Brussels
Brussels is renowned for its chic restaurants such as Loui and its cozy little cafés in which you can enjoy anything from a simple snack to a three course dinner. With so many places to eat, you might ask yourself where to begin a "culinary trip" through Brussels?A good place to start is with a seafood restaurant, such as Sea Grill. Brussels is well known for its fresh fish and diverse dishes featuring mussels, shrimp and many other types of seafood. One favorite local dish is Waterzooi. This delicious soup is thick, creamy, and made from either fish or chicken. Despite being a soup, it's more of a meal in a bowl and is exactly what you need on a cold winter's day.
Most people have heard about the famous Belgian bonbons. The most delicious bonbons are sold here in Brussels. Renowned chocolate-makers such as Godiva offer exquisite handmade bonbons, made fresh daily. In Belgium, bonbons are presented to friends and family members as gifts, not just because of their taste, but also because they are always presented in beautifully decorated boxes tied with ribbons. Bonbons are also the perfect accompaniment to coffee, and are the ideal way to round off a dinner party. They are also a really great way to spoil yourself.
The rather famous Belgian waffle is another favorite to enjoy with coffee or tea. These freshly baked waffles can be bought absolutely everywhere - at street stalls, in bakeries, and in cafés all over Belgium. Tea is always served in beautiful little tea glasses, and never in a normal cup.
Bread has always had an important place on the Belgian table. A typical Belgian bread is pain à la grecque. Despite its name, "Greek bread" has absolutely nothing to do with Greece. Years ago the bread was distributed amongst the poor, but now it is for sale in most bakeries and is enjoyed by everyone.
Chips, fries, or whatever you like to call them, are Brussels's number one snack. Everywhere you look you’ll see stalls selling the most delicious hot chips, with or without mayonnaise. This snack, generally served in a cone-shaped bag, is just as well known here as fish and chips.
Brussels is also the perfect city for beer connoisseurs! The Belgians brew a plethora of different varieties, with a different beer for each season. In summer, the beer is light and fruity, for example the Brussels Gueuze. Autumn beer is somewhat heavier, and is made by Trappist monks; take care, as this is a fairly strong brew with an alcohol content of 8-11.5%. Belgium produces very little wine, and although Belgians do drink red or white port as an aperitif, beer is the most popular drink in both bars and restaurants.
A high concentration of restaurants can be found in Grote Markt / Grand Place and the surrounding area, where you'll find all sorts of international cuisine such as Greek, Chinese, Spanish and, of course, French.
So, now that you've sampled the sumptuous side of Brussels, wouldn't you like to try it for yourself?
Copyright © 1999-2008 wcities.com all right reserved
