Hello dear colleagues!
My name is Sarah, I'm a GP born and raised in Brussels. I deeply love my city, and I'm sure that sharing my
favorite places with you will make you love this city as much as I do.
While traveling, I noticed that the first thing that comes up in a conversation when I say I'm from Belgium,
is usually something about food.
It is true that, while our cuisine might not be the healthiest, we have a few national specialities that have
made us famous around the world.
I could list so many things that are typical from Belgium, but sometimes you have to make choices, so here is
my selection of the top 5 foods you should definitely try while being in Brussels:
Don't let them fool you: they might be called "french fries", but even our neighbours admit that the best
fries in the world come from Belgium.
There's still a debate to know what is the ultimate “fritkot” (= place where you buy fries) in Brussels:
Maison
Antoine or Frit
Flagey.
Why not try both and decide for yourself?
Obviously, Belgium is known worldwide for its chocolate and delicious pralines.
Côte d'Or, Neuhaus, Leonidas, Godiva, Galler, ... You will see shops from all the best brands as you wander
around the city.
My insider tip for those who know there's no such thing as "too much chocolate": go to the Neuhaus
outlet
for some free pralines tasting and for outrageous discounts on big quantities (1, 2, 3 kilos of praline)
Don't fall for the tourist traps in the city center that offer all kinds of toppings for a scandalous price.
It's actually pretty rare for Belgian people to have a huge waffle with fruits, chocolate and whipped cream.
We tend to like our waffles very simple: who needs topping when they're so delicious on their own?
My advice: just go have your waffle at the first ice-cream truck you find, it will be cheap, and just what you
need!
Extra-tip: there is a new trend of salty waffles. If you want to give it a try, my personal favorite is
Boentje café, a very cosy
zero-waste cafe and the perfect spot for a quick lunch.
When talking about traditional dishes, mussels and fries are as Belgian as it gets.
To try it, the most famous address is definitely Chez Léon, right in the heart of
the historical city center.
One very typical Belgian meal I loved as a kid was meatballs with fries.
The meatballs can be prepared in a thousand different ways: in tomato sauce, à la Liégeoise, cooked in wine or
beer sauce...
If you want to try it, I recommend going to
Ballekes.
Note that they also have vegan options, so no one misses out on the experience!
So this is it for today, but you might hear from me again for more suggestions on things to do or see (or eat
;)) in Brussels.
Take care,
Sarah