Mojito Drink

 Decided to do a taste test and find out if non-alcoholic mojito drink could really work. 

Brussels Treats

 

There are certain stereotypes that one thinks about when you mention Belgian treats, waffles, fries and chocolate. Here’s the thing, it’s all true. First and foremost these 3 treats are available in abundance just about anywhere in Brussels or in every Belgian city I’ve ever visited. It’s not just in the tourist areas either. If you ask locals about their favourite waffle, fries or chocolate, they will have an answer. They will not be offended by this question either. It’s as if Belgian people lean into their food stereotypes with great pride.

The main reason they’re not ashamed of these stereotypes is that there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Each and every one of them is not only a well known global treat, but they make it in Belgium with such passion and quality that it’s well worth travelling to Brussels (or anywhere in Belgium really) to get a taste. I’ve decided to take a look at all three of these treats, and let you know what makes them so great.

Waffles – There are many cultures that make waffles, but there’s something very special about the waffles in Belgium. There are actually several different types of waffles available, but I suggest going for the yeast waffles or Liege waffles. The Liege waffles are super dense and have a great chewniess to them. They’re a little crunchy as well, but not the same way that most waffles are crunchy. Best of all, because of their texture they can hold up to lots of toppings. Chocolate is probably the most common and it’s always great, but you can pretty much get anything they might have on offer and not be disappointed. If you’re not sure how to know if you’re getting Liege waffles, just be sure to watch now they make them. If they pour a liquid batter in the waffles iron you’re getting the Brussels waffles (the more common kind), however, if they have a ball of dough that they put in the waffle iron it’s means they’re offering the Liege waffles.

Fries – The most common way to get fries in Belgium is moule-frites, which translates to mussels and fries. I’ll be honest, I’m not a big mussels fan, so I only get the fries. Most of the time their at least double fried, so they come out extra crispy. They’re also very often made fresh, so they’re always hot. The real difference however is the fact that they offer many different dipping sauces to dip your fries. Most of the sauces are mayonnaise based, including just mayonnaise if you like. I’ve sampled a few of these sauces and I keep coming back to the classic mayo or garlic mayo. Some people like the Americana sauce, but I could take it or leave it.

Chocolate – This is probably the Belgian treat that makes me the most excited of them all (obviously). If you’re in the old town in Brussels you will have a hard time finding any city block without at least 2 or 3 chocolate shops on it. The problem, which is a wonderful problem, is picking which one to buy from. I divide the chocolate shops into 3 categories in Brussels. 

The first is chocolate shops that sell chocolate, but don’t actually make it. They tend to sell chocolate that’s mass produced and often more expensive than you might find at a grocery store. 

The next is big name chocolate maker shops such as Neuhaus and Leonidas. These companies also mass produce their chocolate, but they do it with a great deal of care. You might find these brands in some of the chocolate shops that sell chocolate as well, however their own shops will often feature exclusive treats that are limited to their own shops.

The final type of chocolate shop you can find are the independent chocolate shops. These shops often make all their own chocolate in small batches. They also tend to be a little more experimental with the chocolates as well. The problem with these shops is they don’t always last, and sometimes they also turn into big names (but good for them, am I right). It’s not always easy finding these shops, but if you go off the beaten path a bit you might get lucky.

Hunting for the best chocolate shop is the best problem you can have. One thing I should be clear about is even the mass produced chocolate in Belgium is amazing. It’s not like getting a box of Cote D’Or at a touristy chocolate shop in the main square is going to disappoint. The one thing I would recommend however is to check out the local grocery stores first. First of all, if you plan on buying some treats for the office and you want to go a little cheaper than the hand made chocolates, grocery stores have the same chocolates as found in many of the basic chocolate shops for a lot less. Checking a grocery store will also give you an idea of what chocolate is mass produced, and what is hand made.

As two added bonuses. I discovered that there’s a street near the train station in Brussels where you will find dozens of “cash and carry” candy shops. They basically sell bulk amounts of treats at discount prices. So if you find yourself in love with a particular candy bar or treat (as well as having some bonus space in your luggage), then you might want to stop in and get yourself a whole case. Also, did you know that in Brussels, they call Brussels sprouts, just sprouts?

10 Second Kitchen - Coconut Candy on Unicorn Island, Vietnam

 Watching the machines turn the coconut and sugar to make tasty coconut candy on Unicorn Island in Vietnam.

Blue Orchid Comics!

 Did you know that I'm writing and drawing a comic right now? It's called Blue Orchid and it's an awesome tale of a teenage South East Asian girl that fights lots of cool monsters.

You can pick each and every issue of Blue Orchid right now at bewarethecheese.com/blueorchid/ or on Amazon.

Not Sure About This Size Thing

In the last 10 years or so, there's been a trend about making very small versions of classic treats. By small I mean the perfect size to add to a trail mix. The kind of size that you could easily see it possible to buy these treats using a scoop. It seems like there's a trend to making treats where you can fit several in the palm of your hand. Now on paper, this is a completely fine idea, that may take some work, but should be pretty similar to the original. The problem is that the candy companies have to make some adjustments to ratios and ingredients to make these truly work, and often those adjustments don't make for a better tasting treat. For example, the chocolate on these Kit Kat Pops had to be adjusted so they wouldn't melt as easily, because they would stick together and also melt in your hands while you ate them. This adjustment did not favours to the classic Kit Kat flavour.

Check out the full review of these Kit Kat Pops, and find out exactly what went wrong.

Happy 4th of July!

 

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends out there!

Quick List - Best Treat From Each Continent

 Here's a quick list of the best candy from each and every continent.

Happy Canada Day!