Oxalis, a fully plant-based culinary school, is opening its doors in the Brussels borough of Oudergem. Twelve chefs will offer classes teaching how to cook without any animal-based products. A first open day is scheduled for next Saturday.
A study from 2022 by Proveg showed that more and more people are not eating meat at least one day a week. This was particularly the case in the Belgian and Flemish capital. Forty-two per cent of Brussels residents surveyed said they followed this pattern. The figure was higher in Brussels than in Flanders or Wallonia, where the figures were 33 per cent and 29 per cent respectively.
Corentin Crutzen (33), founder of Oxalis, has witnessed this trend first-hand. He has been cooking for 13 years and has been giving plant-based cooking lessons to members of the public for the past three years. The number of participants has steadily increased in recent years. ‘In 2024, I had to double the number of lessons,’ he says.
To respond to this interest, he established Oxalis. ‘Hotel schools too often still focus on traditional cuisine. Here, people can easily learn about what I believe to be the cuisine of the future.’
From vegan barbecue to plant-based Belgian classics
Twelve experts in plant-based cooking will give courses on topics ranging from plant-based patisserie to natural fermentation. The lessons for individuals usually last 3 to 4 hours and each take up a particular theme, such as vegan barbecue, Belgian classics without animal products and plant-based “food porn”.
Lessons for children too
On Wednesday afternoons, special lessons for children, together with their parents or grandparents, are also staged.
Professionals can register for eight module training courses spread over two days or specialise further in more specific themes. These include different ways of cooking vegetables and vegan desserts.
Open Day
The first open day is scheduled for Saturday 6 September. Interested parties can meet the team and participate in various 45-minute workshops in return for a voluntary contribution. The first official training courses start on 11 September.
The project's ambassador is the celebrated Belgian chef René Mathieu. ‘I strongly believe that the training courses are a useful way to convey the benefits of plant-based cuisine to future generations,’ he told media outlet Bruzz.