Gourmet products local specialties and wines Belgium

Léonidas is a historic reference for Belgian chocolate. The first store in central Brussels (1913), rented by Basile Kestekides, had no door. A bizarre layout that forced the tenant to enter through the window and use the outside shelf as a counter. The best ideas are sometimes the result of a funny situation! By the way, let's not forget that Leonidas is industrially produced (like many other brands that pretend otherwise) and as such can boast the best value for money on the market!

This is probably the most creative chocolate factory. Among the originalities, you will find chocolate with wasabi, lavender, cola, basil, olives, tomatoes, cigar (flavoured with a macerated Havana leaf)... The choc'tails are made with the same alcohols as the way they are consumed: tequila chocolate... An extraordinary round-the-world tour of flavours orchestrated by Dominique Persoone (and his wife behind the scenes), who is very much appreciated and a lover of the most zany explanations in the media.

La Belgique Gourmande, a name that makes you salivate and makes you think of "Daddy's Belgium" or "Old Belgium", all local definitions of a bygone era. In short, it brings back memories and flavours from childhood. This is what the shop offers: a fine assortment of Belgian sweets (chocolates, Dandoy speculoos, etc.) presented in beautiful boxes that will make people happy. The brand has 5 stores in the capital. In the one on rue de la Colline, you can have your own personalized bars made (type of chocolate and filling).

Since 1932, the brand has offered a renowned collection of chocolates, faithful to the original recipes. Also emblematic, the central boutique, among other addresses in Brussels, is superbly installed. It is adorned with visual assets highlighting the products created by this chocolate maker. The chocolates are prepared according to the rules of the art and the best added products (dairy butter, hazelnuts from Piedmont, almonds from Faro). The cocoa butter is pure; the whole production, made by about fifty chocolate makers, is guaranteed without GMO.

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.

A counter full of flavours, colours and smells instantly immerses the gourmet in the heart of Italy. You'll find all the finesse of Italian products such as cold cuts, cheeses and other oils, not to mention the famous antipasti. Mamma mia! Also on the menu: variations of lasagne, ravioli, risottos and pizzas! Would you like to enjoy the cuisine of the mammas without leaving your seat? Nothing could be easier thanks to the catering service of La Dolce Vita. Since 1978, we can say that it's a business that runs smoothly.

The master chocolatier-pastry chef is one of Brussels' most trusted names. Nowadays, Myriam and her brother, Paul, are the official suppliers to the Belgian Court and members of the prestigious Relais Desserts association. In addition to the excellent homemade chocolates, they also offer pastries, ice cream and a catering department. All in the top range! The best thing is to take the time to taste in the tea room. You can still find your soul there. Breakfasts, lunches, snacks, pralines and macaroons all compete for the attention of gourmets.

Rochefort 6, Rochefort 8, Rochefort 10 There are three versions of this admirable Trappist beer: the 6, the 8 and the 10. Rochefort 10 is the most celebrated; Rochefort 6 is the rarest, sold mainly in shops near the abbey; Rochefort 8 is the most widely available.Production has doubled in recent years to meet the strong growth in demand, both in Belgium and overseas. 26,000 hl were produced in 2010. The whole brewing process, including the bottling, takes place inside the abbey walls.The brewery is the abbey's main economic activity, but for all its success, its role remains one of supporting the monks' main devotional activities. The abbot himself has said that the abbey is first and foremost an abbey, one of whose activities is brewing beer.The abbey, or l'Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy (to give its full name), is about a mile (2 km) from the Ardennes town of Rochefort, halfway between Brussels and Luxembourg. It has been on the site for centuries and there is evidence to show that monks started brewing Rochefort beers as long ago as the 16th century.The brewery is not open to visitors, but the services at the abbey church are open to all.

Roger Caulier and his three sons are the heirs to a family business, founded in 1933 and since 1980 housed in the former Tensier tannery in Peruwelz. They immediately made a name for themselves by selling their production in retro bottles with mechanical corks. Classics include Bon Secours and Paix-Dieu, billed as the first abbey beer brewed every full moon. It's served in a rather original glass, featuring the roundness of the moon but cut at an angle, "to highlight its aromas", explains the brewer.

Lovers of artisanal breads will be delighted not to see all their wheat go into insipid industrial breads. Because there are trendy bakeries and then there are those we like to call "neighbourhood bakeries". Renard is one of these, and has been in the heart of this popular district of Ixelles for over a quarter of a century. The philosophy of respect for quality has not changed! The range of sourdough breads is impressive (with a special mention for the special weekend breads) and the range of individual pastries is most tempting!

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.

One of the oldest and best bakers in the city since 1935. Three outlets, a workshop in Koekelberg and a huge choice of breads, pastries and cakes. As well as homemade ice creams and lots of sweets such as chocolate, macaroons, speculoos, etc. And then there are surprise breads that open the ball to a high quality catering service. These pastries are proof that sweet and salty go hand in hand. The queue is often long and it is well worth it... Two other shops in Jette and Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

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.

With over eighty pralines to choose from, Godiva's specialties play the aristo card, with names like Mathilde, Saint-Germain, Lady or Noblesse. The rest of the range is based around chocolate bars, but also luxury products: the Gold collection comes in gold packaging, and truffles are scented with raspberry or champagne. Always at the forefront of seasonal news, the almost century-old brand unveils new products for every occasion: Spring, Christmas and Valentine's Day, as well as its famous chocolate-covered strawberries.

This is much more than a grocery store. The formula includes the satisfaction of primary needs, like clothing, furniture, Green Sleep bedding, house painting and cleaning materials. The books section offers a thousand selections on widely different themes, like sustainable agriculture, homeopathy, personal development, essential oils, yoga, dietetics, cooking, etc...And of course, natural wines are in order. Other address : 101 rue de l'Eglise in Woluwe-St-Pierre. & 02 771 68 38.

Brasseries de Liège is a collective concept where small professionals can create their own personalized beer using professional equipment. Upstairs, an impressive 46-pump bar offers a direct view of the tanks. With so much equipment on the zinc, there's plenty of room for everyone, including custom beer sponsors! You can also order a meal from one of the six food counters set up in the adjoining gourmet hall. Connoisseurs and the curious are welcome!

D'ici is a supermarket located in Naninne. It offers a range of services including in-store shopping, in-store collection and delivery. D'ici is more than just a store, it's a place where people meet and exchange ideas. In addition to the supermarket, there's also a restaurant, a bakery and a garden. D'ici puts the spotlight on local producers and offers a wide range of products such as beers, soft drinks, gift baskets, dairy products, groceries, fruit and vegetables, frozen foods, delicatessen dishes, as well as meat, charcuterie and poultry.

Popular with tourists and the many passers-by who pass through the Grand-Place district, but also known to Belgian beer lovers, it was one of the first truly specialised shops. Opened in 1996, it originally had 250 different beers and now has four times that number. A thousand Belgian beers, including the rarest, and a wide range of accessories are available. Collectors will be particularly interested in the stock of old (and sometimes unobtainable!) beer glasses.

This craft beer cellar opened in spring 2022. After an internship at the Brewery du Clocher in Malonne, Diego decided to open a specialized store. He offers Belgian beers and a small selection of foreign beverages. In any case, he has banished the beers available in supermarkets from his shelves, in favor of craft beers. Small tables are set up inside for tasting one or other of the beverages. And tasting workshops are provided by a guest zythologist.

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.

Philomène Florale, a light blonde (5.5% vol. alc.) was born in 2015. One can even say that it was born in the desecrated church of Piroy in Malonne. In 2017, it was followed by Philomène Hoptim'Ale (7.2% vol. alc.) then Cointessence (8.3% vol. alc.) and finally Céleste, recently. They are surrounded by ephemeral brews. As a 100% traditional brewery, all the stages from production to bottling are managed on site. The bell, dedicated to Philomène, was cast in Tellin. The bell, dedicated to Philomène, was cast in Tellin and is now installed in the heart of the brewery.

Grimbergen, the third abbey beer in the Alken-Maes fold, has been in the news recently as Carlsberg, responsible for the brand internationally, and Alken-Maes have inaugurated a brewery in the abbey itself in 2021. This will allow the brewery to resume its activity in situ, more than 200 years after it was interrupted in the wake of the French Revolution. The Fenikshof tavern offers the opportunity to discover the beers brewed on site and a visitor center has also been opened, featuring a small hop garden and a medicinal herb garden.

The {C} brewery already has a bit of bottle age, as do its two managers, François Dethier and Renaud Pirotte. The duo presented their microbrewery project to the cast of a TV show designed to support budding entrepreneurs. Their project was rewarded, along with Curtius (7% vol.), and it was an immediate success. Today, the former Saint-Esprit beguinage houses the brewery and is not only the brewers' laboratory, but also a brewpub. A vast tasting area, enhanced by a pleasant terraced garden, has been laid out.

Malt Attacks offers about 600 beers from Belgium and "the world" (USA, UK, Norway, Italy, Germany, France...). Antoine gives excellent advice and focuses on craft beers (no industrial beers here). Brewing equipment for amateurs and basic equipment to order "free" of charge. Malt Attacks also offers whiskies, gins, natural wines, chocolates, ciders and a few other artisanal products. Their particularity? The sale of growlers, large reusable bottles that are filled with draft beer.

A few years ago, the "Vaudrée" concept from Liège was exported to the university town. This adventure now has a name: the BeerLovers' Shop, while the BeerLovers' Café remains in the Principality. The BeerLovers' hops are also available on the Net, enabling them to reach new heights. Available in this store, virtual or otherwise, are more than 750 beers (not all Belgian), as well as a wide range of pékets, liqueurs, absinthes, rums and other beverages in the same vein... And even beers on tap.

The Drink Center offers over one hundred and fifty different beers, waters and lemonades, liqueurs and spirits, as well as the Cuvée Li Crochon, brewed by the Brasserie du Bocq. Available in blond (6% vol.) and brown (8.7%) versions, it is brewed for the Confrérie Li Crochon at Château de Falaën. Other local beers in the spotlight include Houppe, Brogne, Philomène, Bertinchamps... Other beverage categories include a number of local liqueurs and eaux-de-vie, such as Maredsous Gin.

Pierre Marcolini is an artisan chocolatier located at Schrijnwerkersstraat 25, 2000 Antwerpen. The store offers a wide selection of quality chocolates, including pralines, chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, macaroons and pastries. There is no on-site dining or delivery service. The Pierre Marcolini website allows customers to place orders online, and also offers information on the company's products and artistic collaborations.

Loterbol 6, Loterbol 8 (Blond, Bruin), Tuverbol Having opened as a small café-brewery in 1995, Loterbol expanded into a new brewhouse in a separate building in 2002. The café is still there and is open for sales and beer tastings from 4pm on the first Saturday of every month.

Lupulus When his Achouffe brewery was bought by Duvel-Moortgat, Pierre Gobron left to concentrate on brewing at the 3 Fourquets ("3 mash rakes") brewery at Bovigny, near the border with Luxembourg. He has since been joined in this venture by his sons, Tim and Julien.Its beers include a surprising Lupulus Blonde (8.5% abv) which is conditioned in champagne bottles and kegs. According to the brewer, using large quantities of hops in the kettle and during fermentation give the beer an incomparable freshness and bouquet.Other beers include a Lupulus Brune which the brewery hopes to start selling in 2012. The brewery also makes La Madelonne and La Béole under contract. The name "lupulus" refers to the wolves that used to inhabit the Ardennes and to the Latin word for hops, "humulus lupulus", which translates literally as "humble little wolf".

The smell that permeates the pretty shop fills one with such a sense of well-being that one wonders if there is a tea in the world that is not present on the shelves. White, green, black, semi-fermented, smoked, plain or flavoured and some organic selections from Japan... the list is long! Not forgetting rooibos from South Africa and all the refined accessories to accompany this drink that is so "apart". Among the discoveries, let's mention "Brussels, once!" with black tea from Ceylon. Seven languages are spoken in the shop, with kindness!

Goud, Tripel Kanunnik A brand new microbrewery dating from July 2011 and working out of old industrial buildings in Sint-Truiden. It produces Wilderen Goud and Tripel Kanunnik as well as an Eau de Bière (a punning eau de vie distilled from Tripel Kanunnik) and Wilderen Graanjenever (a genever/Dutch gin).The café at the brewery is open every day from April to October and at weekends during the rest of the year.

Gaumaise, Double Blonde, Spéciale Blonde and Brune The Gigi family's small brewery is in Gérouville in southern Belgium near the French border. It dates from the 19th century and is a rare example of a brewery that started out selling its beer by going from door to door. The Gigi beers are not high in alcohol. At 5% abv, the brown and golden versions of Gaumaise are the strongest. Its other beers are around 3%. The brewery also makes soft drinks.

The Drink des Primevères is one of the most representative of the region. You'll find no fewer than 300 references! In addition to the inevitable beers, the drink also offers almost 150 wines and 160 aperitifs and spirits. Of course, you'll also find softs and a vast selection of delicatessen products and snacks. If the choice is too difficult, or if you want something unique, it's also possible to put together a packed basket, ready to take away. Ideal for a gift or to take a little of Wallonia's terroir home with you!

Guldenberg, XX Bitter, Noir de Dottignies, Père Noël,Cuvée De Ranke, Kriek De Ranke Hops are all-important to Brouwerij De Ranke and its two owners, Nino Bacelle and Guido Devos. The company logo features a branch ("rank") of hops, and real hop cones from Poperinge - not the hop extract favoured by many other breweries - are used in the beer. Using hop cones may be more difficult and more expensive, but it produces beer of the very highest quality.XX Bitter demonstrates most clearly the benefits of using hop cones. It is a golden beer (6.2%) brewed with Brewer's Gold and Hallertau hops.De Ranke has had its own brewery at Dottignies, near the Walloon town of Mouscron, since 2005. (Before then, its beers were produced on its behalf by the Deca brewery at Woeste.) Its head office is at Wevelgem, just over the border in Flanders.

Gueuze Tilquin à l'ancienne This new gueuzerie (gueuze blender) opened its doors to the public for the first time in May 2011, causing a minor sensation in the world of spontaneously fermented beers. It is the first gueuze blender - or "blendery" - ever to open in Wallonia and is in the village of Bierghe, a few miles from Brussels and a few hundred yards from Flanders. Crucially, it is still in the Senne Valley and thus well placed to exploit the wild yeasts in the valley that are so important to the production of lambic and gueuze. The gueuzerie was founded by Pierre Tilquin, a Walloon. He likes to present his Gueuze Tilquin à l'ancienne as a model of Flemish, Wallonian and Brussels collaboration. As a blender, he doesn't make his own lambic, but he buys wort from Boon, Lindemans, Girardin and Cantillon and lets them ferment and mature into lambic in his 220 oak barrels. He then blends the different lambics to obtain the gueuze he is looking for.The plan is for the gueuzerie to produce on average 500hl of gueuze per year. 30-40% is likely to be sold in Belgium, 40% in the United States and the rest in other export markets. There are ambitions, too, to produce a kriek one day, but Tilquin doesn't rule out working with other fruit before turning to cherries.

Hoftrol, Hofblues A small craft brewery producing a range of beers, many of which are exported to the United States.