Mussels and Brussels, alive-alive-O!!
Erin, myself, Strauss, and Joe (Phone Boy) spent the weekend in Brussels. We got flights for €50; well worth it for the cullinary and beer mecca experience we indulged in. We got a 6am flight and were into Brussels at 10am following the 45 minute bus ride from the typical RyanAir in the middle of nowhere airport. We immediately hit the scene, picking up our first belgian waffles washed down with a Hoegaarden (rose for Erin and En Saison for me, two types of Hoegaarden only available in Brussels for the most part). We checked into our hotel, bought some chocolate (the third of the four Brussels sins (waffles, beer, mussels, and chocolate)). Most excellent indeed, from a world renowned chocolatier, Pierre Marcolini. We tried a bizarre combination ranging from thyme and orange to earl grey. We grabbed lunch at a ny times recommended restaurant on a cute little pedestrian restaurant street (similar to the Latin Quarter for those who have been to Paris, but the food in these restaurants has better quality). We then completed the quad-fecta within 3 hours of arriving by having some really nice mussels for lunch. After lunch, we arrived at the Mecca of beer, the Delirum Cafe, owned and operated by the makers of Delirum Tremens for those familar with their Belgians. THIS BAR HAS 2004 DIFFERENT BEERS ON THEIR MENU!!!! The menu has over 600 beers from Belgium alone. Although this bar, similar to the Brickskeller in DC which some of you have ventured into with Erin and I, didn't have a couple of our choices, the beers were unbelievable and half the price of those in Dublin (and at least twice the alcohol content). Got to try a couple Abbey and Trappist (those brewed by Benedictine Monks using traditional methods) beers that are not available outside the country that were very very good. These pics tell the story. 
Erin, myself, Strauss, and Joe (Phone Boy) spent the weekend in Brussels. We got flights for €50; well worth it for the cullinary and beer mecca experience we indulged in. We got a 6am flight and were into Brussels at 10am following the 45 minute bus ride from the typical RyanAir in the middle of nowhere airport. We immediately hit the scene, picking up our first belgian waffles washed down with a Hoegaarden (rose for Erin and En Saison for me, two types of Hoegaarden only available in Brussels for the most part). We checked into our hotel, bought some chocolate (the third of the four Brussels sins (waffles, beer, mussels, and chocolate)). Most excellent indeed, from a world renowned chocolatier, Pierre Marcolini. We tried a bizarre combination ranging from thyme and orange to earl grey. We grabbed lunch at a ny times recommended restaurant on a cute little pedestrian restaurant street (similar to the Latin Quarter for those who have been to Paris, but the food in these restaurants has better quality). We then completed the quad-fecta within 3 hours of arriving by having some really nice mussels for lunch. After lunch, we arrived at the Mecca of beer, the Delirum Cafe, owned and operated by the makers of Delirum Tremens for those familar with their Belgians. THIS BAR HAS 2004 DIFFERENT BEERS ON THEIR MENU!!!! The menu has over 600 beers from Belgium alone. Although this bar, similar to the Brickskeller in DC which some of you have ventured into with Erin and I, didn't have a couple of our choices, the beers were unbelievable and half the price of those in Dublin (and at least twice the alcohol content). Got to try a couple Abbey and Trappist (those brewed by Benedictine Monks using traditional methods) beers that are not available outside the country that were very very good. These pics tell the story. Afterwards we went to another amazing bar where they serve a house beer in stone jugs; then we wandered into a less touristy neighborhood and ate at the most amazing restaurant. We made a couple friends from Vienna in the Delirium Cafe who joined us for dinner, and the woman was fluent in French, which helped when we realized we had made a reservation at another similarly named restaurant. We had to wait 30 minutes, just enough time to have a Chimay in very cool nearby restaurant. The dinner was very very very good, one of the best bistro meals I have had. Escargots and Rabbit were my dishes, and they were the best of both I have ever had! It was an amazing ambiance as well and we all enjoyed ourselves. 
After dinner we slowly made our way home, capping of the night at 3am with a salute to the Mannakin Pis (those who have gardens might have a statue of the little boy peeing in their yard), a glass of Leffe, and a fresh doner kebab, making it back to the hotel at 3:30am.....we definitely packed a days worth of fun in as you can see!
After dinner we slowly made our way home, capping of the night at 3am with a salute to the Mannakin Pis (those who have gardens might have a statue of the little boy peeing in their yard), a glass of Leffe, and a fresh doner kebab, making it back to the hotel at 3:30am.....we definitely packed a days worth of fun in as you can see!The following day, Erin and I walked around the neighborhoods, had breakfast in a furniture store (yummmy), walked through gardens, checked out shops, and just walked and walked, working off the calories consumed the day before. It was a terrific weekend and we loved every minute of Brussels.....this city should not be overlooked, everything was terrific!
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