Welcome to L'Estaminet. You'd like a Duvel.. and spaghetti? But what's your name?!

January 13, 2009 10:26 PM

Which Belgian character orders spaghetti and a Duvel at L'Estaminet in Bruges?

I was at L'Estaminet on my trip to Europe and met some locals. I'd just finished eating spaghetti and we started chatting. They mentioned a Belgian character (possibly a detective) who visits L'Estaminet to have spaghetti and a Duvel. And then they bought me a Duvel to complete the experience!

But I can't remember the name of the character for the life of me.

posted by theiconoclast31 to Grab Bag (4 answers total)

Was it Maigret, the detective created by Georges Simenon?
posted by Bromius at 10:34 PM on January 13, 2009

Best answer: No, it's Commissioner Pieter Van In. (English language article on the subject) It's become a real kind of tourist/pilgrimage thing to do at L'Estaminet... order a "Van In" and you get spaghetti and a Duvel verte, yes?

I couldn't find English translations of the books, but they're available in French...
posted by Grrlscout at 10:59 PM on January 13, 2009

Seconding Van In. The Duvel is better than the books. Don't know about the spaghetti, although one fears the worst.
posted by NekulturnY at 2:59 AM on January 14, 2009

Response by poster: The spaghetti was cheap, filling, and greasy. Two out of three? Thanks!
posted by theiconoclast31 at 7:46 AM on January 14, 2009