I have to add my observations on food to Jake’s last post. We arrived in Brussels Tuesday evening and went out for a meal of mussels and French fries, a classic Belgian dish. The restaurant was one of many with outdoor seating along a narrow pedestrian street. The waiters try to lure in passing tourists, and you do have to be careful about what you order as the fixed price meals are much more reasonable than a la carte. It was entertaining though to watch the strategies the waiters at our restaurant and particularly the restaurant across the street employed to bring customers in. “What country are you from? Try an oyster!”
Our first morning in town I ventured out for croissants and coffee, then had hot chocolate and a chocolate croissant as a later breakfast once Jake was up. We also stopped in at 2 chocolate stores during the course of the day to try a selection of excellent chocolates. My favorite was the dark chocolate honey caramel with violets. And ordering tea or coffee usually comes with a small chocolate.
For dinner last night we went to an elegant modern restaurant in an old bank building near our hotel, the Belga Queen. The modern feel was achieved with placement of large pieces of modern art sculptures and leather chairs at the tables whose color matched the beautiful painted glass ceiling and caramel colored marble columns. Techno music played quietly in the background giving things an energetic feel. Excellent food – some highlights were the smoked salmon and duck liver as part of an appetizer plate and scallops skewered on rosemary twigs. From dinner - veal with morel sauce and salsify, a mild vegetable little used in the States. Lunch today was at another restaurant the hotel concierge had recommended, I Latini in St. Catherine’s square. We both had homemade pastas, mine mezzalunas with artichoke and pancetta and Jake’s cannelloni with a great meat filling and three sauces.
Our first morning in town I ventured out for croissants and coffee, then had hot chocolate and a chocolate croissant as a later breakfast once Jake was up. We also stopped in at 2 chocolate stores during the course of the day to try a selection of excellent chocolates. My favorite was the dark chocolate honey caramel with violets. And ordering tea or coffee usually comes with a small chocolate.
For dinner last night we went to an elegant modern restaurant in an old bank building near our hotel, the Belga Queen. The modern feel was achieved with placement of large pieces of modern art sculptures and leather chairs at the tables whose color matched the beautiful painted glass ceiling and caramel colored marble columns. Techno music played quietly in the background giving things an energetic feel. Excellent food – some highlights were the smoked salmon and duck liver as part of an appetizer plate and scallops skewered on rosemary twigs. From dinner - veal with morel sauce and salsify, a mild vegetable little used in the States. Lunch today was at another restaurant the hotel concierge had recommended, I Latini in St. Catherine’s square. We both had homemade pastas, mine mezzalunas with artichoke and pancetta and Jake’s cannelloni with a great meat filling and three sauces.
We have now arrived in Leuven at the Institute we and the students are staying at where the food does not have the greatest reputation, so no more on that subject until the weekend!
1 comment:
Sylvan and Jake.
I have just started reading your blogs and am enjoying the photos and your descriptions. I especially enjoyed Jake's description of the Belga Queen restrooms. That must have been a bit amazing to watch the walls turn from clear to opague. How fun.
Shirley
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