Belgium, Brussels - a guide for the sweet tooth

HT couple visited a friend who will be living in Brussels for 18 months for work!  Imagine being surrounded by life's greatest...chocolates here, beers there and more chocolates on that side and beers this side!  It's almost a few steps away to heaven. :)  Though she's not fond of chocolates (bummer), but beers are to her liking (belgium is not bad for her after all :D)

HT couple loves chocolates.  It's not our routine to have desserts everyday but a piece of chocolate everyday is a must!  There were a few times that we just can't sleep as we didn't had our chocolate dosage.  And for a couple having the same passion for chocola (dutch), that can mean war.  Luckily, we have our own preferences, HT hubbie is into milk chocolates and i'm into the dark ones.  So, all is fair in love and chocolates. :D

Brussels isn't my favorite place (as what my friends said, i should go there on days when I seem not to appreciate The Netherlands :D ) except for the chocolate shops every corner.  I have my favorites, of course...

Pierre Marcolini 

4 years ago, i first landed in this shop in Sablon area at the center of Brussels (so expect that it is a tourist trap).  Acclaimed to be the world's best chocolate, it wouldn't hurt to try once.  I got their sampler box (i think about 30 pcs for 'effin 20 euros) which my wallet didn't like the price tag but tastebuds came knocking on the door not to bother about the numbers.  I can still remember, that their pralines were nice but what i can't  forget are the grand cru's thus, this 2011, PM chocolates and I got reunited.  But this time ( i settled down with Saveurs du Monde- 16 pcs for 12 euros).  I just prefer my chocolates, simple with that good cocoa kick and no flavors added.  Equateur is my favorite.

I'll be honest that I forgot to consider HT hubbie's milk chocolate preference (oopsie), thus i have to get this superman's kryptonite-looking chocolate which name has "tiramisu" in it out of guilt for being a selfish chocolate addict.

It was difficult to resist....

It's made of cream ganache covered with nougatine and mild dark chocolate.  Harmoniously done, each ingredients went well together but for 3 euro for this small piece, it's a bit overpriced.  But still, it's nice to try their new creation once in a while.

I did notice that the chocolate sizes were smaller.  I guess, with the economic crisis, putting up the prices (higher than 20 euros), for a box of chocolates, is not a good idea thus, de-sizing is the only option.  Also, i've read somewhere that Nestle has bought more shares to sustain this infamous PM.  And with it's availability in Japan, expect more expansion in Asia and who knows it might just be across your doorstep.  Then make sure to try it!

Next favorite is Wittamer, which is a few blocks away from PM.  A small fact: Pierre Marcolini worked in Wittamer and was trained here :).

We didn't buy chocolates there anymore as we also got a few at Leonida's (where truffles are nice for 6 euro a box i.e.250 g - 1/4 of the price of what is being sold in Wittamer).

this can be finished by HT hubbie in one seating...so HT wife supervision is much needed :D

We decided to stay indoors where we got the peace and quietness as outside seating was fully occupied by residents and tourists (as the sun has been visiting us for days now).  We just wanted to relax a bit before we go for a walk again.
And with the warm weather...nothing else came into my mind but a good glass of ice cream and a good dosage of caffeine so I can walk the next stretch.

Cafe Liegois (10.50 euro)- glace (ice cream) with cafe Costa Rica and chantilly.  It was perfect!  The sweetness of the ice cream was a good complement of the bitterness of the coffee.  It was refreshing!

My friend, Cinderella ordered Dame Blanche ou Noire (10.50 euro).

Cinderella poured the thick chocolate over her ice cream even if she's not fond of it to give it a try.  She thought it was ok.  I don't know if that circular meringue beside the ice cream went well with all the fancy ingredients. 

They don't have an English menu so either you wanted to be surprised or to be sure, bring out your iphone for translation :D.  Also, everything is quite expensive, even though it is good, i don't think it was worthy from what you get..

See that big smile?   Somebody was successful with her chocolate shopping :D.