Chocolate, Waffles & Fries, Brussels

Favorite thing: Of course, you can't leave Brussels without bringing a "ballotin" of "pralines".
How do you tell which one is good? A quality chocolate at a reasonnable price is Leonidas. Made with fresh ingredients, they have to be eaten quickly. You can find Leonidas stores all over Brussels. There's one near Grand-Place and one on Boulevard Anspach, between Place de Brouckere and the Bourse.
Warning: Belgians often bring chocolate as a gift for a party, a birthday... any occasions really. DON'T bring Leonidas (unless it's for the kids) as you will be regarded as being a cheapstake.
The one that started it all was Neuhaus. Mr. Neuhaus, son of a Swiss immigrant, started the whole Belgian Chocolate craze in the 19th century. His first store was, and still is, in the Galleries St-Hubert. Mrs Neuhaus deserves credits to have invented the "ballotin", that characteristical little box to keep your chocolate. Neuhaus is still top notch.

Godiva is now exporting itself quite well (see your local department store like Marshall Fields or Macy's) or your local coffee-shop. The flagship store on the Grand'Place is a little chocolate heaven... yummy but really overpriced, I think!

Amongst the newcomers (and expensive) in the Belgian chocolate worls is Pierre Marcolini. I never had the opportunity to try it but I heard it quickly became one of the most sought after brand. His chocolates with subtles mixes and unusual flavours would be best suited for real chocoholics who know what they're about to taste.
He has a shop on Place du Grand Sablon, 39 and also one on Avenue Louise, 75M.

Galler is the brand prized by the royal court. Its specialty is chocolate bars (coconut filled white chocolate, champagne filled dark chocolate...). The main store is located off Grand'Place (Rue au Beurre 44) but you can find the bars at most grocery stores. They also make "Langue de Chat", a special chocolate designed after one of Belgium's most beloved comic-strip cat :Philippe Geluck's Le Chat.

Favorite thing: It isn't that unusual for us to swap
restaurants for having dessert somewhere else.
That has nothing to do with the restaurant we
are in at that moment. I just don't like to sit
too long or I know something in the neighbourhood
that just sounds better.

After our dinner in 'le p?cheur' I knew such an
address in the 'Baljuwstraat' not far from the
'Louisalaan'.
' Le Framboisier Dor!'

Doesn't that sounds great?
One problem , my information seemed to be
a little overtime. The place was closed.
My paper sais 22h and in fact 19h it closes down.
So had to miss out on that great homemade
icecream , waffles , ...

I can't stand that and I didn't wanted to go to
bed without my icecream. Even if it was freezing.

Thank god we found 'Island' ice cream
on the 'waterloolaan' not far from the ugc-cinema.

They had this fantastic Belgian flavours like
-speculoos , pain d'?pices , cookies....

Never give up if you want something
really bad. Always look for an happy ending. hihi

Favorite thing: In winter, just enjoy warm waffles in Brussels streets : near Grand-Place area, place de la Monnaie, in several metro stations... I love the smell of the burnt crispy sugar... Mmmmm

Fondest memory: Brussels waffle and chocolate are amongst things I miss when away from Brussels. Personnally, I prefer warm waffles, in winter, without any topping neither fruit in it: gauffres de Liège (Liège waffles), not gauffres de Bruxelles (with toppings and cream ).

Favorite thing: Yes, It's very belgian! I myself like waffle so much. Availabe in Belgium whole year round.

2 types of waffle; Brussels waffle and Luik waffle.

Fondest memory: Waffles in different toppings variations like melted warm chocolate, fresh cream, with strawberry ( mostly in summer time), rather plain white powder sugar or brown sugar.

Favorite thing: If you go to Belgium, you HAVE to try the chocolate and the NUMEROUS types of beer that the belgians have spent generations perfecting. If you don't drink beer, I feel sorry for you!:):)

Fondest memory: I miss the friends and STEF at the hostel who made the stay there so much more comfortable! Cheers!

Fondest memory: Everyone knows about and has probably tried Belgian Chocolate.
This is got to be the ultimate home of great chocolate. It’s impossible to walk 100m without coming across a chocolate shop selling the most magnificent selection of Chocolate. There are so many options but for me the best has got to go between Leonidas and Neuhaus. To be fair Leonidas has brought Belgian Chocolate far beyond the shores of Belgium. You can get their chocolates almost everywhere including Dublin. The chocolates are beautiful, so I cannot pass one bad word against them. However I cannot get Neuhaus in Dublin and therefore this is the one I went for. Just Magnificent.

Favorite thing: Why do the above always taste better in Belgium? taste tested several recently and they're consistantly good.

Favorite thing: Taste the delicious Belgian chocolate and pralines. World's best chocolate is made in Belgium.

Belgium is also well known for its waffles and beer.