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Food
Home » Belgium » Belgium: People and Culture » FoodBelgians refer to cooking as gastronomy, and it is certainly a big part of the country’s culture, as well as beer. Brussels alone offers visitors a selection of over 350 beers! The most prestigious Belgian beer is Trappist beer, which is brewed by Trappist monks. Interestingly, each abbey’s beer is served in its own particular glass; each abbey has different type of glass! Only seven breweries in the world are allowed to brew Trappist beer, and six of them are Belgian.
There is no such thing as Belgian gastronomy, since the food in Belgium is closely tied to French cuisine. However, some dishes were invented in Belgium. Some examples follow:
• French Fries – French Fries were given their name by American soldiers during World War I.
• Speculaas – A speculaas is a type of Dutch cookie that resembles shortbread. These cookies have an image or figure on their front side; the figure is usually taken from a traditional story about St. Nicholas. They are usually baked for St. Nicholas’ Eve, December 5.
• Belgian waffles – Belgian waffles are lighter, crispier, and thicker than traditional waffles. They are often served as a dessert, topped with whipped cream, fruit, or ice cream.
• Waterzooi – Waterzooi is a broth that is made up of vegetables and either chicken or fish.
• Endive – Endives were first cultivated in Belgium in the 1830s, and the Belgians have been preparing this leafy vegetable in innovative ways ever since.
• Brussels sprouts – Like the endive, these round cabbage-like vegetables were first cultivated in Belgium. They are named after Brussels, Belgium’s capital.
• Paling In ‘t Groen – This is a dish containing eels in a sauce.
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