Belgian food and drinks were often overshadowed by powerhouse neighbor France. Now you can discovering what has been called the best-kept culinary secret in Europe. Did you know that Belgium has more Michelin starred restaurants per capita than France? Belgium has the most gastronomically intriguing beers of any nation in the world, and the most highly evolved and elaborated "cuisine a la biere". Many beers are crafted by small artisanal brewers whose family recipes and techniques go back generations. Beer laces the national dish, Carbonnades Flamandes, a Flemish beef stew. Before the independence in 1830, Belgian regions had been part of the Celtic, Roman, Spanish, Austrian, French, Dutch, and German empires. Belgium's central location has meant that it has long been a trade center for food products. This land has become a meeting point for the Germanic cultures of Northern Europe and the Latin cultures of the South, and this has influenced their cuisine. Today, Brussels is the European Union administrative center and a cosmopolitan dining destination. You will learn about the ingredients, techniques, and unique beer dishes that Belgium gives to the world.
