Thai Festival in Brussels!!

The mouth-watering aroma of thai food was lingering in the air when we came out of the metro station. The crowd was hurrying to savour the colours of thai culture at Place Dumon, the venue of the thai festival of Brussels.

This festival, organized by the Royal Thai Embassy of Belgium, showcased everything thai - arts, dances, sports and more importantly food.

The crowd was mesmerized by the variety of food prepared by the thai restaurants in and around Brussels. There was a queue at every counter with people busily experimenting the many thai dishes. I started my gastronomic journey with a plate of assorted thai appetizers. There were meat balls, small chicken grills, prawns and other delicacies. Then, I moved on to fluffy rice and green chicken curry. Green chicken curry, a thai speciality, is an infusion of chicken chunks in fresh herbs, coconut milk and aromatic spices.

Graceful thai dancers performed on the stage while the crowd enjoyed the food. Thai handicrafts, carved vegetables and painted umbrellas were on display much to the delight of the crowd.

Thai massage was also a popular option at this festival. It was soothing to watch trained personnel from thai parlors massage those who wished to relax.

The entire event was an enticing exhibition of everything Thailand has to offer visitors.

Delightful Bites - The Spanish Tapas Experience

All good things in life come in small packets...at least that is what I can say about my tapas experience.

Tapas is a variety of appetizers in Spanish cuisine. It may be a medley of vegetables with olives and cheese or even consist of non-vegetarian exotics like octopus, squid and mussels.

Frank is very familiar with the tapas experience. He enticed me into trying a tapas restaurant for dinner one friday.

The restaurant we went to is called Le Bar A Tapas. This restaurant has a queer look with dim lights and antique furniture.

This place certainly resembled a meat eaters paradise. The entire place was decorated with cured (dried, smoked) meat chunks in varying shapes and sizes.

The menu was full of non-vegetarian choices. I looked puzzled when Frank ordered so many tapas for us.

Tapas is an appetizer and is served in little mud pots. The portions are very limited. We need to eat a combination of tapas to form a full meal.

Within minutes, there was an array of mud pots on our table. There was liver cooked in red wine, fried silver fish, ribs, chicken in honey sauce, spicy chicken wings and mussels cooked in garlic.

I loved the chicken liver cooked in red wine. It tasted so rich and full of flavour. The silverfish (tiny fish with silver lines) added a crunchy touch to the meal. The ribs and chicken wings were something to chew on while we conversed. The chicken in the honey sauce tricked the tempted palate with contrasting tastes.

My favorite tapas was mussels in garlic. The half open mussels with the chunk of meat in the center was an absolute treat.

I enjoyed the tapas experience that evening. It was a meal full of little surprises in different colors and flavors.

I am clamoring for more mussels and tapas each day much to the dislike of my irritated husband who introduced me to this unique cuisine. For the time being, I just can't wait to have my next round of tapas.

Of Moules Frites, Escargots and Waffles!!

Belgium is known for moules-frites (a popular combination of mussels and fries), escargots (garden snails) and waffles. These dishes are served in elite restaurants as well as in street corners.

I tried some of these national favorites a few weeks ago during one of our random wanderings. We ordered moules-frites from a tavern near the grand place (city center).

A pot of steaming mussels and a plate of fries were soon placed on the table. The sight of half open mussels in a huge pot disgusted me at first. I just didn't want to open the shells and eat the morsel of meat.

I was tempted by the aroma of mussels cooked with garlic and leeks in dollops of butter. I decided to try a few mussels.

I can still feel the taste of the first mussel I tried. It was moist and packed with flavor. The broth was even more savoury. I couldn't resist finishing the pot and sipping the warm broth.


Escargots or garden snails are eaten as appetizers by the Belgians. We found an old couple selling escargots soup in a crowded street near the mannekin pis, the popular statue near the city center.

I did not try the snail soup. I could not even consider eating slimy garden snails.

This was not a problem for adventurous Frank. He had the snail soup and proclaimed that it tasted just the same as mussels.


Waffles are another Belgian gastronomical speciality. Hot waffles are sold at corner shops and food stalls in Brussels.

I like having the Liege waffles topped with strawberries and cream once in a while. It melts in the mouth and tastes simply divine. Waffles, chocolates and pastries are some of the sweet pleasures of Belgian cuisine.