Antwerp · Fashion · Food · Restaurants

Catering by Caffè Internazionale

Carrying around a bag filled with Polish pickles was not how I imagined visiting Paris during Fashion Week. The Chinese sales girl who sold me a backpack (the paper bag broke somewhere between getting of the train in Gare du Nord and running to the subway-station) looked at me like I was some kind of pickle-maniac. “What it for?” she asked with a heavy Chinese accent. “Oh, it’s for the caterer!” I must have left that girl even more confused than she already was, at least I had a tear resistant way to transport the pickles to their destination: Rue de Saintonge, temporary home to the Ann Demeulemeester showroom.

Marco Migliore, the beloved and praised owner of Caffè Internazionale (Antwerp),  known for it’s delicious pastrami, was (once again) asked by BVBA 32, the company behind celebrated Belgian fashion designers Ann Demeulemeester and Haider Ackermann, to take care of the catering for staff, models and of course clients in both their showrooms. Marco is not new to this job, as he already had taken care of catering for the Haider showroom during the last Paris Fashion Week S/S 2012. The first time was a challenge to him. But, being able to dive right into the vibe, Marco quickly found his way around the business. People loved the food and atmosphere he created in the showroom.

This time he feels more prepared, mainly because he knows what is expected of him. Also, he thinks very highly of both Demeulemeester and Ackermann. “I’m a fan of their work. C’est la classe.” That’s why Marco finds it very important to show his love for the designers in his work as well. From the carefully selected menu to the high quality products; everything is highly finished to perfection. To even add some variety, a different “food-theme” is used everyday: Italian, French, Spanish, Jewish-Lebanese and Asian. “To me, Fashion Week is very internazionale”, Marco explains. “You feel the atmosphere of fashion everywhere, not only here in the showroom. Paris is without doubt my favorite city in the world. It’s a dream that I can work in this beautiful city for such great talents and friends, creating that what I love most. I feel truly blessed.”

For all information on catering by Caffe Internazionale:

www.caffeinternazionale.be

marco@caffeinternazionale.be

+32 (0)3 248 00 25

Antwerp

Caffè Internazionale

When it comes to writing a blog there are two things you need: connection (preferably the internet-kind of connection) and coffee. Both are (well) provided in Caffè Internazionale: not the newest, still the hottest but most of all my personal favorite, located in the south of Antwerp.

More than a year ago, Marco Migliore turned a dark empty restaurant into a warm open lunchbar with a vintage and international feel. Popular dish (and also very new for Antwerp) is the pastrami-sandwich. Although this Romanian Jewish specialty has been a famous treat in New York since Katz’s Deli (a kosher-style restaurant) introduced it in 1888, it’s safe to say that Antwerp has also fallen for its beefy charms. Pastrami is typically sliced and served hot on rye bread, accompanied by coleslaw and a salted pickle.

Other foody goodies on the menu are salads, pastas, classic homemade soup (different day, different soup), a huge breakfast choice (which you can get all day long, very interesting on a Sunday) and of course desserts, delicious cheesecake included.

The food is not the only reason why I keep coming back to this place (although it plays a very important role). To me Caffè Internazionale equals home: the staff as well as the regular customers (a.k.a. the people I happily call my friends) are all one big family.

The moment you enter the place you feel the creativity and smell the coffee that goes along with it. Musicians, artists, graphic designers, fellow bloggers, people with ideas; everyone finds their own place at Marco’s huge front room table. A shot of extra caramel in your café latte, a pastrami to go, a freshly cooked, afterhours dinner for Marco’s friends, he’s done (and I’ve eaten) it all.

 

Thank you Marco, for bringing us all together!

Sien Josephine