If you were to be born yesterday, it wouldn’t take long to find out about french fries and waffles, but it would take some time to accept the fact french fries are not french at all that there are 2 types of waffles in Belgium and that chocolate is best enjoyed with beer. Or that was only me 😊

We found about this, not the hard way, but our way, during a delicious food tour and a museum visit.

A group of a dozen people, foodies, like us gathered on a sunny late morning, following the fantastic history of Belgium food.

Like many countries in Europe Belgium is also the one that survived centuries thanks to the one and only mighty potato. The plant that can succeed anywhere and feed many.

Unlike Germans that prepares the potato in different ways, the only right way to eat potatoes in Belgium is to fry them. That’s why they are called – frites. And no, they are not eaten with ketchup they are eaten with mayo or other types of sauces including andalouse sauce that is not even from Andalusia, but very much Belgian condiment consisting of mayonnaise, tomato paste, and peppers, such as pimientos or roasted bell peppers.

The visit to Frietsmuseum was a fantastic way to broaden the knowledge on potato as a plant and food ingredient. The museum follows history of the potato immigration from South America to Europe and it shows its importance for the people of Belgium through various interactive games. Btw did you know there are over 4000 potato varieties grown around the world but only bintje makes excellent frites?

What actually makes Belgian fries tasty is the double fry in beef fat secret. Nothin beats fat, right?

The singing potato fries are hilarious and for the price of the ticket one can have free fries portion downstairs in the caffes. And you bet we claimed our portion.

Fries are eaten on every occasion, as a snack, side dish or full meal after a long working day.

They are often enjoyed with one of 1500 different types of Belgian beers, some of which we have tried in the local brewery.

Belgian beer is one of the most known and valued, and although worldwide known monk beer resurrected late in the 19^th century thanks to brown beer made from the Trappist order became commercially available.

Belgian waffles are another staple of Belgian cuisine and they are found in two different kinds. The thicker and sweeter one are named after Liege city and the Brussels ones are less sweet but more fluffy. Both types are very very delicious but I would always go for the sweeter ones with one of the sweet and sour.

The House of Waffles is specialized in making and serving the best waffles of Belgium and it can be caracterized as an insitution. With branches all over in various towns and cities, they serve the best waffles with a quick and fast food delivery and a great service. One can always enjoy few hours or have just a quick over the counter waffle snack, and it was proven, by yours truly a great spot to enjoy both types of waffles. A definity must when visiting Belgium!

Thanks to the Belgian African colonies and easy access to the raw material in the 19th century, Belgian chocolate became world famous and one of a kind in the world.

However, the cuberdons stole the show and suprised us greatly.

Cone shaped deep purple candy, cuberdones, are made of heated sugar and glucose that turns into a syrup and then gele. The syrup is poured in starch moulds and cooked in an oven at 55° for one week. During this proces the crust forms outiside, leaving the soft liquidy inside.

Cuberdons can only be preserved for about three weeks, after which period the inside begins to crystallize. This limited preservability is the reason why cuberdons are rarely exported outside the country.

The food tour in Brugges, was a fantastic way to start our gastronomic journey in Belgium, and saving on a budget for accommodation by residing in Home exchange, we could shamelessly enjoy meals in the local restaurants.

Starting the day with a delicious breakfast, without worrying about what to prepare and doing the dishes is a great way to start the day.

 

BREAKFAST

Benedict cafe is a small coffee shop situated in the heart of Brugge, just steps away from one of the magnificent canal bridges. The caffee offers fresh homemade dishes for both breakfast, lunch or aperitiv.

 

Sanseveria bagelsalon, serves the name suggests, bagels with various toppings both savory and sweet.

 

Hide breakfast is described as on of the most elegant breakfast/brunch places in Brugges.

 

LUNCH

Arthies is advertised as The Art of Eating place that offers fresh quality product brought in an artistic way in the no-nonsense atmosphere of the artistic bistro. The bistro is deffinitely charming and colorful and the dishes were abundante and decent.

 

 

De Rechters is a must-visit restaurant in Gent, known for traditional Flemish dishes was slightly sceptic, as the restaurant is in the near location of the cathedral and offten such places are rather rip off than a decent food experience. However, after securing a reservation and a small table under an sunbrella as it started dripping rain, we ordered some comfort food, probably the best of the trip.

 

 

 

Described as a restaurant with culinary highlights that reflect both local Belgian cuisine and international flavors, Au Coin was just a short stop during the Brussels passing thorugh, on our way to airport. Too bad, as the dishes were tasty and abundant

 

 

DINNER

Bistro du Phare was our first encounter with local food tradition and service. Located at the corner of the Brugge canal, with a pub setting, it offers both great food, service and a fantastic terrace view over the river.

 

Apparently, I ordered the steak to share it and ate it after devouring the tartar. It is either true or Debeli is fooling me 😊 What ever it was, we vouch it was very delicious start of our Belgian food expedition.