The arrival of Bistro Racine ten years ago in this little corner of Walloon Brabant in place of a former caterer which had turned into a real estate agency quickly convinced fans.
“My former partner Jean-Marie Bucumi (who has since left the adventure) and I wanted our restaurant. When the Michelin guide awarded us a star in 2018, we were both surprised and delighted. As a bistronomique, we were even among the first in Belgium to obtain this distinction. Others followed and this undoubtedly helped to unblock gastronomy a little..”
We were one of the first bistronomics to receive a Michelin star.”
For 4 years, Jimmy has been back behind the stove but for a long time he has had the idea of expanding, of having more space for the staff (“I was tired of elbowing“) and for the customers. And he found his happiness at… a hundred meters.
“A real stroke of luck. This house, which was once a café, belonged to an old lady. Here, I am an owner and no longer a tenant. It’s quite an investment, perhaps a little against the grain in this delicate period for the Horeca sector. We have a loyal customer base, around 40% of whom are Dutch speakers. We are not going to change the quality of the plate, we are even going to improve it, but we have erased what we did not like and could also bother the customer. “
For now, the workers are working hard to ensure everything is perfect for the reopening. The number of seats can vary from 28 to 38 depending on the arrangement of the tables, but the kitchen has been multiplied.
“It’s a big investment, perhaps against the grain, but we have a loyal clientele”
“We have five times more space, everyone will have their own station. Better we will hire a permanent person for room service.“
All you have to do is… book because the success of Bistro Racine has not been denied for years. No wonder Jimmy is associated with the Chez Firmin brand, still in Braine-le-Château. Always a bistronomic. We won’t do it again.
See you on January 15 for the second life of Bistro Racine.
