1600s
Fries origin claim
Belgians claim to have invented fried potato strips along the Meuse valley.
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Cuisine book · 3 cities · 5 dishes
Belgium
Fries, chocolate and beer taken with total seriousness
Belgian food punches far above its size — the country's fries, chocolate and beer are each considered world benchmarks, backed by centuries of craft-guild precision.
History
Where it all comes from
1700s
Trappist brewing tradition
Monasteries began brewing high-quality ale, a tradition some still maintain today.
1800s
Chocolate refinement
Belgian chocolatiers developed the praline, elevating chocolate to fine craft.
1958
Waffle world exposure
The Brussels World's Fair popularised the Belgian waffle internationally.
Today
Craft beer renaissance
Small breweries continue reviving historic styles alongside the famous Trappist ales.
Jump to a city
City 1 of 3
Brussels
Fries, mussels and chocolate in the capital.
Moules-frites
19th century national dish
Steamed mussels in wine broth with a side of double-fried chips.
Belgian waffle (gaufre de Bruxelles)
Popularised 1958
Light, crisp rectangular waffles dusted with sugar, distinct from the denser Liège style.
City 2 of 3
Liège
Dense caramelised waffles and hearty Walloon stews.
Liège waffle
18th century, palace kitchen origin
A dense, caramelised-sugar waffle eaten as street food, unlike its Brussels cousin.
Boulets à la liégeoise
Traditional Walloon dish
Meatballs in a sweet-sour sauce made with local syrup.
City 3 of 3
Bruges
Chocolate shops line the medieval canals.
Belgian pralines
1912, invented by Jean Neuhaus
Filled chocolates handmade by chocolatiers using guarded recipes.
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