When in Belgium, DRINK!

As much as I wish I could throw back Budweiser after Budweiser, I can’t. I used to hate all beer; it did nothing for me. After working at a wine, cheese, and beer bar in Philadelphia, I grew to appreciate and heck, even like the stuff.

I gained an affinity for lambic beers; beers that are fermented using the yeast that naturally flies through the air; a much riskier process than using controlled yeast and a process that results in a funky, sour, complex flavor.

In the US, these beers are usually imported and costly. In Belgium, they are inexpensive and EVERYWHERE.

Rachel and I spent a lovely evening sampling as many beers as we could muster at Delirium bar in Brussels. They have over two thousand types of beer. Over. Two. Thousand.

Right through here to where dreams come true.

Our bartender France (Yup. Her name was the name of a country) was the most helpful person in the history of the world. I was OBIVOUSLY overwhelmed, but I told her what I liked and she made some great suggestions.

The inside of the bar, or the inside of heaven?!

I tried a gueuze, which is a mixture of 1, 2, and 3 year old lambics—it was funky and rich. I would have had another one, but there were thousands to try and I’m ONLY ONE PERSON FOR GOODNESS SAKE.

Gueuze her?! I hardly know her!

This paper wrapped beer was a little more standard—a little citrusy with little hops (I am not a hops fan).

Whatchu hiding underneath that paper?!

I loved this tripel—a tripel is a strong pale ale (typically Belgian). It had a hint of fruit in it, and look how jolly that dude is on the label! I want to drink with HIM!

I’d be that jolly if I were drinking this beer all the time.

My favorite had to have been this hibiscus beer, or hibeerscus as I think it should be renamed. The hibiscus added subtle floral notes and a bit of sweet plum to the beer. Easy drinkin’. And delicious times seven.

Who doesn’t love consuming a beverage that is slightly purple?!

Rachel’s twiter name is geisette, so she was required to get this beer.

Geisette holding Grisette.

Also, the beers were not expensive (of course there were ones that were), but for such a tourist-y place, they kept the prices reasonable, which allows for maximum beer consumption!

How cool do these streets look?!

Speaking of beer, we took a tour of the Cantillon Brewery—It’s only a few Euro (under ten) and you get a glass of lambic at the end!

I was so crateful for this experience.

If you want more, it’s only a few Euro to get another glass, then sit by the fire and lambic your troubles away. I had the gueze and the kriek (cherry) variety.

Look at that COLOR!

This place is world renown for their beers, and they did not disappoint. Tart, sour, and delicious. I highly suggest this tour if you find yourself nearby!

You better store that beer!

I had to have mussels in brussels, and I found Mer du Nord. It was a little place right by the hotel where there are no indoor seats; you get your seafood and can stand and eat it at the outdoor tables, or bring to your hotel room with some high alcohol (and kinda gross beer) and have an indoor picnic!

Mer du Nord translates to “deliciously awesome seafood at a stand in the middle of Brussels.” I think.

Indoor picnic funtimes. And Rachel’s legs.

The mussels were in a light and savory tomato broth flavored with fresh herbs, white wine, and sautéed onions. They were so fresh and tender, I ended up getting them the next day also.

Mussels look kind of weird up close. Still delicious. But weird.

The shrimp I had were equally delicious—sauteed with garlic and tomatoes, and accompanied with crostinis, a mustard-y slightly sweet sauce and some cheese sprinkled on top. A perfect indoor picnic feast. In Brussels!

Who you callin’ a shrimp? These guys!

All the better to sop you up with, my dear.

And I could not find brussel sprouts on one freakin’ menu, though many of them were in French and I don’t know the French words for Brussel Sprouts. Oy.

Who cares, ’cause here’s a random statue of a cat riding a bicycle.

No caption needed?

All in all, Brussels is a beautiful, delicious city. I’d definitely be back, but only after spending more time in Paris, which I head back to in my next post!

Also it wouldn’t be a trip to Brussels if there wasn’t a picture of this little kid peeing! DREAMS!

At least he’s hydrated.

England Traditions= Englitions.

This is a view of London from the London Eye at night. Was it worth $30 to go around in giant ferris wheel circles? Who knows? Partay!

A view from the eye.

It wouldn’t be a trip to England without a full English breakfast. As I mentioned in my Ireland post, a “full breakfast” is one that includes eggs, rashers (think a bacon/ham hybrid. WHY DON’T WE HAVE IT IN THE STATES), beans or tomatoes, black and white pudding, and sausage. After some research I found a place that the locals dine in: the Regency Café.

Breakfast blissland.

 

Fortunately Rachel has super-human navigating skills (Lewis and Clark ain’t got nothin’) and we got to this off the beaten track restaurant. It was a no frills place where you order at a counter and pick up your meal.

Where da locals is!

 

The woman who takes your order asks what you want in a sweet voice and when it’s ready, she announces it in a bellow that sounded like a fog horn mated with Ethel Merman. Needless to say, I was insanely impressed.

 

I got the full English with a side of bubble and squeak, which was pretty much a hash brown. The eggs were perfectly sunny side up, the sausage was full of porky flavor and had a great sear to it, as did the large serving of savory black pudding, and the beans had an amazing hint of sweetness to offset all of the hearty goodness that was surrounding it. Next time I’m in London I may make this place a daily occurrence; it was super affordable too!

So much protein. So little time.

 

Who can go to England and not go to tea? There is a difference between afternoon tea and high tea, the latter being a much more formal affair, so I went for the informal tradition.

 

After getting lost for decades, I finally found the Kensington hotel. Upon walking in, I wondered why afternoon tea isn’t a thing in the states. You get to take a break and eat some sandwiches, drink some tea, and people watch; DREAMS COME TRUE IN ENGLAND.

 

The interior was swanky but comfortable: hardwood floors, nicely decorated carpets, chandeliers, and intimate lighting. We were seated on a very comfortable couch and were served once delicious finger food after another!

Swanktastic.

 

To be honest, I don’t remember which teas I ordered, but I do remember I got 4 pots of different, fragrant teas. The selection was fantastic and the descriptions made me want to sit there and sip until I couldn’t sip no mo’.

Rachel. And tea!

 

The selection of sandwiches we recieved included roasted chicken with whole grain mustard, cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon with horseradish crème fraiche, egg salad with watercress, and roasted ham. Each had its own soft, spongy bread that  complemented the rich, savory meats. My favorite was definitely the salmon (I mean, come on; lox and horseradish?! Fuhgeddaboutid).

Why don’t all sandwiches come in stacks?!

 

On the side, we were served warm scones (plain and raisin) with clotted cream, lemon curd, passion fruit curd and strawberry and rose petal jam.  I’m ALWAYS a clotted cream fan, and their lemon curd was a great balance of sweet and sour. I didn’t know passion fruit curd was a thing, and I fell in love with the super sweet creaminess it provided; it was delicious paired with the lemon curd. The strawberry jam made me feel like I was spreading perfume on my scone, so I only tasted it in small amounts.

The scone zone.

 

For a palate cleanser, we were served gin and tonic sorbet. It was refreshing and had a great tang to it that got me ready for some dessert. Wait. I don’t need anything to get me ready for dessert, but it sure didn’t hurt.

Gin. Tonic. Sorbet. Brilliant.

 

The dessert tower (damn I wish I used those two words together more often) included dark chocolate mousse, a hazelnut and caramel pyramid, lemon tart, strawberry, lavender and lemon mille feulle (another name for a napoleon), cherry bake well (a pastry covered with jam and filled with an almond sponge cake), coconut panna cotta with passion fruit jelly, and blueberry cheesecake.

If I’m gonna dessert, I’d prefer it have more than one level.

 

My favorites were definitely the hazelnut and caramel pyramid for obvious reasons.  I mean it’s hazelnut and caramel.  In the shape of a pyramid. The bake well was fantastic and had a beautifully delicate almond flavor. The coconut flavor of the panna cotta matched wonderfully with the sweet passion fruit jelly. I could have eaten a few trays of these desserts.

 

Can we bring tea back to the states?  Great can’t wait so excited.

Also I went to Harrods and took a picture of the real life disney princess mannequins. Here’s snow white:

Where your dwarves at?!