There are objects that make people stop in front of a table. Since Grillé notebooks joined our stationery selection, that is exactly what has been happening on Rue des Grands Carmes: people leaf through them, read a clue out loud, laugh, and walk away with one. Here is why these crosswords deserve your attention.
1. The crossword, dusted off
Crosswords have a reputation: that of a dog-eared magazine in a waiting room. Grillé takes the exact opposite approach. Created by Louise and Dior, the brand mixes pop culture references, poetry, humor, clever traps, and general knowledge into its grids. You no longer fill in boxes out of habit: you keep going because the next clue makes you want to see where it leads.
The care put into these notebooks plays a big part. Graphic design, clean layout, and covers you can leave lying on a coffee table without needing to hide them. It is as much a stationery object as it is a game, which is precisely what makes it giftable.
2. Six notebooks, six moods
The collection reads like a scale. You choose your notebook based on your level, or the person you are giving it to.
- TOUT DOUX — the first dip. Guided, accessible clues to help you gain confidence one grid at a time.
- DOUX — the relaxing break. Thirty-five grids to catch your breath for five minutes or an entire afternoon.
- CHAUD — to get "toasted" without getting burned. The step up, for when easy clues are no longer enough.
- EXTRA CHAUD — for deep-frying your neurons. Reserved for those who finish their grids too quickly.
- CULTURE — to show off (and broaden) your knowledge. The thematic edition for the curious.
- AMOUR — the gift that won't wilt. An alternative to a bouquet, to keep long after Valentine's Day.
Each notebook is €14.90. All six editions are available in our Grillé selection.
3. The gift that solves tricky situations
This is where Grillé becomes formidable. A birthday, a farewell, a host to thank, a colleague you don't know well: the crossword notebook checks every box. It requires no knowledge of sizes, colors, or clothing preferences. It takes up no space. It costs less than €15, which naturally places it among our gift ideas under €30, either on its own or tucked next to another object.
And it has that rare advantage: it truly engages the person receiving it. A book can stay on a pile, a candle eventually burns out; a grid is finished, and then you move on to the next.
4. To slip into a bag, a train, a suitcase
The format is perfect for traveling. A train ride, a waiting room, a sun-drenched terrace, a rainy Sunday: the notebook follows you without needing a battery or a screen. In a time when we are looking for ways to disconnect without feeling guilty, that is an argument that speaks for itself.
If you are looking for other objects in this spirit, our stationery department gathers notebooks, pens, and small formats ready to be gifted.
5. Where to find them
The six Grillé editions are available online and in our three shops on Rue des Grands Carmes in Brussels, open 7 days a week from 11 am to 7 pm. Click & Collect is free: order online and stop by to pick up your notebook when it suits you.
Have a question about an edition or want a gift recommendation? Write to us or simply push open the door: it’s often by leafing through them that you find the right grid.
