Have your cake in a box...

...and eat it, too! It's that time of year again, when cakes in boxes invade Belgian grocery stores!

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Yesssss!

Brussels has its first Starbuck's, as of yesterday! Looking forward to a frap-filled summer!

Yessssss!

Antwerp Central Station, one of the world's coolest train stations, is now even cooler with the only Starbuck's in Belgium outside Brussels Airport! Hooray!



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Setting Snail

Last week I had the pleasure of a brief chat with Carlos Petrini, the father of the worldwide Slow Food Movement, at Bozar in Brussels. He's all about eating and enjoying foods made with quality ingredients and according to traditional methods, so when I asked him what he eats when on an airplane his answer was: "I fast!"

This spud's for you!

The Sekler potato from Romania was the star of a lunchtime event at the European Parliament today, sponsored by MEP Csaba Sogor. Not sure if I am enticed enough to visit the annual Potato Festival in Csikszereda, but it was certainly something different.


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Yes, they did

Ommegang Brewery, a Cooperstown, N.Y.-based company specializing in Belgian style ales, brewed a special brand to celebrate the inauguration of 44 -- appropriately called Obamagang, in homage to the annual Ommegang pageant in Brussels. Not sure if it's still available, but it apparently has a hint of kriek and strong chocolate flavors.

Cawfee Tawk

It's about time!!!! Starbucks announces that it will open the first outlet in Belgium at Brussels' Zaventem Airport later this year! Let's hope for more SOON!

"Premium quality at affordable prices -- dee-LISH!"

That's how we drink it in Belgium!

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Only in America

Congrats, or regrets, to the Chicagoan who downed 35 DOZEN oysters in 8 minutes (how is that possible?) to win the Acme World Oyster Eating Championship in New Orleans. Like, sick! Good thing Belgium doesn't have a Mussel Eating Contest (at least not that I know of).

Oh mighty brussels sprout

Brussels sprouts -- gotta love 'em! They don't seem to have originated in Brussels, but according to Wikipedia -- and how reliable is it? - they may have been grown in what is now Belgian territory as early as 1200. No Thanksgiving meal would be complete without 'em, and they're loaded with vitamins and flavor! Eat your veggies!

Morning breather

The cafe inside Brussels' Fine Arts Museums is one of the capital's most pleasant spots for a morning Lait Russe (Belgian for latte) or a blini and a blintz. They also do lunch, but it's best to get there before the biddy-lunch throngs arrive.
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Cravings

Why oh why is there no ARBY'S in Europe???? Ooh, a sandwich with razor thin-sliced roast beef on a big fluffy bun, potato cakes and a root beer -- yum!

This takes the cake

It's really okay if McDonald's does NOT bring its new chicken biscuit breakfast to Europe. Eggmcmuffinwafflekrustyburger anyone?

Something's bubbling...

Yesssss -- Starbucks MAY come to Brussels in the next 12 months!!! reports one Belgian media outlet. Possible locations include the Grand'Place OR the EU district (I vote for the latter!), and there may also be a deal in the works with a Belgian chocolatier. As a wise man once said, "Premium quality at affordable prices -- dee LISH!" Keep your frappuccino-fingers crossed! Nothing wrong with getting excited about a bit of Americana on this side of the Pond! Now, how about a Dunkin Donuts....

The way the cookie crumbles

Globalization in a cookie: Made by France's Carrefour, "American" cookies (note the Route 66 logo on the package), featuring politically correct Flemish and French names for chocolate chips ('chocolade snippers' and 'pepites de chocolat'). They're no Nestle Tollhouse or Chips Ahoy! but they're actually pretty good.

Best brunch in Brussels

On a clear sunny Sunday, there's no finer brunch venue than the top-floor restaurant of the magnificent Art Nouveau-style Musical Instruments Museum. The lavish buffet includes crepes, omlets, bubbly and, of course, waffles! Yum! (The museum's not bad, either!)

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Hot diggity dog!

Although one can eat pretty darn well in Belgium, some days I totally crave a Chicago hot dog! For that, no one beats Fluky's!