The jewel of Belgium and the history of Argentina that opened a restaurant that serves wide click between desserts

Everyone tells you about witches, but Gante is almost overcoming. It is the Belgian Better Secret: With everything that promises you, a quarter of people and An Argentina who was pushing his meat restaurant project.

When you are in the Northwest Europedouble clicking the surrounding cities to the capitals, you tell someone – those who know – that you have witches on the itinerary and their heads nod, they encourage you, but they immediately indicate to you: “You have to go to Gante”. When the saying is made, the story of a compatriot who convinces you appears.

Lorena Esquivo (Almost 50 years) He was born in the city of Buenos Aires, but always lived in the southern zone, in Avellaneda, with his parents, both Uruguayans, and his younger brother.

Thanks to the English learned in his childhood, he was able to go to work in an Argentine-Belga company, where she met her ex-husband in 1995. For him, she left her studies and a dream: to be a lawyer. He dedicated himself to accompany him in his work tripsuntil settling in Belgium.

A few years later he divorced and met his current partner, Tom, with whom he made his dream: his own business, Argenvino.

“It was a Argentine wines bar with empanadasin the center of Ghent, ”he explains.

The beginnings were not easy, but thanks to an article in the local newspaper and the typical word of mouth, after a few months, it began to improve.

“The empanadas were not seductive for the locals until they were tested, but we began to offer Argentine meat, and that did hook the public,” he confirms. Always with the Argentine dye, and made by his own hands. In 2017 Lorena was mom again, while dealing with repuls and cuts of bifes.

Almost by chance, in the middle of the pandemica large place, just in front of its small empanadas space, closed. Together they saw the opportunity of the move.

They were again challenging momentsnot only to set the place, but for some personal problems, “mainly with the accountant, which almost leads us to bankruptcy,” we overcome it very much working. ”

Hoy He leads a successful business, but not to work: “There are many hours six or seven days a week,” he explains. “Tom and I are the restaurant, we take care of everything.”

Tom is the Belgian grill who learned all the tricks and draws points and cuts as if it were in San Antonio de Areco. In the living room is Lorena that serves you From provoleta to flan with dulce de leche And the funny thing is that everything knows how at home.

After walking in German, French, Dutch or English, arrive at A letter that knows your tongue is cozy: Narrow, Chimichurri or roast strip are completed with Don Pedro or cheese and sweet.

The star is the Final dessert: 180 gr. of Argentine width buffer with Chimichurri, “Because you can,” says Lorena. “And it’s the most requested!”

At the door of Lorena’s business, the Historic center of the city. As everyone warns you before, it deserves to give it a place in your tour. In fact, if you go to Gante before, and then to witches, it will not surprise you in the same way.

Near Amsterdam, Gante has an ancient Dutch tradition And two interesting advantages: everything is at hand and there are much less tourists than in witches.

Gante is one Quiet, safe, beautiful city, with a lot of culture. Always active, thanks to their university status that attracts students from all over the world.

“It is difficult that there is no something to do,” Lorena suggests. “Leisure, gastronomy, culture, tradition and history can be combined. It is worth visiting, at any time of the year.”

During the two world wars he was barely bombarded, which has allowed him keep much of the historical heritage. The city’s profile brings together a string of towers and channels to human size. The municipal bell tower or Belfort Tower (€ 11, Monday to Sunday from 10 to 18), the Cathedral of San Bavón (Free) and the Church of San Nicolás (Free), all chaired by the Dragon city symbolplaced in the tower in 1377.

The cloth of the cloth, just attached to the bell tower, was completed in 1907 with Gothic style Babantino, in the corner is the former jailer home, who every Sunday between 11 and 12, puts the bell tower into action. On Saturday nights are offered by Carillón. In the Church of San Nicolás You can get on your tower (elevator from the first floor) to have a magnificent view of the entire city.

He Ghent artistic milestone hides in the cathedral of San Bavón (Visit to the work Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It’s about “The adoration of the mystical lamb”of the Van Eyck brothers, 1432, considered one of the best works of art in flamenco of the world. It is painted on 18 oak panels covered with fine layers of a mixture of chalk and tail of animal origin.

Among its channels a Fortress inside doors of the city: the Flanders Counts Castle (€ 13 every day from 10 to 18). It is the only one with a pit of its kind that is standing in Flanders with a practically intact fortification system. Inside, the Cabinet of the executioner Protects a unique collection of torture instruments.

He San Miguel Bridge It is the perfect site to be perplexed, pincarte and confirm that you are indeed seeing what is in front of your eyes.

The Graslei and the Korenlei with the old fish market (the site to which the ships reached in the past, and where today they are reflected, on the two shores, the houses on the LYS), The castle of the counts of Flanders in the distance, the church of San Miguel, the back of the PAND (the old Dominican monastery with a single exterior bath for all monks) and the iconic 3 Torres de Gante in row. This is the exclusive site from which they can install yourself into a single shot.

There no more, on his side, he is The Postbuilt on the ruins of an old Louis XIV -style warehouse, which was the Mail House Since 1898 nestled at the central road crossing of the region.

Today converted into a hotel That is a monument. A perfect example of how to reimagine a time without losing the essence. The Kitchen and The Cobbler are the restaurant and bar, respectively, which allow to acod, looking at the center of Gante while enjoying a gourmet moment.

A classic, with a certain tone of modernity in its concept, although they date from the Middle Ages, are the beaterios. They began to constitute the thirteenth century for women who wanted to depart from worldly existence to carry a devoting life together but without taking religious votes.

Santa Isabel (gathers three temples: one Catholic, one orthodox and one Protestant), Our Lady Ter Hoyen (of 1235) and the great Beaterio de Santa Isabel (where 600 women came to live) are the three located in Gante who offer a calm tour of the cobbled streets and few green spaces.

The city ​​is very cozy, it has a serene rhythm. Every corner invites you to raise the view. It retains even more stories from Argentines.

You can visit the Cecilia Jaime Art Gallery That it is already a classic, but you can also try Goya, by Martín Retamozo, to taste alfajores or chipás.

You cannot stop buying the Cuberdon or Ghent nosesthe “Gante Noses”, a fruit -liked fruit dulce with cone -shaped chocolate. In the Curve of the Historic Center towards the bridge and the Slachthuis (livestock market) a car is parked where you can buy the best.

Do not miss going through a very small store that is the kingdom of sweets: Temmerman Confiserie. Risk and try. They have a variety that are literally called “acid face.”

Loss, let yourself take, raise your head, train your gaze and adjust the camera.