Around 12,000 people attended the Brussels-themed festival in the Southern French city of Mougins this weekend. Over a ton of fries, 3,500 waffles and hundreds of prawn and cheese croquettes were sold to visitors over the two days.
"The vendors are satisfied, the city of Mougins as well, and us too, we did not expect such a success," said Patrick Bontinck, the CEO of Visit Brussels.
Several Brussels hotel and catering entrepreneurs were present at the “Bruxelles se fête à Mougins” festival, organised by Visit Brussels and the Mougins tourist office.
One of the caterers was Maison Antoine, the staple fries shop in Etterberk, which took its first international trip in their reconverted van. Some visitors waited in line for over an hour to get a taste of the classic Brussels fries at their stand, according to DH.
"I've wanted Belgian fries for a long time, so yes, I'm ready to wait,” one young man living on the outskirts of Mougins told DH.
Credit: Belga / Axel Cleenewerck
Fried food was in great demand. The Saint-Gilles-based restaurant Fernand Obb Delicatessen, known for its cheese and prawn croquettes, sold out its menu after the first day.
The Gaufres & Waffles restaurant was also present at the event, as well as chocolatier Laurent Gerbaud and the Le Petit Mercado grocery store.
An international reputation
For Valérie Glatigny, the French-speaking Community's Minister, this trip to one of the gastronomic capitals of France will help to establish the reputation of these Brussels artisans.
“The impact of this kind of event is difficult to quantify,” said the Minister, who travelled by train to the Côte d’Azur.
"Working on your image, on your reputation, that’s something you build up over the long term. That is why the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles has been supporting these gastronomic road shows abroad for several years now, in towns renowned for their gastronomy, such as Lyon or Mougins," Glatigny continued.
Credit: Belga / Axel Cleenewerck
"By coming here, hotel and catering entrepreneurs will be able to combine the image of Brussels' expertise with an internationally renowned image, and build up a reputation for quality," the Francophone minister concluded.
Given the success of the Brussels fries, croquettes and waffles on Saturday, Glatigny is hoping that in the future other entrepreneurs will be prepared to leave their Brussels headquarters for a few days to take part in this type of showcase event.
Credit: Belga / Axel Cleenewerck
The Mougins Tourist Office confirmed that the logic behind the event was not economic. “It’s about livening things up and strengthening links with Belgium, with Brussels serving here as a gateway,” explains Florence Buades, communications manager.
The Belgian community has a strong presence in Mougins and the surrounding area, both as residents and for leisure tourism.
Credit: Belga / Axel Cleenewerck
