What do mussels, lace and chocolate have in common? Can you guess?
I ate a lot of the first one cooked in white wine, saw the second one adorning shops and homes and the third one, well, my extra weight is because of that! 😉
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’ll give you a hint…. They are all quality products of this country. A small country that smells and tastes of French, Dutch and German influences combined. Yes, I’m talking of Belgium.
And why am I talking of Belgium? …
See, I was craving beer today. I’m not a big beer drinker nor know it too well. So at my local Trader Joe’s, I asked Chris, one of the two guys I know — who know their wine and beer — for a recommendation. He didn’t even pause and immediately directed me to this Belgian beer (picture below).
Drinking it chilled took me back to the time I lived in Brussels, Belgium. I was in my late teens and awed by this beautiful city and what it had to offer…
I could never get enough of La Grande Place, in the heart of Brussels and on UNESCO’s world heritage list (if you’ve been there, you know what I mean). On the way to the Grande Place, I would sometimes stop at Church of Notre-Dame de Bon Secours. A quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets, I would find my peace there and then be off to breathe the city life.
Having had Belgian chocolate, other chocolates started paling in comparison. Eating Mussels and Fries (Moules-Frites, according to some, Belgium’s national dish) on a cold day would cheer me up (I don’t know whether it was the white wine, the hot mussels, the double-fried, crispy and yummy fries or the way they were all served).
The beer I had today was good. I will have it again.
Belgium was a great host. I will visit her again.
Shawn
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