Gourmet products local specialties and wines Zwevegem

Dominique Persoone is certainly the most subversive of Belgian chocolatiers. Ganache with peas, praline with olive oil or cabernet-sauvignon vinegar: this virtuoso has no qualms about his creations. He also revisits the tequila frappé in the Choc-tail, a bitter chocolate ganache from Costa Rica that is mixed with lime and served with a pipette of Tequila Silver and Maldon Crystal Salt. But the most astonishing of his creations is the Chocolate Shooter, which catapults cocoa powder (flavored with mint and ginger) into your nostrils. Rock'n'roll!

All of Belgium's specialties seem to be concentrated in this vast store, housed in the former residence of Perez de Malvenda, Spanish consul in the ^15th century. There's something for everyone: to drink (beers, gin, etc.), to eat (chocolate, waffles, etc.), to give as gifts (trinkets, T-shirts, etc.) and so on. Don't miss the "beer wall" outside, which boasts every bottle of Belgian beer. Finally, try them out at the bar, on the lovely terrace overlooking the canal. There are no fewer than 12 types of beer on tap!

Françoise Thomaes opened her gourmet boutique in 1997. Like a little Ali Baba's cave, you'll find a wealth of treasures here and there. More than sixty pralines, truffles, fruit or almond jellies, cookies and gingerbread, artisanal honey... are presented in an attractive display case. Upstairs, you'll find their little tasting room, with over twenty hot chocolates to choose from, accompanied by a homemade waffle (made with real eggs). Cute and delicious!

V-chocolaterie is first and foremost the story of a family with 85 years of passion. It all began in the 1930s with Robert Sweertvaegher, a pastry chef turned chocolatier. He launched the first chocolate shop in Ypres, then in Courtrai and Bruges. In this beautiful store, the aesthetics of the packaging are as important as the quality of the chocolates, made with cocoa butter from sustainable cocoa and with no added vegetable fats. Take away the galette, their flagship product.

On the road through the hop fields to Sint-Sixtus, we make a thoughtful stop at Noël Cuvelier's. With over 70 years and 30 years of service, he's still behind his counter selling over 300 beers and local cheeses that he's rigorously selected himself, out of a passion for hops and cheeses. The beautiful Flemish house conceals treasures to match, rare pearls to unearth for sipping good beers with friends when returning from a trip, or to give as gifts. What's more, you can opt for assorted beer baskets.

Fresh from his ^39th place (^1st Belgian) at the Gelato World Festival, Mathieu Eyckmans pays daily tribute to Italian gelato. In his store, you'll find flavors that transport you to Rome or Florence (almond-pistachio, baccio, amarena, Piedmont hazelnuts...). Just the sight of their silky appearance in their tubs is enough to make your mouth water. Because gelati are a little lighter than their French cousins, they melt deliciously in the mouth and explode with flavor. A moment of pure bliss. Vegan, yoghurt and waffle options.

This market - Vismarkt - dates back to 1821. It takes place every morning, from Tuesday to Saturday. From the fish market, take the Steenhouwersdijk, then the Groenerei. You will see the two oldest bridges in the city, Meebrug & Peerdenbrug. Take the time to go to the end of the Groenerei where the beautiful Maison-Dieu de Pelikaan is located, and then resume your path towards the fish market.

The Chocolate Line is a chocolatier located in Bruges. The store has recently been extended to include a "Tree To Bar" production area, where customers can observe the complete chocolate-making process, from roasting the cocoa beans to pouring the bars. Production is limited and aimed at the most passionate chocolate lovers. In addition to their own production, The Chocolate Line also offers chocolates sourced from small family cocoa producers, offering a variety of subtle flavors. For chocolate lovers, The Chocolate Line is a must-stop on any visit to Bruges.

After having worked for many years at the ice-cream parlour in Bruges and Aunt Marie in Damme, Dany and Jorgen opened this charming tea room. Here you can enjoy a good, light and affordable lunch or your snack around a good ice cream, pancake or hot chocolate. But above all, you will taste the fabulous cake "le merveilleux" traditional from the North of France and Flanders. Made from meringues coated with whipped cream, it is available in a variety of flavours. Other cakes are also available à la carte.

This little fish market, just a stone's throw from the Mangerie on Visserkaai, is just like other towns in the region: a very picturesque place where you can find freshly caught seafood every day. During your morning stroll, you'll be able to see the small boats that have returned from shrimp fishing. Along the Visserskaai are a number of small stores selling delicious ready-made fish dishes. The market is authentic, and Ostenders flock to it.

The first historical store of the family business Chocolat Dumon. In 1996, Stephan's mother opened this first store located at the Eiermarkt in the city center. A typical and unique medieval architecture, where you will find the famous handmade chocolates and pralines of this Bruges institution. The quality that has made the reputation of this master chocolatier endures over time, for the pleasure of our taste buds. An important landmark for travelers from all over the world who come to visit Bruges the Beautiful.

Kasteel (Blond, Donker, Tripel, Rouge, Hoppy), Cuvée du Château, Saint-Louis (Premium Kriek, Premium Faro, Premium Framboise, Gueuze, Kriek Lambic), Brigand, Bacchus, Passchendaele, Trignac, Filou

Built in the 11th century by the Count of Flanders, who wanted to benefit from this strategic location between Kortrijk and Bruges, Ingelmunster Castle was then converted into a luxurious seigneury. It was rebuilt in 1736. Over the centuries, it has belonged to the Counts of Flanders and the Dukes of Burgundy. The Van Honsebrouck family has been brewing in Ingelmunster since 1900.

Luc Van Honsebrouck took over the brewery in 1953 and did not leave it until the end of 2008. Under his direction, the company embarked on a truly professional turnaround, and he was the one who launched most of the beers currently produced by the brewery. The family acquired the château in 1986, and three years later, the Kasteelbier (Château beer) was launched. Kasteel Donker and Tripel slowly mature in the castle's cellars. For the Donker, which is to be enjoyed calmly, far from any hustle and bustle, this ageing in barrels lasts between six and twelve weeks. While the Donker and Tripel have 11% alc. vol., the Kasteel Blond has 7%.

In 2006, the Kasteel Rouge was introduced in the range. This amazing beer is a blend of Donker and cherry liqueur. It matures for at least six months before bottling. Two beers have recently completed the Kasteel panel: Cuvée du Château (11%), whose aromatic notes are comparable to those of a Kasteel Donker that has been resting for several years, and Kasteel Hoppy (6.5%), which gives pride of place to Belgian hops. Another of the house's flagship brands, the Brigand, which landed on the tables in 1980. Thanks to its high alcohol content, this characterful beer can easily withstand a few years in the cellar. Finally, if lambic is traditionally produced in Brussels and the Senne Valley, there is every reason to believe that a micro-region around Kortrijk would benefit from the same characteristics. Brewing regulations, which are so picky in other respects, remain quite discreet on the subject anyway.

But, after all, since when do windblown microorganisms have borders? Van Honsebrouck therefore does not hesitate to offer an assortment of lambic beers: the Saint-Louis. They are divided into two ranges, one rather traditional and the other low in alcohol (3.5%) and above all intended for a young audience. Another example is Bacchus, a flamboyant reddish-brown with 4.5% alc. vol. which has been somewhat revived recently by the brewery, which has added two fruity versions (Kriek and Framboise).

At the helm of the company since the departure of his father, Xavier Van Honsebrouck, very attached to the history of the First World War, which left deep scars in this region of West Flanders, paid tribute to the foreign belligerents who came to fight on our land. In the winter of 2013, he launched Passchendaele, a beer named after a town about 20 kilometres from Ingelmunster that was the scene of a fierce battle in 1917. The presentation of the product was not so much in Belgian style but rather in the minds of the Commonwealth nations, whose populations paid a heavy price in this battle. Beer is thus available in kegs or half-litre bottles, a format that is quite common in these countries. As for the content, it is a blonde (5.2%) of high fermentation brewed with Belgian hops. More anecdotal but very trendy, the West Flanders brewer ages his Kasteel Tripel in barrels where cognac used to rest. The Trignac was launched in 2013 and is available in nine thousand seventy-five centilitre bottles.

In August 2016, the Van Honsebrouck brewery invested a new space, close to the old one, which will enable it to double its production, which is now estimated at one hundred thousand hectolitres per year and of which 45% is destined for foreign countries (France, Netherlands, Finland, Spain, Italy, North America, Israel, Russia, Japan, etc.).

Satcheu This brewery in the Kortrijk region specialises in table beers (golden and brown), but also brews a saison beer called Satcheu (6.2%). The name refers to the people who used to pull barges from the towpath.It's a family brewery which dates from 1874 and brews about 4,000 and 5,000 hectolitres per year.

Sint-Bernardus used to be called Sint-Sixtus, and was brewed in a brewery not far from the Sint-Sixtus Abbey, which brews the famous Westvleteren (Trappist beer). This common misconception also stems from the fact that the religious community had authorized the brewery to market its name from 1946 to 1992. Are you still following? The fact remains that, for a long time, Sint-Bernardus brewery behaved like a Trappist brewery whose quality had little to envy monastic productions.

Located in the Belgian town of Loker, the BIE microbrewery and craft brewery is a must for beer lovers. With its warm atmosphere and original decor, it offers a friendly welcome to its visitors. Customers can sample a wide selection of craft beers, as well as tasty dishes from the brewery's restaurant.

The Mout- & Brouwhuis de Snoek is a museum located in Alveringem. It is the only fully preserved 19th-century brewery in Flanders, Wallonia and French Flanders. The museum immerses you in the atmosphere of the era, with its bubbling cauldrons, fermentation vats and gas engines. Learn about the history of the brewers, the workers and even the soldiers who sometimes used the vats as baths during the First World War. After the tour, you can quench your thirst in the museum's tavern, which offers over 130 regional beers.