More of Brussels

The grandiose Royal Palace overlooks the “Parc de Bruxelles” from the south. It is the successor of the Coudenberg Palace of the early dukes of Brabant and later of Philip the Good and Charles V.

The palace burnt down in 1731 and was immediately rebuilt and then transformed in 1904 and is now the official residence of the Royal Family.It is open to the public for a few weeks in the summer during which time the Royals move into their palace in Laeken.

Gastronomical Brussels

What have mussels, frites, carbonnade flamande, endive, waffles, speculoos, pralines, and beer got in common? They're all great Belgian foods! Did you know that Belgium has more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than France?

Belgium also has the most gastronomically intriguing beers of any nation in the world, and the most highly evolved and elaborated "cuisine à la biere", the best example of this being the "Carbonades Flamandes" a beef stew made with dark beer.

Brussels is THE place to consume "poulet", a particularly tender kind of chicken from the area.Also try "Waterzooi", a vegetable soup with cream and pieces of chicken or fish, a delicious start for a good meal, or "jugged hare" also prepared with beer. Mussels in Brussels are a must! They are prepared in a variety of ways and are a bargain in season.

We could go on and on and never give you a complete list of all the different kinds of mouth-watering meals served in all the restaurants. Furthermore, practically no one adheres to the concept of "Nouvelle Cuisine", in other words, meals are not only tasty but also very generous in their servings.

Of course, there are the "Frites", a purely Belgian invention (despite the name "french fries"). These are incomparable and sold not only in restaurants, but in "fritures" that abound along the streets. (See also the Gastronomy section of this website)