Brussels has been high on my list every since I set foot in the Brussels airport and saw Tin Tin mania.
And perhaps before.
Because I’m obsessed with Herge, and Tin Tin. And if you only know Tin Tin because of the animated movie, then you have a lot of catching up to do. I started reading Tin Tin when I was in third or fourth grade (and maybe earlier), and have loved the books ever since. Then I got Toasty, who looks like a brown Snowy. And I love Snowy the most. (I think my husband doesn’t want to go to Brussels because he knows there is a 50-50 chance that I come home with a life size stuffed Snowy).
And then I think the books got banned for being inappropriate from a lot of children’s libraries. That’s a conversation for another day. Can’t say I was ruined, traumatized, or jaded forever by reading about colonialism and slavery in the Congo or a drunk Captain Haddock, but whatever.
I could go on and on about Tin Tin, but I’ll stop there except to say that one of the huge reasons I want to go to Brussels is to go to the Herge museum. But there are lots of other amazing things to do and eat in Brussels.
For example…
Delirium Cafe
It’s no secret that in addition to Tin Tin, I’m obsessed with Belgian beer. While there are so many choices in Brussels (overwhelming choices), I am a huge fan of Delirium beers, both Nocturn and Tremens. And not just because they have an elephant on their logo. Promise.
Delirium Cafe is to have over 2,000 choices. With that many beers, I’m not sure how you choose. Their website promises banana beers (interesting), as well as chocolate and others. Plus the Delirium line-up, which in and of itself, would be sufficient. I think Delirium Cafe would be my top choice if I had to make choices about where to try beer. I’d just try to stick with the drafts that you know you can’t get in the United States–when in Belgium…right?
Pierre Marcoloni
Hmmm…what comes after beer? Macarons and chocolate, I’d say! Pierre Marcoloni is to have impeccably crafted macarons (perfect little feet, smooth and shiny tops, and no hollow shells…I know my macarons) and excellent chocolates. I don’t think these puppies are cheap, but macarons are well worth the cost. Or so I tell myself.
Aux Armes de Bruxelles
Wait, I forgot about mussels before macarons! Aux Armes de Bruxelles is to have some of the best mussels in the city (and frites, obviously. You can’t eat mussels without frites). It’s a very old restaurant, with so many mussel options that I’m drooling just reading about them. It apparently was a favorite of King Leopold III, if you believe those sorts of urban legends.
Vismet
If I had to choose another restaurant, I’d probably try Vismet, which is known to have excellent seafood (beyond mussels, in case you are tired of those). Belgian brown shrimp is a local delicacy which just sounds delicious, and I’m pretty sure it’s made with bechamel. If you can make something with shrimp and bechamel that isn’t delicious, well, maybe you should take an honest look at your cooking skills…because just not sure that is possible.
Of course there are museums and such in Brussels, as well as lots of horse steaks and waffles (eeek to both…no thanks). But when you can drink beer, eat mussels, and snack on macarons for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I’m not sure how much time that leaves for sightseeing. Sadly, stomachs are not expandable, so care will need to be taken to use that space wisely. Crappy frites? Move on! Bad beer? Dump it. Hollow macaron? Don’t you dare.
Ahhh Brussels, one day I will make it to visit you. In the meantime, I request my mother to bring me a life size snowy that Toasty can cuddle with and slobber on. Kidding. Not really. Just don’t tell my husband before it shows up on my doorstep.
Do you have any favorite places in Brussels to recommend?
It’s such a lovely city Heather – I went for a weekend last year and just loved it but you’re right about the fact that with so many yummy food choices, no point wasting valuable tummy space!there’s quite a few Brussels posts on my blog but I thought I’d share this one with you which has my pics and my experience of the delicious Pierre Marcolini treats!
Oh wow, loved the pictures of the Marcolini macarons…they look like perfection!! Also, you make the Atomium seem way more interesting than I thought it would be–seems like that would be an interesting and different thing to do. And Laurent Gerbaud…I’m a total sucker for all chocolate covered fruit. Thanks for pointing me to all your wonderful info!!