Elevate your senses on this gastronomical journey through Brussels

When we think of Brussels, most people think of BEER, WAFFLES, FRIES AND CHOCOLATE. This cosmopolitan has so much more to offer. It is one tasty cultural melting pot to indulge for every kind of palate.

The people of Brussels truly know how to cherish good tasty food. So maybe you would like to put aside your diet for a couple of days and savor what the city has to offer.

Beer in Brussel: to enjoy, to savour, to appreciate, to unite friends

What better way to celebrate a special occasion than to share a cold artisanal beer with some of your loved ones. Beer is booming, beer is everywhere, everyone wants to create yet another beer. That is the reason why trendy microbreweries keep mushrooming throughout the city and country. Belgians take pride in their national drink where each brewery boast about its in-depth knowledge and precision in creating its distinct ale.

There are about 1500 beer brands and over 700 different tastes, so there is a beer for every taste with all sorts of alcohol percentage.

• What sets the beer of Belgium apart from the rest? The reason Belgian Beer is so famous and different from any other country, is the ingredients, the way of brewing, the tradition and the variety of beers.

• Specialising in trappist beer (beer made by monks from Trappist order), abbey beer, pils or pale lager, bock (A strong flavor customised to a Belgian requirement), white or wheat beer, blonde or golden ale, hop-accentuated beers and India pale ale, lambic beers (A wheat beer that undergoes a long ageing process), amber ales, tripel, dubbel, flemish red, stout, champagne beer, brown ale, scotch ale and fruit beers.

• Served in pint glasses, beer mugs, goblets, snifters to thistle glasses, cause every beer deserves its own glass, hence showing respect for the beer.

• Very often a meal may seem incomplete without a chilled beer, sometimes beer is used in different local stews. Several restaurants carefully select the beer that would pair well with the food, showing the importance and quality of Belgian beer.

Do check out some of its breweries and museums and you might end up exiting the country as a beer sommelier.

• Some of the notable breweries in the city are: En Stoemelings, No Science, La Source, Brasserie de la Senne, Cantillon, L’Annexe, Nanobrasserie de l’Ermitage, Brussels Beer Project… amongst a few.

• Beer tours hosted by expert guides that delve into the ancient brewing techniques, while you get a taste of a wide selection of beers complemented with meats and cheese.

Not missing on an opportunity to gather and have a good time around beers, Brussels offers some nice beer festivals, BXLBeerFest - The Crossroads of Beers and Friends, Belgian Beer Weekend and Wanderlust Craft Beer Festival which stand out when it comes to providing you with a one of a kind local Belgian experience.

If spontaneity is something you are looking for, then a beer bus tour might just be perfect for you, hop on to a Vintage bus! And discover the city while tasting different local beers and stopping at all major attraction sites in Brussels.

The most exciting news is that right in the heart of Brussels, in the summer of 2023 there will be the grand opening of Belgian Beer World. The former stock exchange will be converted into the most spectacular touristic attraction in Belgium. This will be the place to have the ultimate beer experience, the place for your selfie in beer heaven, the place where you can have an incredible view of the city on the rooftop terrace while enjoying beers. Welcome soon to the best Beer experience in the world.

Chocolates: A treat for your eyes and taste buds

If one has ever fantasized about the kind of joy Charlie may have experienced from one of Roald Dahl’s infamous books, ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’, then look no further. Brussels could very well give you that and more, delve into this sweet journey and enjoy some unadulterated gourmet pleasure.

Home to some of the renowned brands Neuhaus, Mary, Leonidas, Godiva, Galler, Marcolini, and more, this trip could end up in a sugar rush! The two biggest chocolate factories in the world (Callebaut and Puratos) are also house based in Belgium.

It is evident that a chocolate country needs chocolate museums of experience centres, and therefore:

• Take a step into history and walk down the Belgian Chocolate Village which is located just off city centre. Along an interactive trail, the museum tells you about the history of chocolate and reveals the secrets of its production.

• Closer to Grand Place and right in heart of the historical centre you find Choco Story, an interactive Choco museum experience with fun elements you will surely enjoy.

• Get involved in the process of chocolate making, and create some goodies to take back home, learning from the best at Concept Chocolate, Planète Chocolat, Lauren Gerbaud or many others still.

Different Guided tours associations can take you around some of the noteworthy confectionaries, giving you a once-in-a-lifetime sweet chocolate experience. During these visits and tasting sessions, the guides will tell you all secrets of Belgian chocolate and how to pair chocolate with beer and other culinary specialties from Brussels.

Did you know that Brussels Airport is the largest chocolate outlet in the world? About 1.5 kg of chocolate is sold per minute, about two tonnes per day.

Waffles: Breakfast fit for a king

What better feeling than to wake up to the sweet smell of waffles on a bright crispy day. Like the city, the waffle too has undergone small but significant transformations. Catering to the sweet and savory breakfast clan alike, this waffle comes in two specific types Brussels waffle and a Liège waffle (pearl sugar). But if you ever have a problem deciding, it’s best you gorge on both.

• Some places that are worth making that extra trip to are Maison Dandoy, Aux Gauffres de Bruxelles, The Waffle Factory, Mokcafé, Gaufres & Waffles, Pardon Brussels

After one bite, you may wish to learn the art so as to enjoy the pleasure of a freshly made waffle for a very long time, look no further and head to the Brussels Waffle Workshop During this 90-minute workshop, wherein you’ll prepare a traditional Belgian waffle dough, cook it, and then decorate your waffles with icing sugar, whipped cream, chocolate sauce or other toppings, and seasonal fruits, though Belgians only put icing sugar mostly.

Belgian fries!

Belgian is famous for its unique fries, and in every village and every city you will find the typical Belgian fries stalls (over 5000), where every Belgian family on regular basis meet for some delicious fries with a variety of sauces, meats. The success and taste of Belgian fries comes from the special fat which is used, and how the fries are fried. A secret! Belgians and fries, it’s a tradition.

International Palate

Brussels is a multi-cultural city, with most different nationalities, and the food scene is therefore ready to welcome any type of visitor from around the world, looking for food they are used to. The city has ample vegetarian and vegan options (Le Botaniste, Humus x Hortense (green Michelin star), Fourchette a Bicyclette, Dolma, Ici, Ami, Liu Lin, the Judgy Vegan, Savage, La Canne en Ville, enough to win over the taste buds of even the most precise palate.

Out of the box gastronomic experiences

• Tram Experience is an entirely unique concept offering you a gastronomic trip through Brussels aboard a tram. It will take you on a journey through our capital while you are enjoying a gourmet meal.

• Dinner in the Sky: Fasten seatbelts to be lifted to the sky of Belgium where the most renowned Belgian chefs treat 32 guests to an incredible gastronomic lifetime experience. Take a seat at the table in the air and enjoy.

• Food markets: Brussels has some of the nicest food markets, with local specialties and international cuisine. Ideal to taste a bit of all of the Belgian gastronomic offers. Go to Wolf Food Marketor Gare Maritime Food Market and be amazed by the incredible food.

A trip to Brussels, Belgium will not only leave you with memories of a lifetime, but an insatiable hunger to return for more.