A Free Plant-Based BBQ on the Grote Markt in Mechelen

When you think of a BBQ, you probably think of juicy cuts of meat. But did you know that a BBQ can also be completely meatless? On October 16, the Grote Markt in Mechelen transformed into a feast of plant-based delicacies, and all thanks to The Vegan Butcher! A total of no less than 300 delicious vegan meals were handed out. And even that wasn’t enough, you could also enjoy free cupcakes and sangria. It was a matter of getting there in time, because those goodies were gone quickly!

A Surprising Assortment of Plant-based Alternatives

The range of plant-based alternatives is vast. Forget that standard veggie burger! These days you can find vegan chicken skewers, ribs, salmon fillets and so much more. Fancy a culinary exploration? You prepare these alternatives in the same way as their various counterparts, so you don’t have to be a BBQ master to enjoy them.

Climate-friendly Enjoyment

Audrey Vandenbauw, Campaign Manager of Week Without Meat, was also present and enthusiastically shared: “With support from the European Union we can put this concept on the map in several countries. We have already started in Denmark and Germany. Did you know that if you eat plant-based food for a week, you do the same as replacing 95 km of car driving? It’s such a simple way to do your part for the climate.“

Curious about more? Then quickly check out my YouTube channel Traveltopper, subscribe, and don’t miss the video about this unique event! Until then, watch The Longest Veggie Table 2023

The Vegetable BBQ Remains a Success

The Winter BBQ in Mechelen was part of the successful Belgian edition of the Week Without Meat, which was organized for a second time after the successful edition in 2023. This event is a collaboration between Foundation Week Without Meat, Mechelen Climate Neutral and ProVeg Mechelen. Their mission? To encourage people to eat less meat and choose a flexitarian diet.
Continue reading below the photos

Benoit, the man behind The Vegan Butcher, who explained it perfectly during the BBQ: “We don’t necessarily want to imitate meat. It does happen more and more that people don’t notice the difference, and they sometimes even ask if there is something vegetarian because they don’t eat meat!”“

The Week Without Meat is now a fixture in Mechelen, with the impossible being the famous Longest Veggie Table. The goal remains the same: to challenge people to eat plant-based for a week and thus contribute to a more sustainable future.

Did you miss this BBQ? Don’t worry, there will be another chance next year, and of course, you can also enjoy plant-based BBQ at home. Enjoy!