Today we are taking a moment to look back to March 6 of this year, when Bart "The Bruges Butcher" Maertens was named the best Belgian artisan butcher at the youthful age of 37. This came after he was already recognised by Europe as one of the very best butchers alive at that moment, as the Western Flemish beef specialist sent out 25 of his meat products to the jury, to win 19 golds and 6 silvers.
Life is good for the youngster, who is a descendant of Jan Breydel, not the famed medieval butcher who played an important role in the uprising against French King Philip the Fair (Philip Le Bel), but one of two other Jan Breydels living at the same time, also butchers, in particular the one who was imprisoned for poaching on the baron's hunting grounds. It's with the baron's meat that this Jan Breydel created his much famed stew, the very same recipe that Bart Maertens won the gold medal with.
Does this mean that Bart Maertens is a poacher? He is, self-proclaimed, stating to a journalist: "Of course I am. I couldn't have won the gold medal without poached meat from the baron's hunting grounds, just like my forefather Jan Breydel did to create this recipe. But nobody has ever caught me, so I ask you: am I truly a poacher or do I just say that I am?'
A group of philosophers is now discussing this question at this very moment. We'll let you know when they have come to a conclusion. Meanwhile, you can order Butcher Bart's famous stew through his e-mail.
1 comment:
I have to admit, Bart is a special butcher, someone who comes around only once in a generation. It's no wonder he is a descendant of Jan Breydel. He deserves all the good happening to him. A well deserved victory!
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