PERFECT WEEKENDS
Our Perfect Weekend in Brussels
Two and half days in Brussels went by in a blink of an eye. I was charmed by their street signs, which are in both Dutch and French. Not only are there popular attractions like the Grand Place and Manneken Pis, but there are also hidden gems like Egmont Park and the Mary chocolate shop. Much like Rome and Paris, there is a wealth of side streets to get lost on. Every turn you take, there is something historical and artsy. The trip alone is worth it for their chocolate, waffles and beer.
I was very excited to visit this city but I was not prepared to be so astonished by its culture, the shear beauty of its architecture and its dedication to preserving gastronomic traditions. Never I imagined selecting this city to highlight in our "City Tribute Guides." I am still dreaming of their gaufres and fries. And I can't wait to return to Belgium's capital, to share more experiences...to add more to A Dreamer's Holiday Guide to Brussels.
Many experts will tell you can't fully appreciate a city until you have spent a least a week there. In my perspective, all you need is a few days of good food, amazing drinks and a couple of fun activities; things that truly define the city. Our Perfect Weekend is just a mere suggestion. Our goal is to spark your curiosity...and we hope you live to tell someone your perfect weekend in Paris.
Your first dinner in Brussels is going to be as traditional as it gets. The garlic fumes lead you to the restaurant, Le Chou. The food runner brings out moules-frites, Belgium's national dish of mussels and fries. The white wine garlic broth where the mussels bathe in is worth the plane flight here. The crispy shrimp croquettes and fresh mixed green salad round out the meal. You hope every meal is like this in Brussels.
You luckily find a front row seat at Victoria bar where you sip an ice cold beverage while watching busy locals and awestruck tourists pass by. The server comes back with a decent size goblet filled with gold amber beer. This brew is quite strong but you learn to embrace the distinct hoppy and citrus flavors. The fluid goes down easy and next thing you know, you finished your first Belgian beer.
Close to your hotel, you see a perpetual gathering at Brussel's city center. You see a fountain at a distance with a very colorful figurine positioned at the middle wall. The bronze statue is dressed in a bright yellow African robe with a black and white patterned drap over its right shoulder and the same colored crown around its head. That day the Manneken Pis was dressed in a traditional Rwandan attire called Umushanana. Go ahead, snap a selfie with it like all the other tourists.
Just a five minute walk, north of the statue is Balls & Glory. Everyone on the patio is eating some variation of a meatball. There were ones covered in gravy or red sauce, others were sauceless, stacked on vegetables or mashed potatoes. You gladly join the happy, hungry diners, devouring your very own pork ballekes and risotto ball stuffed with mushrooms and broccoli. There are a lot of leftovers to take back to your hotel.
You avoided one of the many Godiva or Leonidas chocolate stores that appear to be on every corner. But there was a small store that piqued your interest. Inside Chocolaterie Mary is a very simple but elegant setup. Behind a glass divider lies an abundant assortment of chocolates in all different sizes and shapes. What really catches your attention is the golf ball like truffles. You taste rosé champagne and bits of fruit. It satisfies your sweet tooth completely.
Very close by is the number one attraction in Brussels, the massive Grand Place. This central square is a perfect spot to a take 360 degree panoramic picture. Standing in the middle of the town hall covered in gold, you can sense the historical and cultural importance of this landmark. You now understand why in 1998 it was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
You booked a reservation at possibly the best restaurant in Brussels. Everything is sophisticated, from the chandeliers hanging in the middle of the room, pristine white table cloths, lovely exposed brick wall, all the way down to the slim fitting suits all the servers are wearing. And then the food arrives. The goose liver and curry flavored chips awakens your palate. Your euphoria continues on with the flaky cod topped with shaved black truffle. And you end the meal with the creamiest ice cream with slices of white truffle. It sends you immediately into a food coma. A good food coma that is.
You start your final morning in Brussels with a Belgium staple, waffles at Maison Dandoy. You couldn't choose between their two specialities, so you got them both. The classic gaufre has the traditional elements of a Belgian waffle that you are more familiar with: rectangle shape, crispy exterior and the must have chocolate sauce on top. The liege is the surprise sleeper: soft crust, thick interior and scattered sugary, caramelized bits. Easily the best waffle you have ever had.
Your last meal in Brussels is at a small Italian joint called La Panzerottata. Though it's not Belgian food, the smell of their panzerotti was difficult to ignore. The "as big as your face" turnover resembling a calzone is stuffed with fresh mozzarella and some of the reddest tomatoes you have ever seen. You meet the friendly chefs and owners who are straight out from Puglia, Italy. Your trip to La Panzerottata confirms the city's diversity and their willingness to embrace immigrants.
You spend the last few hours in Brussels at Egmont park, an ideal place where locals have picnics, where dogs are free to roam around and a spot where joggers welcome the abundant shade from one of the many trees. A statue catches your eye, a young boy blowing his horn on a tree stump. You discover it's Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up. Brussels was your brief escape from reality. And you can't wait to return to this Neverland.
