Date of Visit: 24-26 March 2014
This past March, K and I headed to the lovely city of Bruges (sometimes referred to as "The Venice of the North") in Belgium for a short getaway and we found quite a few gems there which I thought I should share with all of you here!
Bruges is a one-hour train ride away from Brussels, and we really liked that it had an old town feel to it as compared to the more modern Brussels. Definitely a place for leisurely dining and sightseeing and although it may not be everyone's cup of tea since it can come across as quite boring, it suited us just fine because the good food made up for the lack of activities.
#1 Balls & Glory
Wonderful little shop with an open-kitchen concept in the front and a common dining table with stools at the back. Fuss-free and very satisfying - simply choose your giant meatball and whether you would like it with salad/mash. I believe they switch around the meatball and salad options once in a while, while the mash is always the same. I really liked how chill the concept of the place is, it felt like I was just going to a friend's place for a casual meal. I recommended it to some friends who were travelling there a few weeks later and they gave it their stamp of approval too! Would have gone back again during the trip if not for the need to try other places and an itinerary that was already packed.
€12 for eat-in, €9.50 for takeaway
Address: Langestraat 93, Brugge
9/10
K chose the mash option and I chose the salad option so we could try both. I ended up having almost half of his and he almost had half of mine. They were both really good and surprisingly the salad wasn't neglected! I love that the mash had other herbs and veggies like carrots in it to give it variation in texture - it definitely made the mash better.
Salad option had quinoa, feta cheese, spinach, chives, beetroot and walnuts. Sounds too healthy to be tasty but still really delicious! The chives didn't overpower the rest of the dish but in fact was a nice complement.
We both chose the meatball with a mushroom sauce filling. There are limited kinds of fillings available for the giant meatballs but it changes everyday.
#2 Gelateria Da Vinci
Amazing gelato served in this gelateria and it's definitely my new favourite gelato. We loved it so much we went back on the last day since we didn't know when we would ever be back in Bruges again to eat it. We got the triple scoop cup for €3.50, which is really value-for-money as well! What I like about this gelato is that the flavours are very genuine and not too sweet. It also has the perfect balance between creamy and icy and you could just mindlessly eat this stuff without feeling guilty - which is the best feeling when it comes to indulging in desserts. Before you know it, all the gelato is gone and you're left craving for another scoop of it. Extremely refreshing and worth all the calories!
Triple scoop for €3.50
Address: Geldmuntstraat 34, 8000 Brugge
10/10
Clockwise from left: Snickers, Passionfruit, Pistachio
The crunchy bits in the pistachio gelato was delightful, and we were surprised at how light yet tasty the snickers flavour was. It also tasted like peanut butter, a familiar taste we both love :) The passionfruit did not let down either by providing a touch of sourness to balance everything out.
#3 Den Gouden Harynck
(1-star Michelin, details in a separate post here)
One of my more memorable Michelin experiences outside of London. Definitely would go back if I ever find myself in Belgium again. Loved how the decor made it intimate and cosy but gave us privacy at the same time. Not a cheap place to dine, which explains why I didn't give this place as high a rating as the other more accessible treats and goodies we had during the trip.
€39 per pax for the lunch 3-course menu
Address: Groeninge 25, 8000 Brugge
8.5/10
#4 Patisserie Academie
Very artistic and surprisingly affordable confections that made me want to buy one of each kind. We bought the apple turnover, some nutty brownies and a slice of passionfruit and mango mousse cake. Would have loved to try more but as we only visited on the last day of our trip, I had to exercise plenty of self-control! They were all delicious and made for good teatime snacks for the train ride back to London :)
The shop is strictly for takeaways only though, so you wouldn't be able to have a seat and order some tea to go with your desserts. But that shouldn't deter you from bagging some home for yourself or to give them as gifts!
Average price: €2-3.50 per slice/piece
Address: Academiestraat 4, 8000 Brugge
8/10
#5 The Markt
We chanced upon this temporary market as we walked past the main square on our last day (Wednesday) and decided to take a look since we hadn't seen it the previous days we walked past. Pity we already made plans to have lunch at the best fish restaurant in Bruges (see below), otherwise we would have bought some meats or sandwiches for a simple, budget-friendly meal. Nevertheless, it was still fun looking around the market to see what produce was on offer and what the locals were buying!
#6 Den Gouden Karpel
We were running out of Euros but decided to just come here anyway since we were keen on trying what they are famous for - their fish dishes. Definitely not a decision we regretted, as they were really the best we've had in a while and the both of us had pleased grins as the meal went on. Although the prices for both mains were not cheap, it was money well spent, and considering that both mains came in big portions, we could do without starters or desserts and still left feeling very full and satisfied. I would suggest spending the extra Euros and getting the sole.
Average price: €20-30 for mains
Address: Huidenvettersplein 4, 8000 Brugge
9/10
Fillets of sole 'Tante Marie'
With potatoes, finely diced mushrooms and shrimps, finished off in the oven to give the sauce a lovely browned surface
I loved this dish so much that I kept giving an immensely pleased look to K throughout the meal. He must have thought I was a bit nuts.
I loved everything about it - the way the sauce was milky and buttery but light at the same time, the mushroom surprise encased within the overlapping fillets, the meat-flavoured disc sitting on top that gave it depth and a certain smokiness, and the freshness of all the seafood on the plate. The potatoes were also firm but soft. I finished this whole plate of goodness without caring about the calories, and I can still remember what it tastes like now.
10/10
K's salmon dish that came in a parcel
The seasoning tasted very Asian, but that did not distract us from the highlight - the perfectly-cooked salmon. In fact, the seasoning was done really well for a Western-style restaurant in an European country. When I hear those words the first thing that comes to mind is normally £10 Chinese food buffets with endless trays of food that do not look Chinese or appetising at all - so this was a pleasant surprise! They were also generous with their servings, giving 2 salmon fillets in one parcel, which made it easy for us to share.
8/10
And lastly... my final thoughts
All in all, this trip was one to remember - especially because of all the wonderful meals and goodies we happened to chance upon online and made plans to try. I guess the moral of the story would be that all the planning and hard work pays off, and this rings true even more so when food and the stomach's satisfaction are at stake.
Of course the trip was more than just about eating, but the memories created during the meals and the excitement experienced as we hunted the places down together and discovered gems along the humble streets of Bruges significantly added to the magic of our trip.
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