, a Scottish monk and hermit from the 7th century who is now known as the patron saint of livestock and for protecting the harvests of local farmers.There are four Saint-Monon beers: Saint-Monon ambrée, Saint-Monon brune, Saint-Monon au miel (with honey)and Mix Hop. Mix Hop is the newest of the four, a 6.5% abv amber beer made with five different types of hop. It was launched in November 2010.The brewery also makes a number of beers to order for third parties.
BRASSERIE LES 3 FOURQUETS
Read moreLupulus When his Achouffe brewery was bought by Duvel-Moortgat, Pierre Gobron left to concentrate on brewing at the 3 Fourquets ("3 mash rakes") brewery at Bovigny, near the border with Luxembourg. He has since been joined in this venture by his sons, Tim and Julien.Its beers include a surprising Lupulus Blonde (8.5% abv) which is conditioned in champagne bottles and kegs. According to the brewer, using large quantities of hops in the kettle and during fermentation give the beer an incomparable freshness and bouquet.Other beers include a Lupulus Brune which the brewery hopes to start selling in 2012. The brewery also makes La Madelonne and La Béole under contract. The name "lupulus" refers to the wolves that used to inhabit the Ardennes and to the Latin word for hops, "humulus lupulus", which translates literally as "humble little wolf".
BRASSERIE GIGI
Read moreGaumaise, Double Blonde, Spéciale Blonde and Brune The Gigi family's small brewery is in Gérouville in southern Belgium near the French border. It dates from the 19th century and is a rare example of a brewery that started out selling its beer by going from door to door. The Gigi beers are not high in alcohol. At 5% abv, the brown and golden versions of Gaumaise are the strongest. Its other beers are around 3%. The brewery also makes soft drinks.
CONTRERAS
Read moreContrapils, Tonneke, Especial Mars, Valeir (Blond; Donker; Divers; Extra) René Contreras took over the Latte brewery in Gavere (East Flanders) in 1898. The business has stayed in the family ever since.Of its beers, Tonneke is a Belgian special beer that was first made in 1818 and predates the Contreras family. Contreras Especial Mars is a "saison" beer and the years since 2000 have seen the arrival of the Valeir range: the blond dates from 2004, the donker (brown) and a golden triple (Divers) from 2005. Extra, an IPA first appeared in 2008.
CHOCOLATE JEANS
Read moreComing from Sète, Jean settled in Habay to make chocolates. His artisanal production is based on a selection of noble raw materials and the recipes are developed to respect the flavors of each product. Their originality allows everyone to find a taste of their own. The bean-to-bar is also part of its principles. He roasts his own cocoa and coffee (Alexandre's son's hobby). Assortments of chocolates, bars and many other things, including JeanChris beer, born from Jean's friendship with Chris, a local brewer.