Belgian cuisine — fries, chocolate, waffles, mussels, beer. Franco-Dutch mix. Best fries in the world. Chocolate paradise.
Fries
Belgium is inventor of French fries (NOT France). Friterie at every corner. Double-fried in beef fat. Cone with mayo, samurai, andalouse, joppie. Real Belgian fries — UNESCO debate.
Chocolate
Belgian chocolate — world top. Godiva, Neuhaus (praline inventor 1912), Leonidas, Pierre Marcolini. 2000 chocolatiers. Pralines, truffles, manon. 600,000 tons/year production. Chocolate museum Brussels.
Waffles
Brussels waffle (rectangular, light, with powdered sugar) and Liège waffle (round, denser, with pearl caramelized sugar). Sold everywhere at stands. With strawberries, cream, chocolate.
Moules-frites
Moules-frites — national dish. Mussels marinière (wine, leek, onion, parsley). With fries and mayo. Zealand mussels season September-April.
Beer
Belgium = beer paradise. 1500+ beers! Trappist beers (6 Belgian Trappists: Westvleteren #1 world 2016, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, Achel). Witbieren (Hoegaarden), lambics (gueuze, kriek). Duvel, Leffe, Stella Artois. Belgian beer UNESCO.
Flemish Carbonade
Carbonade flamande / stoofvlees — beef stewed in brown beer (Leffe Brune). Classic with fries. Waterzooi (Ghent) — poultry or fish stew in creamy sauce.
Specialties
Mattentaarten Geraardsbergen UNESCO. Speculoos Lotus (original coffee cookie). Cuberdons (purple candy Ghent). Jenever (Hasselt). Wittekes (white strawberries Hoogstraten).