The tea-rooms of Ostende are Marchal’s, on the
Boulevard van Iseghem. They and the patissier’s
shop form the corner of the block Marchal's
which the new theatre occupies. The Boulevard van
rooms, airy and marble-walled, are
quite first-class ; the waiters are in liveries which
fit them ; and a Roumanian gipsy band plays. The
foyer of the theatre is immediately above these rooms,
and steps from the theatre hall lead into them. They
serve as the theatre cafe, and the Englishman who
wants something stronger than tea between the acts
can be sure that his “ peg ” will be compounded of
good materials.
Maxim’s, like its Paris namesake, Maxim’S
becomes merry about midnight, and Boulevard van
remains open till the small hours. Iseghem
The Clubs of Ostende
The Club Prive of the Kurhaus is, at intervals be-
tween raids and other disagreeable events, a baccarat
club, and there is a roulette table which
is in use during certain hours of the
day. It was during the season of 1910 a branch of
the Cercle Litteraire in the town, but that did not
prevent the police and magistrate from Ghent making
a descent upon it. Forty-eight hours generally elapse
between application being made and the acceptance
of a candidate who belongs to a recognised London
club. It is wise to send in an application to the
secretary before arriving at Ostende. Entrance fee
is 1 louis.
148 The Gourmet's Guide to Europe
The Sports Club at the Palace Hotel is also a club
where chemin de fer is generally played. The com-
mittee not infrequently exercise their
The Sports Club . , ^ ^ L, , ,
right to keep out would-be members
who are not in their opinion sufficiently vouched for.
The entrance fee is 2\ louis.
There are in the square of the town the Literary
Club and the Club St. Cecile, but these are for the
inhabitants of Ostende more than for the strangers
within its gates.
AFTER DINNER
The theatre in the Rue de Flandre and the Boule-
vard van Iseghem is excellently managed, companies
playing comedy, opera, and operetta there, Brussels
and Spa sending operatic stars, and travelling com-
panies playing short seasons. At the Scala, the variety
theatre on the Rampe du Cerf, a revue is produced
early in the season, and runs till Ostende empties.
The daily evening concerts at the Kursaal have a
world- wide fame. The orchestra is formed of 120
performers, and all the greatest operatic stars of the
world sing there as soloists. After the theatre and
the concert the clubs fill up, and the lights are not
out at daybreak.
Bruges
I had always looked upon Bruges as the sleepiest
city in the world ; and the most peaceful spot in
Bruges I always considered to be under the apple-tree
Hotel de Flandre in the Sarden of the Hotel de Flandre,
where the perfect occupation is to drink
a bottle with a friend of the ’67 Chambertin and to
listen to the chimes ringing in the old brown belfry.
The last occasion on which I was at Bruges was
during the Golden Fleece Exhibition. I lunched at
Belgian 'Towns 149
Page 82
Presented as published in 1903. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The tea-rooms of Ostende are Marchal’s, on the Boulevard van Iseghem. They and the patissier’s shop form the corner of the block Marchal's which the new theatre occupies. The Boulevard van rooms, airy and marble-walled, are quite first-class ; the waiters are in liveries which fit them ; and a Roumanian gipsy band plays. The foyer of the theatre is immediately above these rooms, and steps from the theatre hall lead into them. They serve as the theatre cafe, and the Englishman who wants something stronger than tea between the acts can be sure that his “ peg ” will be compounded of good materials.
Maxim’s, like its Paris namesake, Maxim’S becomes merry about midnight, and Boulevard van remains open till the small hours. Iseghem
The Clubs of Ostende
The Club Prive of the Kurhaus is, at intervals between raids and other disagreeable events, a baccarat club, and there is a roulette table which is in use during certain hours of the day. It was during the season of 1910 a branch of the Cercle Litteraire in the town, but that did not prevent the police and magistrate from Ghent making a descent upon it. Forty-eight hours generally elapse between application being made and the acceptance of a candidate who belongs to a recognised London club. It is wise to send in an application to the secretary before arriving at Ostende. Entrance fee is 1 louis.
148 The Gourmet's Guide to Europe
The Sports Club at the Palace Hotel is also a club where chemin de fer is generally played. The committee not infrequently exercise their right to keep out would-be members
who are not in their opinion sufficiently vouched for. The entrance fee is 2\ louis.
There are in the square of the town the Literary Club and the Club St. Cecile, but these are for the inhabitants of Ostende more than for the strangers within its gates.
The theatre in the Rue de Flandre and the Boulevard van Iseghem is excellently managed, companies playing comedy, opera, and operetta there, Brussels and Spa sending operatic stars, and travelling companies playing short seasons. At the Scala, the variety theatre on the Rampe du Cerf, a revue is produced early in the season, and runs till Ostende empties. The daily evening concerts at the Kursaal have a world- wide fame. The orchestra is formed of 120 performers, and all the greatest operatic stars of the world sing there as soloists. After the theatre and the concert the clubs fill up, and the lights are not out at daybreak.
Bruges
I had always looked upon Bruges as the sleepiest city in the world ; and the most peaceful spot in Bruges I always considered to be under the apple-tree
Hotel de Flandre in the Sarden of the Hotel de Flandre, where the perfect occupation is to drink a bottle with a friend of the ’67 Chambertin and to listen to the chimes ringing in the old brown belfry. The last occasion on which I was at Bruges was during the Golden Fleece Exhibition. I lunched at
Belgian 'Towns 149