Every minute of waiting on a 5-hour layover, sprinting through the airport without shoes on, and sweating like a madwoman to make it on the plane was worth it. Belgium waffles were everything I dreamed of and more.

The insides of the waffles are filled with a chewy, crystalized dough and the outsides are slightly crispy. You can find the waffles anywhere on the streets, but the cheapest we found were by the Manneken Piss. Only 1 euro for the simple ones and 2+ euros for fancy toppings!

Belgium French Fries were a warm snack to munch on during the chilly afternoon. Here’s a video Alexander and I look to share with you all. Sorry for the low quality!

Lunchtime called for famous Belgium mussels. Drenched in a white wine broth with celery, onion and parsley, these mussels were better than I could have imagined. We paired them with a Jupiler beer and fresh-baked bread to soak up the broth. The huge pot of mussels from Arcadi Cafe cost about 19 euro, a bit expensive, but reasonable for splitting.

Brussels Park was my favorite park of the city. Giant statues of chocolate, mussels, beer and french fries were lined among the picturesque Fall leaves. We loved walking hand-in-hand taking in the autumn beauty and taking fun photos. Brussels Park is located across from the Royal Palace, which was amazing, too.

Chocopolis was my favorite chocolate store we visited. We were lucky to get samples (free chocolate!!). I loved the Caramel Pistachio, Raspberry Rose and Honey the best. They were so unique, so rich and simply heavenly!

We read about the authentic Belgium restaurant Fin de Siecle online because it had rave reviews. It really was all and more than I expected! The experience began by waiting in line for about 25 minutes and enjoying a traditional brew (I loved the Blanche). The menu was written on a giant chalkboard in French, but we remembered the words stoemp (sausage and mashed potatoes) and carbonade (beef stew) after reading them online! The food was incredible; I barely touched my fork to the meat and it fell apart. If you travel to Brussels you must make a stop at Fin de Siecle. Great service and memorable experience!

Delirium Cafe in Brussels holds the Guinness World Record for having over 2,000 beers in 2004. Alexander and I had a great time with friends enjoying some more of the Belgium speciality.

There were so many people inside, which created a lively atmosphere. The walls and ceilings of Delirium were covered with beer tray decorations and memorabilia. So unique!

As much as I loved my trips to Italy and Portugal, Belgium certainly became my favorite because of its friendly people, lovely language and over-the-top food! I’ll forever be dreaming of the waffles, chocolate, french fries, beer and mussels. Cannot wait to return!

Love food, love self, love life.
Gabriela