It is 12 noon, Thursday, December 23 at the Brussels Christmas market.At the entrance to Henri Maus Street, despite the gray sky, a chalet is more noticed than the others by its colors and its brand, "at Prudence".“Come and discover the best mulled wine on the Christmas market!»This is the stand of Jean-Marc Marcelin, Guadeloupe, it has just received this year the price of the best mulled wine on the Christmas market.
Bright colors, posters of heavenly beaches, scents of alcohol and a soft smell of spices stir up the curiosity of tourists.Large bottles of punch, exotic fruit jams color the rear of the chalet and the smile of the merchant attract their eyes.
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Depuis 25 ans, "Chez Prudence" est une institution du marché de Noël de Bruxelles, avec son vin chaud créole.•©Carla Bucero LanziA unique recipe
His good humor, his big smile and his good products have been delighting the taste buds of Brussels residents and passing tourists for twenty-five years.Restaurateur the year in Guadeloupe, Anse-Bertrand, of the Prudence brand, he leaves one month a year to hold his stand at the heart of the European capital.
It was by his mother that this market institution was born: “One day, a civil servant of the European Parliament, spoke to him that there was no West Indian trade in the Christmas market.So she started taking steps to open a chalet.The idea of mulled wine came to him, because it is a tradition at that time of year in Europe.To stand out, it made its own recipe with spices from home and a cooking time all day so that the flavors are perfectly incorporated with the basic ingredient that is wine."This is how Creole mulled wine was born.
Un stand aux couleurs de la Guadeloupe, attire l'œil des passants.• ©Carla Bucero LanziAn institution for twenty-five years
This is how Jean-Marc Marcelin took over the torch of prudence, thirteen years ago, supported by her employee Véronique Françoise.“I hesitated for a long time to embark on the adventure in my turn.I had to do it for my mother.Each year, I am making a request to be sure I have my place during this event.Even if it's very heavy to organize."Four hundred businesses are on the waiting list every year.He prepares this market for six months.The restaurateur begins with the development of punchs: "I put them in the sun to macerate so that the fruit expands.»Then he starts his tour in search of his fresh ingredients."I come with a ton of spices per freight.I'm going to buy my 15 kilos of cinnamon, my fresh vanilla, my cardamom, my brown sugar.All these products are chosen from local Guadeloupe producers and with great love.This is what makes the difference in my final product.»
Wouldn't it come from white rum he adds at the end of mulled wine?He will not reveal his well -kept secret.Faced with the success of his recipe, he sells three hundred liters of Creole mulled wine per week.
“I also come, because the Belgians give me a unique welcome.» Cela le fait tenir dans le froid hivernal de la capitale européenne.Indeed, Pascale, aged about fifty years, accustomed to Guadeloupe flavors for ten years, comes this time to drink her traditional hot Christmas punch, another specialty of the house."Last year, Jean-Marc missed.His joie de vivre brings us warmth, in these gloomy times.» Les larmes lui montent aux yeux lorsqu'elle évoque la fin du marché.“Again we will have to shorten this festival ritual.I will wait a year again to see him again and savor these specialties.»
Indeed, after a 2020 edition canceled by the health situation, traders learned this morning that they will have to lower the curtain on December 25 at 10 p.m. instead of January 2. “C’est un nouveau coup dur, explique Jean-Marc Marcelin, on retrouvait notre clientèle, cette joie de partager avec eux la chaleur de mon archipel…»
Following this announcement, the residents organize themselves.His phone has been ringing since the announcement of the early fence: "They call me to place me controls of bottles.They make their reservations for the year and it is a gesture of solidarity too.» De nombreux Bruxellois, abasourdis par la nouvelle, viennent donc profiter d’un dernier verre chez Prudence. À l’image de Pascale : “Je vais venir tous les jours, et avec de nombreux amis samedi soir pour la dernière !»
Meetings of Guadeloupe students
"J’attends cette période avec impatience, car je sais que Chez Prudence sera là.This is the warmth of Guadeloupe", Carole-Anne, originaire des Abymes, Bruxelloise depuis dix ans• ©Carla Bucero LanziIl ne croyait pas si bien dire, lorsque Carole-Anne, arrive grand sourire aux lèvres avec son compagnon en taquinant le commerçant : “On t’a cherché partout ! Cela fait une heure que l’on tourne, on a même écrit sur un groupe WhatsApp d’amis, pour savoir si quelqu’un t’avait vu !» Originaire des Abymes, la jeune femme attend chaque année ce rendez-vous incontournable, selon elle, de Noël.“I arrived in Brussels for my studies ten years ago.I look forward to this period, because I know that at Prudence will be there.This is the warmth of Guadeloupe.When we are far away, it feels good to find your roots.I warm my heart like that.I miss my culture, so feeling these smells, talking about the house, with Jean-Marc is a Madeleine de Proust.It is also the meeting of all the West Indians in Brussels.A tradition undermined with the pandemic but that we manage to last.»
Archipelago ambassador
The merchant loves his customers, they talk about their lives, like the marriage of Carole-Anne postponed in Guadeloupe, but also of his children, who will join him for Christmas Eve."I'm lucky to have made a real relationship with the Belgians.Once, a client, then sick at the end of his life, wanted to come and see me one last time to say goodbye.It is very moving.» Il partage en rigolant une autre anecdote : “Des couples se sont mêmes formés Chez Prudence !»
Another lady arrives, aged about sixty years, she evokes her memories to the restaurateur of her mother's time: "She came to my house, I still have many memories she offered me.»
Pascale, habituée des lieux, profite des derniers jours d'ouverture du marché de noël.• ©Carla Bucero LanziThis year, Jean-Marc Marcelin arrived with hats in the colors of Guadeloupe.He offers them to regulars, they wander it to be in their own way of the ambassadors of the archipelago.He also considers himself as a representative of his culture thousands of kilometers.“I am always the only West Indian.In addition to my drinks, in the evening I offer acras for example, he adds, represent Guadeloupe for five weeks at this crossroads of Europe, it is a real showcase for the archipelago.»
The 2021 shortened season, it will still have allowed the Guadeloupe to be recognized as the best mulled wine on the market."I beat the best Belgian sommelier," he said with pride, every year, colleagues try to find out that my secret recipe contains.It is above all a story of palaces, love of products and flavors.»
Jean-Marc Marcelin, awaits his loyal customers to say goodbye and meet them for the 2022 season.
