Theme: European Christmas Holiday  Country: Belgium  Languages: Dutch, French, & German   Unit of Currency: Euro  Locations: Brussels  Year: 2012  Bucket list: Sampling Belgian chocolate

DO:   SAMPLE BELGIAN CHOCOLATE

Brussels:

• Exploring the city and indulging in chocolates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Divulgence of Chocolate and Culture in Brussels, Belgium:

1) A connoisseur’s nirvana – Belgian is worldly known for its chocolate. I had the luxury to sample Neuhaus Belgian Chocolate, which this company has been around since 1857! The caramel filled chocolate sent my taste buds into another dimension. The richness and creaminess in one bite was truly riveting and beyond satisfactory. The locals were raving about the secret recipe that was in the Neuhaus Belgian luxury chocolate – some refer this as the chocolatiers code (a recipe that no one, but the Neuhaus’s themselves know).

Neuhaus has dedicated a unique art of chocolate-making that challenged the competition and compelled only the smoothest and creamiest chocolate mixture. I would describe this as the sweetest, most fragrant chocolate that I have been introduced to in Europe. The diversity of chocolate is profound – milk chocolate pralines, truffles, and bars were created to make the average traveler, like myself, fit a piece of gourmet chocolate in a small pocket for later. 

 

2) Belgian waffles – Any corner I turned, Belgian waffles were happily greeting me. The assortment of flavored waffles and chocolate waffles was intense – a mixture of sugar, dough, and their own special treat mixed into the batter invented a great taste like no other. A lot of people were soaked from head to toe, an umbrella in one hand and a waffle in the other! Of the gastronomical contributions of Belgium, I would open-heartedly agree that chocolate waffles were legendary!;

 

3) La Grand Place – the heart of the continent’s capital combined squares of Brussel’s gigantic, one-of-a-kind Grand Square, otherwise known as the Grote Market to the Dutch. Dozens of authentic lace and chocolate shops, museums, art galleries, and many other Belgian flavored stores generated a mass of beautiful buildings and diversities of cultures. The Christmas tree carefully positioned in the middle of the square made this location a fun-filled atmosphere and a great spot to sightsee!

Next stop: Barcelona, Spain!