Food pairings with beer in Belgium for Foodies

It goes without saying that Café Vlissinghe can rely on a rich history, since the cafe celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2015. As soon as you start walking down along the canals from the city centre to this cafe, it seems like a time machine has beamed you into the past. We dare you to try the special fish soup, or the meatballs in beer sauce served over stoemp (mashed potatoes). On a warm day, the back garden is perfect for playing boardgames outside. Visiting Café Vlissinghe is the most delightful way to experience some couleur locale while having a (house) brew and a bite.

Even the finest restaurants in the world are usually oblivious to the incredible flavour diversity that beer has to offer, but this doesn’t hold true for beer-themed restaurant De Gebrande Winning. Chef Raf Sainte serves generous gastronomy wit a creative audacity (including some amazing surf and-turf combinations), pairing it with the treasure trove of bottles that are maturing in the restaurant’s cellar. You can quench your thirst with aged sours and decent Belgian ales, as well as with trendy craft beers from Sweden and the United States.

Before chef Broes Tavernier decided to open up his own restaurant and Eetalage deli, he was part of the glorious De Karmeliet★★★ team. The menu of ’t Vijfde Seizoen focusses on regionally sourced produce such as North Sea bycatch, farm-fresh vegetables, local cheeses and Belgian chocolates. The restaurant has a small and cosy terrace with a well-kept hidden garden, providing the perfect setting for the beer pairings they offer.

Belgian beer gastronomy definitely deserves a spot in the ranking of the world’s most memorable restaurant experiences. Heeren van Liedekercke proves this, having received the honour of being named the number-one best beer restaurant in the world. The rather traditional food served here meticulously holds the balance between comfort food and gourmet cuisine, with the accompanying beers being perfectly served. Their dessert menu is a real treat every time, featuring sabayons made with Rochefort, Westmalle or other beers, a signature cheese and even beer pralines.