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Food And Drink
Specialities Of Brussels - What To Eat & Drink During
Your Stay In Brussels
You could be forgiven for wanting to visit
Brussels for the eating choices alone. The city centre
has a sprawling medley of restaurants serving up fine
cuisines and ales and no trip to Brussels is complete
without visiting a speciality Belgian Chocolate Shoppe
and stocking up on sweet treats for the journey home.
Food & Restaurants In Brussels
From the
traditional Belgian & French fare in and around Grand
Place to the more exotic ethnic options such as the
enjoyable Ita...
brussels
holiday,brussels,brussels flight,brussels
eurostar,brussels hotel,brussels accommodation
You could be forgiven for wanting to visit Brussels for
the eating choices alone. The city centre has a
sprawling medley of restaurants serving up fine cuisines
and ales and no trip to Brussels is complete without
visiting a speciality Belgian Chocolate Shoppe and
stocking up on sweet treats for the journey home.
Food & Restaurants In Brussels
From the
traditional Belgian & French fare in and around Grand
Place to the more exotic ethnic options such as the
enjoyable Italian fare offered by the string of
restaurants in “Little Italy” (along rue Franklin),
Brussels is choc-a-bloc with engaging dining
opportunities.
Of course, we all know that
Belgium is associated with Moules (mussels) et Frites
(Chips) but it’s also regarded for a number of
additional dishes that have been shaped by a variety of
influences including the French, Spanish and Dutch who
all ruled over the land at some point in History. In
fact Belgians culinary history can be traced back to the
middle ages.
You can enjoy starters such as
Croquettes aux Crevettes Grises (shrimp) and Fondues au
Fromage (a type of cheesy croquette). A speciality
Belgian bread that is sweet is Choesels and Ardennes
pate is a pate comprised largely of pork and garlic.
Then there are main dishes such as Filet American
(served minced and raw mixed with onions and several
spices). The Belgians do enjoy their red meat and it can
form the basis of many a meal. Ragout d’agneau is a
braised lamb dish that’s marinated with herbs. Pheasant
and rabbit are also used in some speciality dishes like
Faisan a la Brabanconne and Lapin dishes.
Anguilles au vert is an eel based soup and Andouillette
a type of sausage.
You may expect to see Brussels
Sprouts somewhere – and you would be right (Choux de
Bruxelles). Chicory is one of the most used vegetables
in Belgian cuisine, featuring in foods such as Witloof
where it’s wrapped in cheese and ham.
You can
round things up with Damme Blanche – vanilla ice cream
served with a thick chocolate sauce. Or opt for other
sweet delights like Profiteroles or Tarte tartin (apple
pie served with cream).
There’s no shortage of
quality restaurants in Brussels – you can feast on fresh
fish in the Lower Town, enjoy dinner at any one of the
high-class offerings along rue Antoine Dansaert – in
fact you can venture to practically any part of the city
and be within five minutes of a good place to eat.
For Tradional Belgian Food…
For pleasant food
at reasonable prices, Chez Leon in Grand Place delivers
– As you may expect it offers the Moules et Frites type
menu and children under the age of 12 eat free.
Similarly, Chez Patric (Rue des Chapeliers) is popular
with the tourists who want to sample traditional Belgian
fare as is Brasserie de la Roue d’Or which is on the
same street. La Rose Blanche (Grand Place) is known for
its stews or you can opt for La Brouette for grander
Belgian fare.
Italian
Noted for its warm
atmosphere and exquisite food, A’mbriana (Rue Edith
Cavell) serves up quality Italian fare are reasonable
prices. Nearer to Grand Place is Rugantino and Senso
(rue Franklin) offers well presented food but is
somewhat on the pricey side. Also along Franklin are
Pappa e Citti and Napoli.
Asian
While
Brussels has a fairly high number of Chinese &
Vietnamese restaurants, Indian fare is not as widely
available and one of the best options is La Porte des
Indes Avenue Louise).
La Cantonnaise (rue
Tenbosch) and Hong Hoa (rue du Pont la Carpe) are among
the favoured Chinese options while La Citronnelle is an
interesting Vietnamese restaurant along Chaussee de
Wavre.
Spanish
Tapas Locas (Grand Place)
draws in a younger crowd and tends to be pretty good,
cheap fare and Casa Manuel (also in Grand Place) is also
a nice place which serves Portugese fare as well as
Spanish.
Other International Restaurants
Le Forcado (Chaussee de Charleroi) is one of the few
pure Portugese restaurants in Brussels. Along Rue des
Grands-Carmes is Canita Cubana, which as you might
suspect offers a wide range of Cuban cuisine. In the
mood for African? Try Gri Gri located on Rue Basse.
Beers In Belgium
Belgium is the beer
producing capital of the world, and offers a variety of
hundreds of different beers. In fact, bars in Belgium
often have a separate menu just for their beers.
Depending on who you talk to, Belgium produces anywhere
between 400 to 750 different varieties of beer.
Brussels also hosts the “Beer Weekend” which is on for
three days every September. With reasonable beer prices
and free entry, this is a must for beer lovers
everywhere.
Some of the different types of beers
include:
Blanche Beers – The most prolific
blanche is Hoegaarden, which aside from being light in
colour have a distinct citrus flavour and have a low
alcohol content.
Trappist Beers – such as Chimay
go back to the Middle Ages and are strong, yeasty beers
with up to 11% alcohol.
Lambic Beers – are the
most common in Brussels. Non-malted wheat beers, Lambics
have around 5% alcohol strength. A derivative of Lambics
are Gueuze beers which are a blend of Lambic beers.
You’ll also come over Kriek beers which are Lambics that
have a fruity flavour (very popular in summer).
If you’re really into your beer then consider a visit to
Musee Bruxellois De La Gueuze – one of the best
breweries in Belgium. Here you can take a tour of the
beer production process (and taste a pint or two on the
way).
It’s not just the staggering variety and
flavours of beers that’s interesting in Brussels –
equally, the ambience where you can enjoy your liquid
nectar can and should be part of the whole Brussels
experience. Having your pint in an old brown café or
within one of the many historic Art Nouveau buildings is
simply a joy to experience.
Food And Drink
Specialities Of Brussels - What To Eat & Drink During
Your Stay In Brussels
You could be forgiven for wanting to visit
Brussels for the eating choices alone. The city centre
has a sprawling medley of restaurants serving up fine
cuisines and ales and no trip to Brussels is complete
without visiting a speciality Belgian Chocolate Shoppe
and stocking up on sweet treats for the journey home.
Food & Restaurants In Brussels
From the
traditional Belgian & French fare in and around Grand
Place to the more exotic ethnic options such as the
enjoyable Ita...
brussels
holiday,brussels,brussels flight,brussels
eurostar,brussels hotel,brussels accommodation
You could be forgiven for wanting to visit Brussels for
the eating choices alone. The city centre has a
sprawling medley of restaurants serving up fine cuisines
and ales and no trip to Brussels is complete without
visiting a speciality Belgian Chocolate Shoppe and
stocking up on sweet treats for the journey home.
Food & Restaurants In Brussels
From the
traditional Belgian & French fare in and around Grand
Place to the more exotic ethnic options such as the
enjoyable Italian fare offered by the string of
restaurants in “Little Italy” (along rue Franklin),
Brussels is choc-a-bloc with engaging dining
opportunities.
Of course, we all know that
Belgium is associated with Moules (mussels) et Frites
(Chips) but it’s also regarded for a number of
additional dishes that have been shaped by a variety of
influences including the French, Spanish and Dutch who
all ruled over the land at some point in History. In
fact Belgians culinary history can be traced back to the
middle ages.
You can enjoy starters such as
Croquettes aux Crevettes Grises (shrimp) and Fondues au
Fromage (a type of cheesy croquette). A speciality
Belgian bread that is sweet is Choesels and Ardennes
pate is a pate comprised largely of pork and garlic.
Then there are main dishes such as Filet American
(served minced and raw mixed with onions and several
spices). The Belgians do enjoy their red meat and it can
form the basis of many a meal. Ragout d’agneau is a
braised lamb dish that’s marinated with herbs. Pheasant
and rabbit are also used in some speciality dishes like
Faisan a la Brabanconne and Lapin dishes.
Anguilles au vert is an eel based soup and Andouillette
a type of sausage.
You may expect to see Brussels
Sprouts somewhere – and you would be right (Choux de
Bruxelles). Chicory is one of the most used vegetables
in Belgian cuisine, featuring in foods such as Witloof
where it’s wrapped in cheese and ham.
You can
round things up with Damme Blanche – vanilla ice cream
served with a thick chocolate sauce. Or opt for other
sweet delights like Profiteroles or Tarte tartin (apple
pie served with cream).
There’s no shortage of
quality restaurants in Brussels – you can feast on fresh
fish in the Lower Town, enjoy dinner at any one of the
high-class offerings along rue Antoine Dansaert – in
fact you can venture to practically any part of the city
and be within five minutes of a good place to eat.
For Tradional Belgian Food…
For pleasant food
at reasonable prices, Chez Leon in Grand Place delivers
– As you may expect it offers the Moules et Frites type
menu and children under the age of 12 eat free.
Similarly, Chez Patric (Rue des Chapeliers) is popular
with the tourists who want to sample traditional Belgian
fare as is Brasserie de la Roue d’Or which is on the
same street. La Rose Blanche (Grand Place) is known for
its stews or you can opt for La Brouette for grander
Belgian fare.
Italian
Noted for its warm
atmosphere and exquisite food, A’mbriana (Rue Edith
Cavell) serves up quality Italian fare are reasonable
prices. Nearer to Grand Place is Rugantino and Senso
(rue Franklin) offers well presented food but is
somewhat on the pricey side. Also along Franklin are
Pappa e Citti and Napoli.
Asian
While
Brussels has a fairly high number of Chinese &
Vietnamese restaurants, Indian fare is not as widely
available and one of the best options is La Porte des
Indes Avenue Louise).
La Cantonnaise (rue
Tenbosch) and Hong Hoa (rue du Pont la Carpe) are among
the favoured Chinese options while La Citronnelle is an
interesting Vietnamese restaurant along Chaussee de
Wavre.
Spanish
Tapas Locas (Grand Place)
draws in a younger crowd and tends to be pretty good,
cheap fare and Casa Manuel (also in Grand Place) is also
a nice place which serves Portugese fare as well as
Spanish.
Other International Restaurants
Le Forcado (Chaussee de Charleroi) is one of the few
pure Portugese restaurants in Brussels. Along Rue des
Grands-Carmes is Canita Cubana, which as you might
suspect offers a wide range of Cuban cuisine. In the
mood for African? Try Gri Gri located on Rue Basse.
Beers In Belgium
Belgium is the beer
producing capital of the world, and offers a variety of
hundreds of different beers. In fact, bars in Belgium
often have a separate menu just for their beers.
Depending on who you talk to, Belgium produces anywhere
between 400 to 750 different varieties of beer.
Brussels also hosts the “Beer Weekend” which is on for
three days every September. With reasonable beer prices
and free entry, this is a must for beer lovers
everywhere.
Some of the different types of beers
include:
Blanche Beers – The most prolific
blanche is Hoegaarden, which aside from being light in
colour have a distinct citrus flavour and have a low
alcohol content.
Trappist Beers – such as Chimay
go back to the Middle Ages and are strong, yeasty beers
with up to 11% alcohol.
Lambic Beers – are the
most common in Brussels. Non-malted wheat beers, Lambics
have around 5% alcohol strength. A derivative of Lambics
are Gueuze beers which are a blend of Lambic beers.
You’ll also come over Kriek beers which are Lambics that
have a fruity flavour (very popular in summer).
If you’re really into your beer then consider a visit to
Musee Bruxellois De La Gueuze – one of the best
breweries in Belgium. Here you can take a tour of the
beer production process (and taste a pint or two on the
way).
It’s not just the staggering variety and
flavours of beers that’s interesting in Brussels –
equally, the ambience where you can enjoy your liquid
nectar can and should be part of the whole Brussels
experience. Having your pint in an old brown café or
within one of the many historic Art Nouveau buildings is
simply a joy to experience.
Top Attractions To
See During Your Visit To Brussels
Brussels is known for more than just being
Europes capital city and any visit to Brussels should
include at least some of the below famous landmarks.
Grand Place
It all begins here – Brussels
most distinguished feature started life as a cobbled
marketplace in around the 12th century. Many of the
grandeur buildings that make up such a vivid part of
Grand Place today weren’t erected until the 18th
century.
The guildhalls that give Grand Place
it’s identity were part of...
brussels
holiday,brussels,brussels flight,brussels
eurostar,brussels hotel,brussels accommodation
Brussels is known for more than just being Europes
capital city and any visit to Brussels should include at
least some of the below famous landmarks.
Grand
Place
It all begins here – Brussels most
distinguished feature started life as a cobbled
marketplace in around the 12th century. Many of the
grandeur buildings that make up such a vivid part of
Grand Place today weren’t erected until the 18th
century.
The guildhalls that give Grand Place
it’s identity were part of trade societies formed around
the 13th century – notably butchers, bakers and cloth
makers. Each guildhall is distinguished by certain
unique designs.
Perhaps the most admired part of
Grand Place is the magnificent Hotel de Ville, which was
completed in 1444 by architect Jan von Ruysbroeck. Since
then, it’s been described as a gothic masterpiece and
one of the most splendid sights in Belgium. Inside, you
can take a tour and browse over some wonderful artwork
and tapestry from the 15th century. Take in the
breathtaking majesty of the conference room boasting
ancient tapestry and the “Aldermens Room” where even
today the Mayor holds certain prolific meetings. The
final masterpiece of Hotel de Ville is its exquisite
belfry – described as one of the finest in the world.
Now, the Hotel de Ville is the town centre of Brussels.
The Maison du Roi was built in 1536 by (then)
Spanish rulers and now houses a fine collection of art,
tapestries and Manneken Pis from the 16th century.
Meaning “Kings House” Maison du Roi is now the setting
for Musee de la Ville de Bruxelles – a collection of
medieval art. If you’re planning on seeing a number of
museums during your stay in Brussels then you may
benefit from a “Brussels Card” which offers free entry
to 30 museums for 30 Euros – the holder also gets
unlimited access on public transport and discounts on
various additional attractions and eateries.
Le
Pigeon is known as being the home of Victor Hugo, the
famous French writer in 1852 after he fled France
following the French insurrection and La Maison des
Boulangers was built by the guild of bakers – a
testimony to their power and wealth at the time. Maison
des Tailleurs is made famous by the statue of patron
saint St Barbara – this was the guild of tailors.
One of the best experiences of visiting Brussels is
to enjoy a coffee or beer at one of the cafes set within
Grand Place and watch the bustle of tourists potter
along the cobbled streets while viewing the grandeur.
If you intend on having something to eat in and
around Grand Place then there’s no shortage of options.
If you’re in the mood for traditional Belgian fare, try
t’Kelderke which serves up the usual offering of moules
et frites at reasonable prices. Katya’s Kitchen is also
an interesting establishment serving up a variety of
cuisine including Asian and more traditional Belgian
dishes. There are other restaurants within a stones
throw of Grand Place so if these don’t take your fancy
simply take to the streets until something does.
Try coming back to see Grand Place at night – the busy
atmosphere and night lights make it a truly enriching
experience.
Parc du Cinquantenaire
Beautiful, tree-lined Parc du Cinquantenaire was built
as a tribute to the golden celebrations for Belgian
independence in 1880. The famous Arc de Triomphe
landmark was completed several years after the park was
built.
The park houses the Musee de l’Armee which
is a museum describing Belgiums military history and
includes various artefacts stretching back to over two
centuries. The gateway into the city is marked by the
Central Archway. Interestingly, the park is also home to
“Autoworld” which has hundreds of classic cars on
display. Also worth a visit is Musee du Cinquantenaire
which has international artefacts from civilisations
dating back to the 15th century.
Aside from the
many features of Parc du Cinquantenaire it’s also a very
plesant place to take a relaxing stroll – indeed it’s
one of the most loved places by the locals who come in
droves during weekends and public holidays.
Quartier Royal
Once upon a time the Quartier
Royal was the home of Belgian Royalty, though this is no
longer the case (the Royal family are now situated in
Laeken). Even so, the Quartier Royal are grand and
handsome grounds with an eventful history – including
being utterly destroyed by a fire in 1731 before being
rebuilt by the 19th century.
Stretching over a
mile long, Rue Royal runs from Quartier Royal to the
pleasant Jardin Botanique and is a pleasant way of
seeing some fine architecure. The Quartier Royal also
houses the Palais Royal, Palais de la Nation and Palais
des Academies. The Palais Royal remains the largest of
the palaces set within Quartier Royal and boasts a fine
throne room, long gallery displaying ceiling paintings
and the hall of mirrors. It’s open to the public between
July and September and is well worth the visit.
The attractive Parc de Bruxelles has some elegant
fountains and is lined with trees – the park was
originally conceived in the 17th century.
Cathedrale Sts Michel et Gudule
This grand
cathedral took over three centuries to complete – work
actually began in 1225, under Henry I (Duke of Brabant)
and was completed around the 16th century under Charles
V. Saint Gudule was the 7th century saint who the
Cathedral was inspired after along with St Michael
(Patron Saint of Brussels) who’s statue can be seen in
the middle of the structure. The “Last Judgement” window
is an exquisite feature of the Cathedral – indeed, it’s
the first sight that stands out as you approach. This
interesting gothic styled institution is located on
Parvis St.-Gudule.
Palais de Justice
Completed in 1883, the Palais de Justice was designed by
Joseph Poelaert and remains one of the distinctive
constructions in Belgium and unlike many other landmark
still functions as it was originally built for – in this
case the capital of Brussels’ legal courts. The Palais
de Justice is situated along Place Poelaert. Very near
the Palais de Justice are Les Marolles which are stuffed
with little cafes and tiny shops. For some unusual
bargains make your way to the junk market on Sunday
mornings on Place du Jeu de Balle.
Palais
d’Egmont
On rue aux Laines is the unmistakable
sight of Palais d’Egmont – originally built in the 16th
century, the palace took on further historical
significance in the 1970’s as the place where Great
Britain officially became a member of the EEC.
Musee d’Art Moderne
The multi-storey building
that houses this museum is almost as interesting as the
exhibits inside – as many of the levels are underground.
The museum is located on Place Royale and as the name
suggests, includes works of art from modern talent (19th
century onwards). Also worth a visit is Musee d’Art
Ancien - displaying art dating as far back as the 15th
century and includes a pleasant sculpture garden that’s
a delight to visit. Musee d’Art Ancien is on rue de la
Regence.
Le Sablon District
Known as the
region where Brussels splits into two (the upper and
lower region) the Place du Grand Sablon is a pleasant
area with a prolific fountain and the Gothic church of
Notre-Dame du Sablon. This prosperous region of Brussels
is noted for housing top restaurants, bars & cafes to
stop by and enjoy a bite. Aside from visiting the gothic
church (completed around the mid 1500’s) the Place du
Petit Sablon must be seen – these delightful gardens are
a pleasure to amble along. Sit on the many benches
available, peruse the statues and take some pictures of
the fountains built to honour Counts Egmont & Hornes.
Atomium
The Atomium (located in Heysel) is
one of the most distinguished landmarks of Brussels –
the structure – a giant molecule was constructed in 1958
when Brussels held the world fair. It’s well worth a
trip to see this interesting structure.
Laeken
This leafy suburb situated north of Brussels is the
Belgian equivalent of Windsor – it is the residence of
the Belgian royalty and is noted for it’s abundance of
greenery and picture-perfect parklands.