Soft and sweet inside, crispy on the outside, layered with fruit, drenched in chocolate, maybe just a bit of sugar on a rare day, or hell, slide on some ice cream. The forever battle between Pancake vs Waffle will never end, but we can compromise with having both. Some days I’d like a thick stack of buttermilk pancakes, but on a rainy, moody night, vanilla scented and pearl sugar studded waffles heals my soul.
So much talk about waffles, I almost forgot we would be going (daydreaming) to Belgium. Known for chocolate, fries, beer, and obviously waffles, Belgium is the lesser known gastronomic stop you should be taking on your European tours. To people outside of the EU, Belgium is overlooked by larger surrounding cities (might I say, overrated) like Paris and London. Though the larger well known cities are deserving of their global names and a definite stop for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I do recommend researching surrounding cities and town for a quick pit stop and fully submerging one’s self in the trip.
I was in Paris when I decided to take a trip to Bruxelles/Brussels to meet up with old friend. I had planned a one day trip, early train/late train so that I could get the most out of seeing my friend. I knew with the time restriction we would have to stay in the city, but I had previously looked up the map just to get an idea of what there was to do.
I stepped out of Gare du Midi on a quiet Sunday morning when even the birds were just waking up and a single lone stranger was walking down the street. The Marolles Flea Market (Marché aux Puces des Marolles) was open and was the source of hustle and bustle outside of the station. Clothes, knick-knacks, fruit, you name it, it’s probably there. From the market, I walked up to the Mont des Arts area.
It’s quite a rare site to see, a city centre completely empty. I passed by the Tuin van de Kunstberg Park as well as the Klokkenspel nearby. A twirl around the Parc de Bruxelles and Palais de Bruxelles, I found myself at a local bookstore, Filigranes. This bookstore is extremely large; instead of floors, it just expands and doesn’t stop. (A bit like a marshmallow that’s being microwaved. No?) There’s a cafe inside as well for snacks and well needed coffee.
The time came and I headed to Grand Place (Grote Markt), the golden market square. I met my friend and we began our wandering around the city. If you’re a bookworm, architecture nerd, or just like cool spaces, Tropismes, is a beautiful shop to hang out in. In the same area, the Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert (Galeries Royales Saint Hubert) is a tourist area, but stunning nonetheless. This covered shopping mall has a cinema, never ending restaurants, chocolate shops, and more. Right next door for my bakers and kitchen queens, there is an International Home of Cooking kitchen supply store. Dille & Kamille is another home goods store that will leave your luggage bulging the minute you step inside. Unknown to many, Brussels is a large base for comics, from comic books stores to a comic strip wall.
So, after all of these things to see, you’d need a place to rest your legs and fill up your stomach, right? Belgian beer. It needs no introduction, no explanation. But please, save me a glass. I was told that meatballs were a specialty in addition to the fries, and that I couldn’t leave before I had a large glass of beer. Croquettes are also common and seafood are often seen on the menu. After a relaxing lunch, don’t forget to hop in chocolate shops for samples (and maybe a few boxes for the way home) as well as the street side waffle vendor.
Between the light and crispy Brussels waffle and the dense, sugar encrusted Liege waffle, you’ll never have to seek them out because the nose will help find the way. There’s nothing more satisfying than sinking your teeth into a sugary delight that warms your hands and mind.
City centre is also packed with museums. From fine arts to fashion to musical instruments, these museums are a great way for families and children to hide out in a rain shower or a breather day. Just for fun, you could also do a tour of all the Manneken Pis statues.
That’s all for this post, please leave comments and questions and take a look at the tips below!
Hugs~
Tips:
- Though planning a trip to the well known cities may not be your ultimate dream destination, it will cut your plane costs by 1/3 at times. It was a lot cheaper to fly into Paris and then take a train to Belgium than it was to fly directly to Brussels. Trains are well used and safe in the EU, and is the best way of transportation in Europe. Check out: Spain.
- Early morning and late night trains are the cheapest, though don’t just take my word for it. You can use an app like Omio to check train schedules for the cheapest train as well as pick your seat.
- Pack for walking; Brussels is a rather small city and you can definitely see the city in a day by walking, or using the city tram/bus.
Baking Traveller 