OUR PANEL ANSWERS YOUR CULINARY QUESTIONS, INCLUDING WHICH FOOD TOURS TO BOOK IN BRUSSELS AND HOW TO MAKE OCTOPUS SALAD
TH EEXPERTS
Which food tours should I book in Brussels?
Femke Vandevelde: A guided tour is the best way to experience the Belgian capital’s dynamic food scene. Hungry Mary’s (hungrymary.com) 4.5-hour Beer & Chocolate Tour is a great introduction. You’ll learn about the city’s rich history as you duck into cosy taverns and legendary chocolatiers, sampling more than 20 local specialities along the way, from beer and chocolate to fries, cheese and cured meats.
Alternatively, you could book a tailor-made tour by Ket-Toeren (ket-toeren.be). Its expert guides will walk you to Rue des Bouchers — named after the butchers who operated here and now home to an array of bars and restaurants — the Italian area, Chinatown and the fish market. Check out local produce such as boudin sausages, mussels and snails.
For a taste of Brussels’ coffee scene, join a Discover & Taste tour by OK Coffee (okcoffee.tips).
Under expert guidance, you’ll visit four or five artisanal cafes to try a range of coffees, learning about different recipes and roasting styles.
If you’re exploring solo, visit the city’s food markets. A must-see is the central Wolf Sharing Food Market, home to about 20 vendors from around the world, including Gaufres & Waffles (gaufresandwaffles.be), which serves gourmet takes on the Belgian waffle, while Hànoi Station (hanoistation.be) offers a taste of North Vietnam.
I’m going to Riga — where are the best places to try Riga Black Balsam?
Karlina Valeiko: One of the world’s oldest bitters, Riga Black Balsam is a herbal liqueur with a history stretching back to 1752. Its popularity in Latvia is largely down to its versatility: it can be enjoyed neat, with a mixer, on the rocks or warmed up.
Start with a visit to Black Magic (blackmagic.lv) in Riga’s scenic old town. This basement bar pairs Riga Black Balsam cocktails and coffees with decadent chocolates and cakes. There’s also a presentation that whisks you back in time to the apothecary of Abraham Kunze, Balsam’s creator.
A short walk from here is B Bārs (bbars.lv), which has a menu comprising a whole Balsam cocktail section. Clavis Riga — with rhubarb liquor, white chocolate syrup, pomegranate syrup and apple juice — is a favourite, and the hot cocktails are worth a try.
Wrap up the night at Skyline Bar (skylinebar.lv), on the 26th floor of the Radisson Blu Latvija. The heart-stirring city views here are best enjo
