So, in honor of the close of the Spring Classics, let's take one last look at Belgique. Belgium is known for several things- beer, chocolate, mussels, frites (fries), waffles, and Eddy Merckx.
Those who are beer connoisseurs know that Belgium has been producing some of finest brews in the world for quite some time. Currently, there are about 178 breweries in a country about the size of the State of Maryland. That is a lot of beer, folks. Specifically, Belgium is home to six of the seven (yes, there's only seven) official Trappist breweries. What is a Trappist brewery? Trappist breweries are actually monasteries run by Trappist monks. One of the characteristics of the Trappist order is that they support themselves by the goods they produce, their most famous being the beer. They also make bread, cheese, other food products, and clothing. Some even make coffins. The seven monasteries that produce beer that is sold to the public are: Chimay, Orval, Westmalle, Rochefort, Achel, La Trappe, and Westvleteren. The only one not located in Belgium is La Trappe, which is in the Netherlands. Unlike other beers, the designation of being Trappist doesn't refer to the style, but instead where it is produced- a Trappist Monastery. The seven breweries' products have different flavors and styles, some are blondes, some brunes, some are dubbels, others are tripels. However, they all follow the same rules:
- The beer must be made in the monastery itself by the monks themselves or under their direct supervision.
- The brewery cannot supersede the original function of the monastery, becoming the monks' top priority.
- The proceeds of the sales must be used only towards operation costs of the monastery. Any surplus must be donated to charity.
- The production must meet high quality standards and it must be under constant supervision to maintain that quality.
Of course, the Trappists aren't the only monks that make beer and those beers are called Abbey ales. Although, Abbey ales don't have to be made by monks at all and might just refer to the fact they are made in the same style or even just because they have a picture of a jolly friar on the label.
Other types of beers made in Belgium include: Amber ales, blondes, brunes (brown), champagne, dubbels, Flemish reds, IPAs, lambics, oud buins, pilsners, saisons, scotch ales, stouts, strong ales, tripels, wheat beers, winter brews, and low alcohol content beers. Each one has a specific type of glass in which it is supposed to be served. Some of them are rather unique.
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| You'll need to share this structure with a few friends. |
Belgian chocolate is considered, by many, to be the finest in the world. Unlike many chocolate companies, Belgian companies still make their chocolate by hand on original equipment. Chocolate production is actually regulated by law, guaranteeing its high quality. The most well known chocolate companies are Côte d'Or, Guylian, Neuhaus, Leonidas, Corné, and Galler. The famous Godiva company was founded in Belgium as well. Belgian pralines are probably the most well know Belgian chocolates. Unlike other types of pralines, the Belgian version consists of a hard chocolate shell surrounding a soft or liquid filling. They're usually shaped like sea shells. Many chocolatiers and small shops are open to the public where visitors can try some chocolate and watch a chocolatier at work.
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| www.chocolate-history.com.uk |
Another popular food item in Belgium are the mussels, usually served with herbs and in a broth made with butter and white wine. The mussel season in Belgium is from September to February, but you can get imports year round. The classic dish is the big pot of mussels and a side of frites, or as we know them, french fries. You will see this dish on the menu as Moules-Frites.
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| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moules_Frites.jpg |
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| These hilarious fellow will often be found standing at the doorway of a friterie. |
French fries, of course, aren't French at all, but Belgian too. The "French" in the name refers to the cut of the potatoes. Frites are served with many things besides mussels, and they are the national snack. You can purchase a paper cone of frites at roadside takeaway stands called friteries. The frites are usually topped topped with a variety of sauces, usually with a mayonnaise base.
Now, we've already covered Belgium's other famous edible snack the waffle so I won't get into that again. But, if you happen to spend some time in Belgium pay attention to the types of waffles you come across. Some will be the well known Brussels version and others will be the denser, sugary Liege version. You can also buy prepackaged waffles in the grocery store for a sweet snack. May I suggest combining that waffle variety with one of Benelux's hidden treasures, Speculoos (Biscoff) paste.
Last but not least, a little about another famous Belgian export- Eddy Merckx.
Maybe it was the beer, the waffles, chocolate, mussels and frites or a supposed heart condition that made Eddy the greatest, but many agree that he still remains the cream of the crop. Why is he the greatest? Because of his record.
Tour de France
- Five General Classification wins (1969-71, 1972, 1974)
- Three Points Jerseys ('69, '71, '72)
- Two Mountain Jerseys ('69, '70)
- Four combativity prizes ('69, '70, '74, '75)
- Five combination classifications ('69, '70, '71, '72, '74)
- 34 Individual stage wins (1969-1975)
Giro d'Italia
- Five General Classification wins ('68, '70, '72, '73, '74)
- Two points classifications ('68, '73)
- One mountain classification ('68)
- 24 individual stage wins (1968-1974)
Vuelta a Espana
- General classification ('73)
- Points classification ('73)
- Combination classification ('73)
- 6 individual stages ('73)
Paris-Nice
- General classification (1969-1971)
Tour de Suisse
- General Classification (1974)
Road World Championships ('67, '71, '74)
Belgian Road Championships (1970)
Milan - San Remo ('66, '67, '69, '71, '72, '75, '76)
Ronde van Vlaanderen ('69, '75)
Paris-Roubaix ('68, '70, '73)
Liege-Bastogne-Liege ('69, '71, '72, '73, '75)
Giro di Lombardia ('71, '72)
Super Prestige Pernod International (1969-1975)
He also set the road hour record in 1972, covering 49.431km, which was eventually broken in 1984. He currently holds several impressive records including but not limited to: most career victories by a professional, most victories in one season, most stage wins in the Tour de France, most days in the Tour de France yellow jersey, most victories in Milan-San Remo, most Grand Tour victories. He is the only cyclist to have won the general classification, points classification, and mountains classification in the same Tour de France (1969). The list goes on and doesn't even cover his track achievements.
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| www.cyclinghalloffame.com |
He's by far the most accomplished cyclist the sport has ever seen and will probably see for quite some time. So, yes, he is the greatest. Many other successful cyclists learned how to ride on the streets of their Belgian neighborhoods. Tom Boonen, the rider who currently has the highest UCI Tour ranking, is Belgian. The country which can claim the most general classification wins after France is Belgium. Belgium also holds the record for most points classification jerseys at 19. They sit fourth in most Mountain classification wins.
Of course food and cycling isn't all that Belgium offers. It is also the headquarters of the European Union and hosts NATO. Some of the greatest painters, architects, writers, and musicians called Belgium home.
While it often gets skipped over on the tourist list in favor its neighbors and is one of the smaller countries on the continent, Belgium has much to offer. We also have quite a bit to thank it for.
So, as you can see, it's worth a visit or two, even after Classics season has ended.
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