A Tribute to Belgium

So, in total, I was in Belgium for 5 hours.

That's less than one work day.

It's a little longer than watching the movie, Gone with the Wind.

About the same time as an energy drink should last you...

...aka it was not very long in the scheme of life.

- - -

But in those 5 short hours, I was able to do something I'd never done before (sorry Mom). . .

I was able to taste perfection.

Literal perfection.

In so many different ways!

One of those ways was in the form of fries (something that Belgians are known for? I had no idea).

This "cash only" (or so they said) little storefront, Friterie 1900, offered some of the greatest fries and side sauces I'd ever tasted. With a list of 20 sides and sauces - it can be a little overwhelming, especially when you haven't a clue as to what Andalouse and Loempiasaus sauce is ... but you have to make a decision quickly because the line is guaranteed to be under the stairs (really) and out the door. Especially on a rainy day like the one we got.

An important note is that most people dip things in mayo abroad. Even in Ireland, they are all about their pool of garlic mayo. For my side sauces I decided to try something different.

I chose half correctly, half incorrectly mostly because I decided to go rogue. I asked for Andalouse sauce (A win. Comparible to special sauce on a Big Mac) and Belgian pickles (A loss. Were not truly pickles. But pickled "other things"). My friend got Stoofvleessaus (warm brown beer sauce) and THAT is what I would suggest getting if you're ever in Bruges. Delish.

In the five hours, we also vowed to consume the other amazing food that Belgium is known for. After all, WOHO (we're only here once).

So naturally, in the understood chocolate capital of the world... we sampled alotta chocolates, too. Including the chocolates that the Belgian King or someone or other eats once a week. If it'll do for Philippe, it'll do for me, I suppose.

Chocolate shop after chocolate shop. That's one kind of repetitive activity that never gets old.

Each one cute, quaint, and filled to the gills with sweets.

Mussels are another apparent specialty in this small nation. And boy do they deliver. Our bucket was like a never-ending pot of black medallions in white wine sauce. The actual mussels were the size of 5 mussels back in the states. I was impressed and delighted. Again, another win. Not to mention the Belgian fruit beer that accompanied it: Mystic Kriek / Peche Beer.

Unreal.

Finally, we kept the food train rollin' with a very last minute sampling of the most Belgian thing you could think of:

My initial thought was: How could Belgian waffles be THAT different from the waffles I've had my entire life?

Let me just tell you: They are VERY different and like 10 cuts above even the best waffle house waffle.

Was I perhaps giving this square-ish piece of dough a little too much credit because I had to run a mile with it on a plate covered in nutella through the rain, hoping to catch the bus in time so I wouldn't have to catch a train back to the Netherlands? Maybe.

But there was something about the consistency. The sweetness. The light crunch of the dough.

The overall experience of the waffle makes me think that they are legit simply better.

Overall, Belgian food was beyond scrumptious, and food that I will forever remember and compare all other

fries

chocolates

mussels

fruit beers

and waffles to.

I feel terribly for all nourishment that follows.

I already feel the aura of a food snob developing in my taste buds.

Sorry, not sorry.

Until the next space ship bus ride to a foreign land for five hours of food tasting occurs. . .

. . . skål y'all