Sweet spots worth the sin in Belgium for Foodies

Euphrasie Mbamba is at the forefront of a new generation of talented chocolatiers. Her chocolate brand – Sigoji – is inspired both by the Belgian culture and the raw materials from her native Cameroon. Visitors of her Ciney atelier and luxury boutique can witness on-site how the cacao nibs are turned into delicious treats. The chocolatière has said that she puts all her emotions into her 100% dark chocolate pralines, which have a distinctive fruity but exquisite taste. Just try not to drool.

Before you enter this cosy shop on Kraanlei in Ghent, take a look at the baroque façade from the 17th century. Six works of mercy are incorporated into the decoration. Confiserie Temmerman cheerfully claims to perform another work of mercy by making life sweeter. The shop originally started by selling gingerbread, but now you can find all kinds of old- fashioned sweets – like wippers, muilentrekkers and vuile taloren – as well as Ghent’s best known candy, the cuberdons, made of gum arabic and raspberry juice. Stock up here!

If you’ve only got the time (or the caloric allowance) for one chocolate destination, then make it the shop where it all began for master chocolatier Pierre Marcolini. Not only is he a purveyor to the Belgian court but, in following the bean-to-bar principle, he travels the world in search of the rarest cocoa beans. Our personal favourite praline is the praliné à l’ancienne. Marcolini’s interesting collaborations with designers and his themed collections (during the holiday season or for Valentine’s) are always highly anticipated.

We would move into Gelateria Da Vinci and sleep on the floor, if that meant we could have gelato here every day. All of their flavours are pure and homemade. The variety on offer is insane – vegan ice cream is available! – and the owners are always on the lookout for new and refreshing flavours. Their hospitality is above and beyond today’s standards, with smiling staff who let you taste several flavours before making a choice. Just be brave enough to conquer the queue.

De Bomma means grandmother, and its name gives away what kind of food you will eat here: nothing fancy, but decent classics with a touch of nostalgia, like tomato soup and comforting stews. For dessert, definitely try the homemade Belgian rijstpap (rice pudding) with sugar, which is served with a golden spoon (as it should be!) and tastes heavenly. Some sound advice: never refuse a second helping from a generous Bomma.

This authentic pancake house is perfectly located next to the fort of Eben-Emael, which is one of the main attractions in this part of Belgium. Have lunch here and try their filling farmer’s pancakes – which are also served without gluten or lactose. The interior of Moulin Loverix is great, and the superb setting gets even better for those who are clever enough to book a table with a view of the nearby River Jeker.