Your next trip in Belgium? Food in Gent

Hello guys,

Today I just want to talk to you about a nice trip that I made not a long time ago, in the Belgian city of Gent, in the region called “Flanders”. Just a little point in case if you do not know anything about Belgium: Belgium is divided into two parts: the Walloon region and Flanders. Flanders is at the south of the country, and if you are a Walloon, it is quite a change of scenery, because Flanders is a wealthier region than the Walloon region, has had a past more historic or in any case less industrial than the Walloon region, and also because of the differences in language: the Flemish people speak in Dutch, while the Walloon people speak French. So, when I go there, I have had the impression of leaving my country for some vacation!

Gent is a quite important city the chief town of the East Flanders and counts more than 250 thousand inhabitants. Gent is crossed out by two streams: the Lys and the Escaut.

I am going to do two parts of this trip, the first will be about the discoveries that you can make there, and the other will be about the nice foods and drinks that you can also have there because we all know that food is life when going on a trip!

In this article, I am going to talk you about some specialties that we have the chance to discover in Gent!

#1 The “jenever”

The jenever is a well-known beverage in all Belgium, but it is in Gent that the jenever was created. I enjoyed it while visiting the Slaughter, an old building where all the meat was sold in the Middle Ages and in the Modern Times, to have a better control on the prices and on the quality of the products. It is a very strong alcohol (above 40 percents), and it is declined in a few brands: some have a fruity flavor (like the Filliers, very popular, that tastes like apple), while some others have just no taste at all (besides the taste of strong alcohol of course). You can drink it mixed with fruit juice or with more creamy softs. There is also a “jenever festival” in Hasselt in October.

#2 RoomeR

Yet again, an alcohol! The RoomeR is a light alcohol (only 15 percents), that tastes elderflower, and that has also some little elderflowers in it! It is very good and quite original. Perfect for an aperitif in the sun! It is originally distilled in Gent, and it is not very known in Gent, and the waiters will not propose it to you directly. I recommend it to people who do not like to drink too strong alcohol (like jenever), and for people who like the sugar taste.

#3 The stoemp at Balls ‘n Glory

I don’t think that this is a specialty from Gent, but it is quite famous in Flanders. It is a meal composed of mashed potatoes mixed with a vegetable, frequently carrots and peas. It is a kind of a grandma receipt I think! And there is in Gent a “Balls and Glory” restaurant that has “created” a new concept: put stuffed meatballs on the top of a little mountain of stoemp. You have a quite variety of choices for your ball: different types of meat, different types of fillings. And also, huge advantage: the water is completely free! There are a few restaurants like this in Belgium: in Antwerpen, in Brussels,… (mostly in Flanders).

#4 The cookie dough bar

This pop-up store called “dough_it” was opened during March and the beginning of April, but unluckily it is closed now. It has had quite a success during its opening, and to have tested it, it was really worth it! I don’t think this concept is new in the United States but in Belgium, I think it was the first one! There were different types of flavour for the dough (with Oreo, speculoos – another Belgian specialty-, chocolate) and different types of toppings: m&m’s, sweets, marshmallows,…

There are so many places where you can eat in Gent that you can always find your pleasure. I followed the recommendations of our Airbnb host, who has made a great list, divided between “for party beasts”, “for students”,… And It has given us a good view of what was available in Gent. But by staying only 3 days, you do not have the luck to give a try to all the places! So it is just a short list of what is I tried, but if you are a food addict, don’t worry, there are a huge number of restaurants, snacks,… in Gent! I also think that by looking on Instagram, you can find a lot of “restaurants-to-be” and all also other unusual places.