Belgian food and how you consider it.

As did Licia with her Italian topic, I'd like to know your impressions and opinions about Belgian food, if any of you tried it.

As a Belgian, I consider there is no real "typical" food like with Chinese or Italian food but we have some typical meals. It's not always fries & mussels, we also have: waffles (Brussels waffles & Liège waffles). There's : Hochepot & Waterzooi (which is kind of chowder meals). Of course, we are specialists when it comes to beer and chocolate.
I will make some researches about my own cuisine

Personally I have yet to have the pleasure of visiting Belgium, so I must say my knowledge is pretty much limited to those typicals, like waffles, chocolates (those lovely concoction shaped as seashells filled with haselnut cream!), chips (with a heap of mayonnaise) and beer. But what little I know, I love them all Especially the waffles!! My favourite way to eat it is rather eclectic, I like to warm it and top it with Dulce de Leche, wonderful Argentinian caramel creme.
How do they exactly eat waffles in Belgium? Do they eat them plain, or what are their favourite topping?

First, you have to know there are two major kind of waffles. They are rectangular, without sugar cristals inside of them. Usually, we eat them with: sugar powder topping, fresh fruits (berries, especially strawberries), whipped cream, sometimes ice cream or chocolate (melted, then cooled down on the waffle). Sometimes we can eat them with jelly. We eat them warm. Usually, you find them in restaurants and little restauration places, most especially at the seafront. It's not something you will find in your supermarket, it has to be handmade. They look like this :


The other kind of waffles is called "Gaufre de Liège" = Liège Waffle. I, like most of Belgian, eat them cold but you can warm them up (it is often done so when you buy them in the streets). The main difference with the others is that they have sugar pearls inside of them. Usually, we eat them without topping but I know a few people who does (but then it's generally with chocolate). Their size is smaller than the Brussel's ones, so we usually by them at some store, already wrapped into plastic bags. I have to say that the pasta is heavier than the Brussel's one.

Awww, those waffles look so yummy!
I have visited Belgium only once, a very long time ago, but I love Belgian chogolate and always buy it for Christmas!

I am ashamed to admit I buy them at supermarkets (mainly LIdl) they look like the first one in the picture, of rectangular shape, and I have found the 2nd one in other places too, I think the second one tastes even better. I do have an electric waffle maker, but when I tried it the batter stuck to the both ends, top and bottom and it became a disasterous mess, and I haven't recovered the courage to try again... I really should though really...

But those are another kind of waffles, they look like Brussels waffles but they are smaller! I buy them at the supermarket too ^^. Besides, I didn't know there were LIDL's in Italy

Brussels waffles are reaaaaaally big ones, they are the size of a normal plate each.

Yes I know Julie!! My waffle maker SHOULD make those large waffles... I think I need to convince my partner to have a go at making, he is the one who is unlikely to be discouraged if the first try goes awry...

And yes, we have about 5-6 LIdls in Rome, it is my favourite supermarket!!