Travel Tuesday: Belgium, a Tour of Brussels & 5 BVF Favs to do

Belgium is a BVF Fav! Brussels is a vibrant, eclectic, and exciting city. As the capital of the European Union, the city is filled with nationals from throughout Europe. Sitting at a cafe nearby the EU headquarters and listening to the chatter from patrons, one can easily feel they are in multiple countries at once. 

Although we traveled to Belgium on separate occasions, we have wonderful memories from our visits!  Mon's friend Mike has lived in Belgium for a few years and has embraced the beautiful city as his second home. He participated in a team building retreat for works and each team had to blindly taste chocolates and identify which chocolatier made them. Yummmmy!! 

Prior to Mike's fam visiting Brussels, he created a simple and enjoyable tour that covers a mix of food, culture, and history. Mike shared his custom tour and we hope you get the opportunity to try! 

See Mike's walking tour at the end of this post.

It's always wonderful catching up with friends and extra special when it's far away from home. Mike and Monica toured the city and had a delightful dinner at Nuetnigenough. The ambiance and food were equally amazing.

Fast forward a few months later and it was Di's first visit to Brussels. The trip was even more meaningful with her dad and brother (extra bonus, Di was an expectant mum at the time). They also enjoyed a delicious meal at Nuetnigenough. Delicious!!

We love going to places recommended by locals and sharing fab places with others. 

BVF's Top 5 Favs in Brussels

Mike's Mapped Walking Tour 

Nuetnigenough Restaurant
Bakeries 

Elisabeth Chocolatier 

Brussels Mainsquare

Bon Voyage! 

Mike's Mapped Walking Tour 

Paris Restaurant, it's Ćest Magnifque!!!

It's amazing how food experiences can connect us to fond memories. Think back to your childhood and a specialty your grandmother made, that you wish you could still have today, since it brings back happy times. Or, the best dessert you ever had while on holiday and so on. 

A BVF favourite in Paris is the Relais 
de l'Entrecôte (RE) located at  20 rue, St. Benoit. It's a fab restaurant and its right near Café de Flore, where Ernest Hemingway would frequent. Love the history!  

Diana and her dad discovered this restaurant while on holiday with her brother a few years ago. 

Last year, during our adventures in Paris, we enjoyed a wonderful time at RE!! We sat next to a Parisian woman, accompanied by her husband. She was wearing a fur coat and had a tiny dog next to her, too cute!!! 

There is no dinner menu, you read that correctly. Once seated, you are asked how you would like your steak prepared. Then you receive a delicious plate of salad lightly tossed in dijon dressing and topped with walnuts, plus crispy bread-of course!! 

What makes RE really unique is something we've never experience elsewhere. No wonder a line forms outside for dinner!! So, what makes this place so different, aside from not having a dinner menu? Half of your steak is served to you with endless pomme frites, while the remainder is placed on a tray, which is kept warm above a set of burning candles. The steak has an amazing buttery and lightly seasoned sauce, a delicious accompaniment to the pomme frites. 

If you desire a simple yet exquisite French dining experience, add this to your 'must try' list. If your heart desires, end the evening with a delicious dessert-they have a lovely selection of sweets to choose from. 

Bon Appétit!!!