Brussels Forum
The forum brings together transatlantic leaders and decision-makers from both sides of the Atlantic to find solutions for the most critical challenges facing democracies across the globe.
2022
The focus of the 2022 Brussels Forum was centered on the conflict in Ukraine, therefore we decided to showcase the cuisine of Ukraine through Ukrainian chef, Ievgen Klopotenko, who shared his culture with us and our guests through his dishes. Chef Marc Murphy partnered with Chef Klopotenko on the dinner and created dishes that blended Ukrainian and American ingredients.
We also had a special guest, Nilufer Ramazanova from World Central Kitchen join us, to speak about her efforts feeding Ukrainian refugees at the Polish border. Nilufer, who is from Ukraine, also joined Chef Murphy, Chef Klopotenko and CDP CEO, Lauren Bernstein, for a panel discussion at the conference about the importance of understanding the palate of the people you are feeding and the idea that food provides comfort and not just sustenance to those forced to flee their country.
2019
We mixed things up in 2019 at the Brussels Forum, by taking the small dinner offsite. Chef Marc Murphy partnered with Michelin starred Chef Isabelle Arpin at her namesake restaurant where the two featured dishes that told their personal stories through the food they presented.
2018
In 2018, the theme of the Brussels Forum was “Revise, Reboot, Rebuild – Strategies for a time of distrust”. Highlighting how food can help create trust and break down barriers, we engaged in a conversation with our guests about the power of food to help connect with others.
Chef Art Smith introduced our international guests to his Southern American roots, by doing a cooking demonstration of some of his classic dishes and speaking about their origin. He told the guests his family stories around those dishes and the personal meaning they held, illustrating the power of food to teach us about each other. We then gathered to share a family-style meal featuring those Southern classics.