Waffles, Frites and Beer Explained for the Family Table

The first thing to understand about Belgian food is that there are two waffles, they are different, and Belgians have opinions about it.

The Brussels waffle is the light rectangular one, crisp, dusted with sugar, sometimes with strawberries and cream on top. It is eaten sitting down with a fork. The Liege waffle is the dense oval one with pearl sugar baked in that caramelizes on the outside. It is eaten walking, from a paper, and it is the one the kids will want every afternoon. Both are right. Order both.

Frites are not fries. They are cut thick, fried twice in beef fat, and served in a paper cone with a sauce from a list of twenty. Mayonnaise is the classic. Andalouse and samurai are the ones the kids will fight over. A frietkot, a frites stand, is on every square and open late. It counts as dinner here and nobody will judge you.

Moules frites is the sit down version. A kilo of mussels steamed in white wine or cream, a bowl of frites, and bread to mop the pot. One pot feeds two children who are willing to try, or one adult who has been waiting all day.

The beer, since you asked

Belgium makes more kinds of beer than any country its size, and each one comes in its own glass. The Trappist beers from the monasteries are the famous ones. The fruit lambics, kriek with cherries and framboise with raspberries, are the ones to order with children at the table, because they will want a sip and a sip of kriek is a story to tell at school.

Chocolate for last. Pralines were invented here, the filled kind. Buy a small mixed box at a shop with a queue, not the airport, and let everyone choose.

Planning Belgium with kids? Start with the full Belgium family travel guide, or send me the ages and the dates and I will come back with what is really available.