Antwerp, Belgium: A Dining Traveler Guide
Antwerp
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Belgium
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Culinary Travel
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food
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foodie
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travel tips
By Europe Contributor, Maria Lucena Gomez. Maria is a dear friend and fellow foodie who lives in Belgium. We bonded in Brussels through our love of food and travel. She's a Venezuelan lawyer who has been living in Belgium for almost 15 years and working for an American multinational that takes her to the heartland quite often.
When Jessica asked if I wanted to be a guest writer for her blog I was thrilled. I do not have a blog but I do share her endless passion for travel, culture, food, and writing. I hesitated about the topic: should I do a Gourmet review? Street food? Foodie stores? As a good Foodie Libran, decision making is not my strength so I wrote about a combination of all of these and I chose one of my favorites cities in the world: Antwerp.
Most tourists while in Europe will easily gravitate towards the authentic charms of Rome, the class and sophistication of Paris, the lively hipness of Barcelona or the cosmopolitan airs of London so I am on a personal quest to let everyone know about a city often missed in Euro tours: Antwerp. It’s a gem in my little adopted country, Belgium. One of my absolute fun Saturday routines includes spending a day in Antwerp or as I call it, my mini NYC. It is the fashion capital of Belgium with its combination of architecture, art galleries, and the vibe of the Saturday market. Antwerp is young, hip, cool and multicultural.
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Pictured: The amazing city photographs and pretty
candles sold at Jeff, my favorite
affordable luxury concept store (Volkstraat
9, 2000, Antwerpen)
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Walk through the South (Het Zuid), feel the breeze of the Schelde River and visit the Castle (Het Steen – Steenplein 1, 2000 Antwerpen) for a little bit of history. When you are hungry, go for one of the below, you will not be disappointed!
Where to eat in Antwerpen:
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| At Vis Bistro Mojo |
A gift of the sea: “vispannetje” (fish & seafood stew with yummy tiny North sea shrimps) at De Markt. You can shop at the market during the early hours then end up having a wonderful lunch at their terrace.
A classic “Stoofvlees” (beef & beer stew with hand peeled Belgian fries) at Home Brewery ‘T Pakhuis (Vlaamsekaai 76, 2000 Antwerpen). This dish is best eaten on a typical Belgian rainy wintery night!
Edgy: This is certainly the prettiest hamburger I have ever eaten and it was oh so tasty! Te Kook (Vrijdagmarkt 7, 2000 Antwerpen) is a very innovative restaurant of French and Belgian cuisine with a modern twist. Pricey but absolutely worth it! Honest and innovative Matty (Brederodestraat 23, 2000 Antwerpen) and his wife Katrien offer light, creative 5 star cuisine at affordable prices. My favorite dish is the parmesan and fresh truffle risotto. To die for.
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| Josephine's Antwerp |
On a budget: 100 grams of garlicky black olives, a tiny pot of fresh humous, a couple of slices of freshly sliced Belgian ham and a warm Moroccan bread at one of the amazing market stalls at the Exotische Markt (Oudevaartplaats, Theatherplein en omgeving) on Saturdays from 07h00 until 15h00). This will cost you 7 Euro and if it is sunny I guarantee you an amazing meal and people watching!
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| The Jane, Antwerp |
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| Maria with Chef Sergio Hermann |
Drink: Have a cold Kwak beer at Pelgrom (Pelgrimstraat 15, 2000 Antwerpen). This middle age cellar is utterly amazing and off the beaten path. Go there for a romantic drink or for a fun beer night with friends! Ideal for after-dinner drinks is Het Elfde Gebod ("The eleventh commandment") (Torfbrug 10, 2000 Antwerpen). The religious décor of this bar is breathtaking and peaceful. Indulge with more specialty beers or their tasty fruit-flavored Jenevers.
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| At Comptoir |
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| Maria and I celebrating in Brussels, 2011 |
What's your favorite city in Belgium?
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