And more thoughts on Belgium..

Belgium. Yes, where were we. Well, you see, there was food, and there was wine. On the odd occassion when we weren't eating or drinking we were playing Petanque. This is a game which my family* takes very, very seriously. There are measuring tapes on hand in case of any disputes. I have some practicing to do, because if I disgrace myself one more time, no one will want me to play on their team anymore. I may even be forced to abandon my last name. Oh, the shame.

My family doesn't eat out much, and most of them were reluctant to recommend any restaurants. I did find this a bit confusing at first. But I quickly realized that the reason is because their cooking abilities far surpass any meal that any of us are likely to have in any restaurant any time soon. From Steak Frites, to the most tender rosemary lamb I've ever had the pleasure of eating, to a Moroccan inspired couscous dish with lemons and olives and chicken just falling off the bone. Not to mention soups that soothed my travelling soul, and a homemade Clafoutis that left me speechless. The plum pie that is pictured above (the only "not homemade" item), was purchased at a local bakery. Sprinkled with a little powdered sugar on top, it was easy to see what all the fuss is about. Again, I was speechless.



It was on Thursday of last week that I ventured into Brussels with some of my aunts and uncles. My tendency to take pictures of food was a bit perplexing to my family at first. What about the monuments? And all the Art Deco inspired buildings? Well, I did take pictures of those too. But the food was much more exciting. From the Belgian Waffles that you see above, to a rapidly flowing chocolate fountain, to juicy red strawberries being dipped in white chocolate right before my eyes. I fished frantically in my pocket for a Euro and wandered away happily munching on my strawberry.

It would take me hours to get into what a fabulous meal we had later that evening at another uncle's house. So here's the short and sweet of it. Starting with the fact that there was not only white wine, but red wine too, and Champagne to start us off.

• A smoked eel appetizer, which is apparently a Belgian delicacy.
  
• A first course of fresh tri-colour penne with seared tuna.
  
• A main course of chicken roulade with a sundried tomato stuffing on a bed of fresh baby vegetables and a filo bundle with a wild rice stuffing.
  
• A cheese course with aged Pecorino that they had just brought back with them from Siena, Italy.
  
• And a refreshing dessert of lightly frozen fruits topped with vanilla ice cream.

I may be getting some of the details wrong, but did I mention how much wine and champagne there was? And do I even need to say that I cannot wait to go back?

*I was born and raised in Canada but my father is from Belgium.. thus the family connection..


Behold the chocolate fountain