Belgium Shopping

One who visits Belgium should try this under-rated specialty. This little country is stuck between 2 cheese- countries but in fact, it really can compete with both of them. The visitors who dare to stroll in the municipality markets will be suprised with quality and variety (300 sorts in soft paste, hard paste, raw, blue, goat, beer-refined cheeses...) here. OK, since not everybody would have time to do that, there are cheese shops and, at lesser extent, supermarkets.

OK, in Belgium, forget Brie, Camembert, Emmental, Comté and Cantal..etc. Head to the many cheese shops and ask for some Belgian specialties. In Brussels, the one that comes to my mind is Au Suisse. It's in boulevard Anspach 73-75, in the center of the city. A huge variety of cheeses. OK, the name says "Suisse" but it is truly Belgian.

As I live in the suburbs, I know more of the cheese shops in my area. They would be too far from the center, anyway.

In supermarkets, my fave are:
- Herve doux (Mild taste, in green package). The red-orange packed one has a stronger taste and a more stressed smell). Keep it in the fridge.:-)
- Fromages d'abbaye (Abbey cheeses)
I like the Maredsous one with wholegrain bread with nothing or sometimes a thin layer of mustard. I think they are best served with their beers (abbeys' beers).
- Vieil Aubel
- Passendaele
- Once, I tried a cheese in Antwerp, called Pié (or Pié Roger). Seems like a local cheese, or at least, one that is to be found in this cheeseshop only (?). But boy, it was heavenly ! I will ask her about the name.

Otherwise, GB supermarkets have "Traiteur service". It is a large stall where one can still buy cheese and cooked meats as in traiteur. A woman cuts the slices you want of the huge range there, will weigh and pack. Then, you'll pay it to the cashier-desk.

Most special, imo, are the beer-refined cheeses that you find in breweries (the brasseries artisanales). I have tried some in Wallonia. They use to be served with in-house beers and their draft bread and, of course, the beer itself. Otherwise, your runs in the "terroirs" can be opportunities to try them (in abbeys, castles, farms...).

OK, some names (taken from Wikipedia website) that may interest you :

*In (from ?) Flanders:
Abbaye d'Affligem, Abbaye de Corsendonck, Abbaye de Poste, Abbaye de Westmael, Bavikhove, Beauvoorde, Bleu de Gand, Brood-Kass, Damme, Loo, Oude Postel, Passendaele, Postel, Sezoen, Sint-Maarten, Swalm, Vieux Bruges, Watou, Fromage de Westmalle

*In (from ?) Wallonia:
Abbaye de Chimay, Abbaye de Floreffe,
Abbaye de Maredsous, Abbaye d'Orval, Abbaye de Val Dieu, Ambiorix, Avesnois à la Trappiste, Bleu de Franchimont, Bouquet des Moines, Caprice de Blanche, Carré de Tourpes, Château d'Arville, Cochon 'nez, Dom Tobias, Fagnar, Fleur des Fagnes, Herve, Madreret, La Maquée (fromage blanc), Paillardin, Pas de Bleu, Père Joseph, Petit Bonsecours, Rubens, Saint-Feuillien, Trou d'Sottai, Val de Salm, Vieil Aubel, Vieux Chimay.

Belgium Shopping

Visiting Belgium?

Visiting Belgium?