From: schuyler@harp.cis.ohio-state.edu (Carlton Schuyler)
Subject: Re: must sees/dos/eats in Brussels
Organization: The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 18:08:14 GMT

>In <1992Apr15.143547.12386@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> laural@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (laura.l.la gassa) writes:
>> So, if you had 3 days and 2 nights in Brussels during the second week of
>> May, what would you do?  Where would you eat?  And most importantly, where
>> would you buy chocolate?
>

I lived in Brussels for about six years, but I was pretty young at the
time (as I am still, actually) ... Anyhow, just about any restaurant
you find is sure to be good.  This is the beauty of Belgium.  As
another poster has said, yes, they do tend to be expensive.  Welcome
to Western Europe.

My favorite restaurants were actually ethnic places.  There's a
wonderful Lebanese restaurant between the Grand'Place and the Gare
Centrale.  Sorry, no name at the moment.

Right off the Grand'Place (perpendicular to the Galerie de la Reine
and Galerie du Roi) there's the Petite Rue des Bouchers (hmmm.  I
could be wrong about the perpendicularness, but at any rate, this is
the street you want, and it's very very close to the Grand'Place).
There are numerous restaurants along this pedestrian street (I think
it's the oldest street in Brussels) -- seafood is a popular one.  If
you wanna go for good solid European food (expensive) then go to Chez
Leon.  kind of a downmarketish fancy place.  You may need
reservations.  For the more expensive stuff, go to Aux Armes de
Bruxelles.  Definitely make reservations there.

By the way, I think Quick (Belgium's answer to McDonald's) is just
wonderful.  No kidding.  Try it out.  Again, expensive!  But so is
everything else, including McDonald's.

If you're interested in beers/pubs (and we all know that belgium has
the world's greatest selection of beers) then Brussels has some nice
spots (although actually, to get the good stuff you need to travel
around the country some).  Right on the Grand'Place is Le Roi
d'Espagne.  Then up off of the Rue Neuve is a place called La
Corbeille.  Somewhat downmarket.  Younger crowd.  Pay the bouncer 20
francs on the way out.  And order a Chevalier, which is a liter of
beer in a glass about 40 centimeters tall.  Wooden frame to keep it
from falling over.  Grenadine syrup in Rodenbach beer is very very
very GOOD.

But by far my favorite beverage in Brussels is the Lambic (a
Bruxellois brewing process) apple cider made by A La Becasse (between
the Bourse and the Grand'Place).  This is a local place which I've
been going to for the past eleven years.  The same folks still work
there, and remember me!  Just ask for "Cidre Lambic".  It comes by the
half-liter, and is amazing stuff.  And if you're hungry, and like raw
beef (yum yum -- try it, you'll like it), get a tartine cannibale.  Or
if less adventurous, try another tartine (tartine de fromage
d'hollande is very good).

Belgian beers you have to try are Kriek (brewed with cherries -- but
not too sweet, really.  Kind of heavy and sourish), framboise
(Raspberry; pretty seet and semi-light; similar to champagne, to my
nonrefined tastes), Gueuze (This is my favorite -- heavy, sourish,
medium-color), Biere Blanc (like the German Weissbier), and various
kinds of trappist ale (Leffe comes immediately to mind.  This can be
strong stuff, mind you!)

One mustn't forget the Belgian Frites!  These are basically "French"
fries (chips if you must), and are generally eaten not with ketchup
but with mayonnaise (with a twist of lemon and dijon mustard in it, a
la normale in Belgium).  You have to try these.  At the end of the
Petite Rue des Bouchers (again, Grand'Place region) there are a bunch
of little snack bar type places which sell frites, and gyros, and
small spicy sausages called "mergueuze" (Moroccan, I believe).  Good
stuff.  Unless you have high cholesterol or something.  Eat in
moderation, bien sur.  Another Belgian snack specialty is waffles
(gaufres, in French).  These are sugar-dipped crispy waffles.
Extremely tasty.  Plus, you can get boudin blanc or noire in a bun
with mustard or ketchup all over the place.  Again, tasty but FAT.
Yum Yum.

Ahhhh, and the chocolate.  Of course, Godiva is Belgian.  There's also
a lesser-known (and less expensive) producer.  Leonidas.  There's a
place to get this stuff on Adolph Maxlaan, near Place de la Brouckere.
I usually end up waiting in line twenth minutes, but hey.  It's really
extremely good chocolate, and not expensive at all.  It comes in
prepackaged cartons if you're in a hurry.

As far as touristy type attractions, I can't really say much.  There
are at least two museums at the Cinquantenaire (at the Merode metro
stop on the red line): A military museum which is just loaded with
military implements, and a car museum.  Then there's the African
Museum in Tervuren (I think you have to take the 51 tram or something)
-- basically an ode to European colonialism (in this case of the
Congo, or Zaire).  You can see the King's palace, the main cathedral,
etc., etc. by walking around the center of the city (or hopping on the
metro/trams -- honor system of payment, you know).

If you have time, you might want to get on a train and go to Brugge
(or Bruges, as the French call it, but when there, speak English, not
French!) or Gent.  Brugge is wonderful (canals), as is Gent (less
canals, more history).

I've gone on much too long already.  Anyhow, enjoy yourself!  Brussels
is a great city.

-Carl
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