Mark Eyskens

 

Remember, a few weeks ago I wrote about chatting with the street cleaners and the girls preparing their bachelors party?  I continued my promenade through Leuven and realized, just a bit too late for my camera to be ready, that Mark Eyskens, the former Belgian Prime Minister, Minister of Economics and Minister of Foreign Affairs, was walking right beside me. 

I am sure that Mr Eyskens would have agreed on posing for This is Belgium but I decided against disturbing  him and left with these two shots of him walking swiftly through the Munstraat in Leuven, where he resides.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Eyskens
www.eyskens.com

Two chefs

These two men are chefs of restaurants in the Muntstraat, Leuven. When shooting people, I often explain why I take their photograph, ask if they have any objection appearing on my "This is Belgium" blog and whether they have a suggestion or preference as to what the text should say.
These two said that the text should say simply " Friends". It was not until I was in front of my computer that I noticed that Kwinten's eyes were closed, which is why I add a solo picture of him.
Kwinten De Paepe is the chef of restaurant Trente. I had heard of him before because his cuisine has a solid reputation. Kwinten received the Flemish Primitives Motivation Award for Young Promising Chef. His restaurant has been described as a culinary delight, and Kwinten wants to set trends in cuisine and have others copy him, instead of the other way around. 
His friend Franco is the chef at Italian restaurant Pepenero across the street. Pepenero is the successor to Da Tonio, which for many years was an "institution" for locals and students in Leuven.  From my experience Pepenero is certainly a worthy successor.
www.trente.be
www.pepenero.be