Cafe Spontane Goesting

The former café "In de Linde", now Café Spontane Goesting, is an absolute winner in its genre. Admittedly, this staminee is located in Dilbeek and therefore just outside Brussels; the famous lime tree has marked the border between Dilbeek, Molenbeek and Berchem for decades. According to Jean and Lisette, the pub dates from 1875. You notice that immediately. On the wall are pictures of cycling greats such as Van Looy and Merckx, of the 'Union Soixante', and of the champion team of Anderlecht in 1964. "But meulebeik's sowing," Lisette shouts, pointing to the beautiful pre-war portraits of three Daringmannen. Emile Daems, cycling champion from the early sixties (wins in Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and four stages in the Tour), still visits every week. A lady from Chicago comes here to drink her gueuze when she is in Belgium. And then there are the local residents. Lisette and Jean tap well, serving flat cheese with radishes in the summer, escargots in the winter and also tripe, ballekes, cervela, preskop... as long as it's Brussels. No fewer than sixty Lisette customers play the 'Tollo' every week, an ingenious variant of the Lotto.

rudip