So the new site layout is nearly done, whaddoyathink? I really like the full width feature box which runs across the new homepage, it lets me post bigger pictures. Woo hoo. Mad kudos to the designer Tim Gieseking. If you have some feedback (both good and especially bad) please send them in. This’ll be a short one, as I sort out the technical side of things, normal London reviews will resume on Monday. In the meantime, some pictures from a recent trip to Brussels.

The warming broth was seeped in deep flavour. The bouncy seasnails were a great snack as we walked around the city. The snail seller was positioned in front of the ‘Manneken Pis’ statue.

Here’s a money shot in the heart of Brussels. Very picturesque city, no?

Toward the bottom right the image (cut-off) is the fountain of the ‘Manneken Pis’, which means Little man pissing. This is one of Brussels more famous landmarks. There are several myths surrounding it; the one we heard was of a little boy putting out a fire (which could have burned down the city) with nothing but his piss. Potent stuff.

If you go to Brussels (and you love seafood), you must visit this place. I don’t know where it is on the map (google it), we basically turned a corner and stumbled into this. There are no seats, people just stand around, order whatever is on the board and just eat. I suppose it’s a seafood & champagne bar of sorts. Very cool. It didn’t look like the usual tourist trap as lots of locals were eating there, very friendly chaps I might add. We were struggling with the Dutch menu, ‘Vis-soup’ … fish soup …? A guy turned around and said ‘Yes! That’s right, great soup.’ and he chatted to us about where the locals go for proper food in Brussels and also beyond, this place being one of them.

The fish soup was cracking. Chunky bits of fish, large shrimps and deep seafood flavours. The rye-bread was served with a sort of soured mayo and grated cheese that went really well with the soup.

Very simple stuff and well marinated. The prawns were plump and juicy.

It was advertised as scampi, but these were more like mini battered fillets. It was fantastic, flaky yet buttery, the batter crisp yet flavoursome, and it was not too oily either. I hate to say this but it would put alot of chippies in the UK to shame.

Finally, here’s a shot of the guy on the hob. They ran out of what looks like tuna when we got there. It smelled so good…..

Have a smasher of a weekend and don’t forget to eat well folks. See you Monday.

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The spoils from my recent travels continue to pile on, and this time I have returned from Brugge looking much rounder and feeling much richer – chocolately speaking. I hope you chocolate lovers out there will enjoy this post.

I’ll start with the best ones which we’ve tried from the town made famous by their chocolates, diamonds and Colin Farrell. This was bought from The Chocolate Crown , its officially No.47 on their website chart of chocolates titled ‘Cerise likeur’. The cherry liquor was a viscous liquid that oozed out as you took a bite out of the chocolate shell which hid a dried cherry heart, reduced to its essence. Decadence epitomised, this was such a dream…

With so many boxes to choose from, you really didn’t know what you were going to get, Life suddenly went from being interesting to exciting.

I didnt realise I bought so many boxes until I arrived back in the UK, and I had sampled so many while I was there, so much so that it was a little scary. On the whole, no matter who I bought from be it a posh looking brand or a smaller, obscure looking shop (and there were many chocolate shops in Brugge, far too many to be countable) all exhibited a characteristic creaminess, buttery, you know just very pleasing to eat, oh and they tasted fresh. Prices varied, the cheaper ones could be had for 6 euros/250g (about 20 pieces) and the more expensive ones went for about 14 euros.

The very first chocolatier we bought from was Stephan Dumon. We had stopped in the shop for hot chocolate – made from melting their creamy smooth brown gems of course. I bought the 500g box, unknowingly giving into the slick marketing vehicle behind the brand, it set me back 14 euros, and the box contained about 46 pieces, almost one for each from their 50-odd selection. I still haven’t tried it all yet (if at all humanly possible to do so) but the ones I have tried were mostly mild.

One particular box which I very nearly devoured completely was from Corne Port Royal. Their liquor ones were the most interesting with sugared shell made strong enough to hold a runny liquor core (ranging from port to cognac) , and which you had to suck on to stop it from dripping out. I actually really love white chocolate, and the one pictured is called the ‘Valerie’ which is a white chocolate smothered crispy gianduja. Another from this selection – the ‘Truffe Glacee’ is also a winner. It is a ‘Candised gianduja with butter’ and it was somewhere in between a chocolate flavoured meringue and buttercream. The chocolate is dusted with fine sugar particles on the surface, very regal stuff. This also fell in the top of the price range and I think it was aroud 10 euros for a 250g box, though I could be wrong.

Finally I leave you with a picture of one of the last chocolatiers we visited at the of our day trip in Brugge – Marie de Brugge. It was nearly 5pm and they were within minutes of shutting, and I thought oh what the hey. Sheltered in an unassuming white brick building, the tiny windows only managed to shine scarce rays of light into the shop. Even though they were closing, the shopkeeper was gracefully patient as he took the time to explain the creations and helped me put together my box of chocolates. Pictured is what I believe to be a gianduja in a dark chocolate cup, with a white chocolate chip on top. The chocolate is sitting on top of a reflective separation card from the box and it is shot against natural window light with the green backdrop from my back garden.

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Lobster is in season at Belgo once again. After reading up on a couple of recent blogger visits (here and here), I couldn’t resist the tempation and had to indulge in the Lobsterfest.

Eating in the dark

Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy dining in near complete darkness, but the photographer in me breaks a sigh every time I go into yet another underground cavern of sorts. It gets just that much trickier to get ‘the shot’.

I try nonetheless.

One part of me thinks that writing up on Belgo is superflous. As far as I know, most of you have experienced the Belgian franchise one way or the other, afterall, they are one of the prime agents popularising moules & frites. Thai green curry flavour for me (all the way) and mayonnaise with those frites please. If for some reason, you haven’t been, then there is no better time to try it than now, because Lobsterfest is back on the menu! Running all throughout June, it is Belgo’s ultimate celebration of the crusty creature, and how can one not be part of it, right?

Bisque

My brother – who is positively lobstermad – joined me for this visit, and we were looking forward to tucking away gigantic monsters from the deep, and we weren’t afraid to get our mits dirty to do it.

He opted to start with the lobster bisque (£4.95) which was a little on the thin side for me. Generous tipples of cream, however I was looking more for body and richness rather than just dairy. Perhaps they didn’t distil enough juices to make the soup. Merely ordinary.

I steered clear of the lobster overdose and went for a more traditional offering of smooth chicken liver pate with beer & pear chutney and toasted brioche (£5.50). Yeah not bad, it was pretty smooth, the beer & pear chutney was delightful, abit of acid, a dose of citrus and dash of jamminess.

Not forgetting one of the highlights of the Belgo experience, is the sheer embarrassment of Belgian beer goodness. Anything from Whitbeer, to trappist, blondes, dark blondes, fruit beer, honey beer and so goes the list. A pint ain’t cheap (£4 to £5) but it is good.

I’m a lightweight, so I opted for a half pint (yes, I drink half pints…. sometimes.). Here’s some beer trivia: Mort Sobite (Sudden Death) is a beerhouse in Brussels that brews its own inhouse. Interestingly enough, I actually visited that beerhouse a few years ago while on holiday in Brussels. My knowledge of beer is murky at best, but I do recall having a sort of sour beer when I was there.

Tiny tots.

Whizzing through the menu, it all seems rather affordable. £8 for half a lobster, £17 for a whole. I am slightly perturbed with it being just 1lb. We grew up by the sea, so our impression of a proper lobsterfest is a little distorted and we are used to feasting on proper beasts, at least 1.5kgs of proper shell fish… 1lb? What is that, like 500grams? Hmm…

…. It wasn’t too bad when it eventually landed on our table. My brother ordered a whole lobster, it looked a muscular little fella. Brawny on the outside, but scrawny on the inside. Could the recession have spread to the oceans? Bad joke, my brother finished him off in under three minutes, lobster tail? More like lobster whiskers. Apart from size, it tasted a tad on the mushy side. It was nicely cooked and well garnished with a kind of pepper and cheese concoction (I couldn’t really tell), but it wasn’t as fleshy as I’d imagine it would be, it tasted dead as opposed to being fresh.

Maybe its just me, but the lobster was so tiny, it was almost like having a 2nd starter and left one feeling unfulfilled.

Going on the tip from Helen at Food Stories, I opted for the lobster salad. This tasted much better with a juicy salad that carried a tinge of natural sweetness from the lobster. Mwah. That’s the fresh zing I was looking for. The only thing missing from this, is a luxuriously warm and heavenly soft brioche-bun – buttered – to match the delightfully tasty creature from the deep. You thinking what I’m thinking? I’m thinking lobster roll.

I had to work with baguette that was fast becoming stale, and the butter was stonecold. Still, this was a joy; portions were measly, and for 2x£17, it didn’t feel like we had £34 worth of lobsters.

Lobster/Fail/?

Um, a mini fail.

But lets not be under any illusions: Belgo is still a great place for all kinds of reasons, and it is still one of the better places to go to satisfy mussels cravings. The lobster feasting was not a total train wreck – it was still a whole lobster, afterall. The kitchen would have had to try very hard to make a mess of lobster. I was a little let down because I approached this visit thinking it was going to either be an overload, or a cheap trip. It was neither as our bill came to £60 for two, a tad expensive for minute portions.

Having said that, if you need to satisfy your shellfish cravings, I would suggest starting with half a pot of mussels (£5.95) and go with half a grilled lobster (£8.50) or the lobster salad (£16.95) and make sure you ask for heartily warm buttered bread to go with it.

The Gist of It.

Belgo Centraal Official Site
50 Earlham Street WC2H 9LJ
0207 813 2233
£30pp for two courses and a blonde
Verdict: You cant go too far wrong with lobster; portions left us wanting more. Belgo still as lively as ever, I would go for mussels and frites; and maybe the beer braised beef stew.

Ok over to you. Did you partake in the recent celebration of the beloved crustacean? What are you views on the Belgo franchise?

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