{"id":8869,"date":"2019-01-18T07:42:07","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T23:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rearviewmirror.tv\/?p=8869"},"modified":"2023-01-17T13:41:56","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T05:41:56","slug":"brussels-food-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rearviewmirror.tv\/brussels-food-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Brussels Food Tour: Self-Guided vs Paid"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Brussels<\/a><\/p>\n

Walking back to the hipster Ixelles neighbourhood, I was surprised to see my little Fiat 500 parked in the centre of the main square.<\/p>\n

It was surprising considering I parked it elsewhere.<\/p>\n

I found it a little odd that someone stole my car but then parked it out in the open, in a pedestrian only area, where I would easily find it.<\/p>\n

Weird.<\/p>\n

I hopped in the car and found a note explaining the recent heavy rains had flooded the car park so they moved my car above ground to safety.<\/p>\n

How considerate of the council to save my car!<\/p>\n

The last time I was in Brussels, I had my car towed twice. The first time due to a flooded car park and the second time due to a flooded car park. The second time was more stressful as I had been away in London and when I returned the car was once again parked in the main square. But this time it had one of those massive yellow wheel clamps attached to it.<\/p>\n

There was no one around and I didn\u2019t know what to do so I walked miles away to the local police station. They tracked down the culprits, back at the car park. They were all very friendly about it and they only clamped it to be sure I would pay my parking ticket. I didn\u2019t get a fine or anything, they just wanted me to pay for the parking.<\/p>\n

I had a wonderful month long stay in Ixelles but they really should get that flooding problem fixed.<\/p>\n

Chocolate, Waffles and Fries<\/h2>\n

\"Grand<\/a><\/p>\n

The reason I spent so much time in Brussels was to decide if I might like to live there long-term (I don\u2019t) and to research the best locations for Belgium’s classic gourmet snacks; chocolate, waffles and fries.<\/p>\n

I started with PhD level research on where to find the best chips in Brussels followed by sampling as many artisan chocolates as possible. Unless I’m missing something, waffles are pretty standard everywhere so I didn’t have to do much with that. Overall, it was a tough month of eating. <\/p>\n

As an aside, Belgian fries are usually cooked in beef fat so vegetarians beware. Ask before you order as this might have changed since I was there last.<\/p>\n

Brussels Food Tour: Self-Guided vs Paid Tour<\/h2>\n

\"Grand<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve travelled much in the last few years, you might have noticed the huge growth in food tours as a way to explore a city and its food culture.<\/p>\n

Food tours are a great way to discover local specialties and artisanal food stores you might never come across on your own. You can be introduced to small restaurants and passionate food vendors away from the tourist traps prevalent in some popular destinations. It\u2019s a chance to experience classic dishes and snacks as well as emerging trends in the local scene. At the same time, you get to explore the city on foot with a knowledgeable guide.<\/p>\n

The downside of food tours are the cost, the time involved and the lack of choice in you what you get to eat.<\/p>\n

Food tours in Brussels start at \u20ac50 per person which is cheaper than in other cities but still quite an expense, especially if you are travelling in a group or as a family. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a bad price considering how much food is included in these tours but I do question tours which start at \u20ac70 or even higher. Think of how much food you can get for \u20ac70 if you pass up on the guided bit!<\/p>\n

Aside from the cost issue, look carefully at how long the tour takes before booking anything. If you get to sample 10 different dishes in 3 hours, that sounds like good value but you\u2019re probably going to end up being extremely full at the end. On the other hand, if you do a 5-hour food tour, which I did once before, it really starts to drag on. I personally do not want to spend the best part of a day walking around and eating with people I just met. It\u2019s best to find a balance between how long the tour is and how many stops are included.<\/p>\n

The last important point when taking a paid, guided food tour is the lack of choice in what you get to eat. If you\u2019re not fussy and don\u2019t have any dietary requirements, this won\u2019t be an issue for you. Vegetarians can usually be easily accommodated, just be sure to mention this before booking. But tours can be more difficult for vegans or if you have something like coeliac disease and must be on a strict gluten free diet. I would strongly suggest doing a self-guided tour in that case or just pick one or two cafes or restaurants who cater to your needs and maybe add on a stop at a gourmet market.<\/p>\n

\"Changing<\/a><\/p>\n

These potential downsides may or may not be issues for you but they can be overcome by creating your own food tour, a kind of DIY, self-guided food tour.<\/p>\n

A self-guided food tour has it\u2019s own pros and cons too. The biggest drawback is the lack of personalised tips and anecdotes shared by the guide and them pointing things out as you walk around. You also might not be able to get sample size dishes but this can be overcome if you\u2019re travelling with someone and don\u2019t mind sharing or by saving some for later.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, it comes down to how you want to spend your time and money, if you see value in a guide and meeting people or if you want more freedom and money to spend on the food you want to try.<\/p>\n

Book a Brussels Food Tour<\/h2>\n

If you want to book a Brussels food tour, these are the tours I recommend. You can book them online before you go with GetYourGuide, a well-known company based in Berlin.<\/p>\n