Top 10 culinary specialities in Bruges

Travelling and eating go so well together. In fact, it’s often THE primary motivation for people to leave their home town and opt for a destination renowned for its fine cuisine. In general, when we talk about refined gastronomy, we often think of Italy, Spain, our beloved France, Mexico… This time, for this article, we’re taking you on an exquisite culinary diversions to Belgium, and more precisely to the city of Bruges. Yes, the word Belgium has been mentioned, so of course the famous Belgian fries and delicious waffles come to mind… But that’s not all! The city of Bruges has its own must-try dishes, prepared using regional produce according to the seasons. So, depending on whether you visit in summer, spring, winter or autumn, you’re bound to discover even more! Without further ado, here are our top ten dishes to try.

What to eat in Bruges Our top 10 culinary specialities of the city.

1. Bruges Chocolate

Oh dear! Navaway couldn’t begin this ranking without talking to you about Bruges chocolate, one of the best in the world (and we do mean that). After all, it’s the city that’s nicknamed “the chocolate capital”, isn’t it? Do you like white chocolate? Hazelnut-flavoured? Perhaps dark chocolate, which goes perfectly with coffee? There’s something for everyone: praline, crisp, crunchy, with fruit flavours, filled with truffles, with cream… It’s time to treat yourself. Visit the “Jeff de Bruges” shop for a tasting of the best on earth.

2. Beer

You simply can’t make a stop in Bruges without stopping off at a bistro or bar to sip one of its beers. Did you know? There are at least 350 different types of beer in the city, so you’ll have plenty of choice when it comes to choosing the right beer to tantalise your taste buds. Welcome to the land of malt flavours, where the nectar from pubs and craft breweries lets you explore new flavours, hitherto unknown. Find out a little more about the production process and the brewing process, right up to the tasting.

3. Tomatoes with prawns

Here’s a Belgian speciality that really, really deserves a visit. Tomatoes with prawns are one of those unique dishes that will stay with you for a long time. The presentation of the dish alone is original. It’s actually a hollowed-out tomato, then filled with small prawns and a good layer of mayonnaise. The dish is fresh, and tastes absolutely ‘top-notch’: it’s best cooked when tomatoes are in season (from May to September), and then when prawns are in season (from September to November).

4. Rabbit à la flamande

If you’re not used to eating rabbit, you should know that in Bruges, one of the most famous dishes, “Flemish rabbit”, is enough to convince many tourists. Its little extra? The meat is marinated in a base of abbey beer, which is why it smells so intoxicating, as you’ll soon be able to smell when you’re out and about in the streets of Bruges. It is then served topped with a few prunes. It can be served with rice or mashed potatoes, with the addition of any spices you like. This candied dish, cooked with legendary precision, is sure to turn stomachs upside down.

5. Fried mussels

Here’s another dish that depends on the season. In this case, mussels, from July to February. Fried mussels are a culinary speciality in many countries, but it’s in Belgium that you’ll really get to taste these ultra-fresh little pearls of the sea, marinated in white wine or beer. It’s easy to find a restaurant serving this steamed speciality as a ‘dish of the day’. What’s more, this mollusc has many benefits: it’s rich in vitamins and a source of zinc, selenium, iodine, phosphorus, etc. It’s also known to promote healing.

6. Waffles

After enjoying the excellent Belgian fries, there’s nothing better than topping it all off with a delicious home-made waffle. This is one of Belgium’s world-famous sweet specialities, isn’t it? Wherever you set foot, in whatever street you visit, you’ll be irresistibly drawn to the smell of freshly baked waffles. Accompanied by honey, nutella, icing sugar, red fruit… Let your sweet tooth take over. Ladies and gentlemen, waffles, here we come!

7. The Hochepot

Known as “the Flemish stew”, this is a speciality of the city of Bruges, which also exists in the north of France, but in a slightly different version. Very simple to prepare, it’s a bit like a classic pot-au-feu. Very popular in winter, it is cooked with seasonal vegetables such as leeks, turnips and potatoes, all simmered with pieces of meat. The stock is then served piping hot. Which meat to use? Whatever you like! Rabbit, ribs, smoked sausage, bacon… You can vary the recipe endlessly.

8. Waterzooi (cooked in water)

In any town in Belgium, you’ll be able to enjoy the refined, spicy dish that is waterzooi. Like the hochepot, it is a vegetable broth. However, if you are a pesco-vegetarian, it can be cooked with fish (this version is delicious, by the way). The pieces of meat used are fairly thin, with small vegetables. It’s like a big, filling soup, sometimes served with an egg yolk. It’s a delicious dish, and one that can also be enjoyed in winter. Imagine sitting by the fire, bowl of soup in hand, savouring it all, watching the crackle of the fire in the fireplace.

9. Bruges-style pork loin

Pork loin is one of the most tender parts of the pig to eat. It actually comes from a muscle that is not used very much (in the upper part of the back), and is therefore naturally tender. Pork fillet is simmered in beer (yes, beer really does go with everything), accompanied by spices and vegetables. The most common ingredients are carrots, peas and, of course, good old potatoes. This is typically the kind of dish that meat lovers enjoy, taking their time to savour every last crumb of the pork loin.

10. Flemish-style cod

Let’s finish this ranking with a good piece of fish, on a bed of tomato sauce. What do we like best? Its crispy crust, sprinkled with lemons and fresh herbs, which flavour the whole dish. And don’t forget that cod (along with salmon) is one of the richest fish in omega-3 and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Its health benefits have been demonstrated many times over. Here’s a balanced dish, served with tomatoes or potatoes, that’s sure to tantalise your taste buds.