Chef Robert Wiedmaier, the famous Washington, D.C.-based chef who recently opened Mussel Bar at Revel will be officially “enthroned” as an honorary knight in Brussels, Belgium.
Like Wiedmaier, the Belgians take their food and drink traditions very seriously, particularly beer. And since Wiedmaier not only often cooks in the Belgian style but also has beer brewed exclusively for him from Belgium, The Knighthood of the Brewers’ Mashstaff will induct him into the noble guild of the country’s proud and ancient brewing industry.
“I am honored to be knighted by my country of origin where my father was born and raised. It’s pretty cool,” Wiedmaier says. “I support Belgian product, especially Belgian beers at my restaurants. I have to tell you, I’m pretty nervous. It’s a big ordeal there. It’s exciting.”
The Knighthood has been the representation of the dignity and the tradition of the brewers’ trade for centuries in Belgium, and Wiedmaier will receive his knighthood Aug. 31 at the Belgian Beer Weekend sponsored by the city of Brussels, where the German-born, half-American chef spent many of his formative professional years.
All of Wiedmaier’s restaurants, including Mussel Bar and his flagship D.C. institution Marcel’s, display Wiedmaier’s Belgian influence. They also offer a large array of Belgian-style beers, including more than 20 on tap in Atlantic City, plus hundreds more in bottles. Antigoon, which is available at Mussel bar, is brewed exclusively for Wiedmaier.
