Gastronomy in Belgium

Belgian cuisine is renowned and there are many prestigious and highly-ranked restaurants in Belgium. Belgian chocolate and beer are particularly famous and widely sold.

Belgian food is closely linked to French cuisine but some recipes are reputed to have originated here. French fries; Vlaamse stoofkarbonnaden aka carbonnades flamandes (a beef stew with beer, mustard and laurel); Paling In 't Groen (river eels in a sauce of green herbs); Waterzooi (a broth made with chicken or fish, cream and vegetables); Brussels sprouts; Speculaas (a sort of cookie); and Belgian waffles are some of the legendary recipes of Belgium. The national food is steak (or mussels) with French fries and lettuce.

There are over 500 varieties of beer and Belgium houses the biggest brewery in the world, Inbev. One of the legendary beers is Trappist beer, traditionally made by Trappist monks. Each abbey's beer is served in its own glass and only seven breweries (six of these are Belgian) are allowed to brew Trappist beer.