If you find yourself in the small towns of northern Belgium, I suggest you try the specialty…steamed mussels with a side of french fries. And, since I was a tourist, I went right ahead and paid the tourist prices to enjoy them at one of the quaint cafes right in the center of the main town square.
I read in a tourist book that said the biggest complaint about Brugge is that it is just too quaint and cute. It is true that charm is oozing out of every little alleyway and along each canal. If you are ever in the area, it is worth a day visit or a one night stay. Take a boat tour along the canals, stop in a few of the thousands of chocolate shops, drink good beer and eat some mussels.
I must admit that they were not the best mussels I have ever had. But, it was a bit like a hotdog at a baseball game – there were so many other factors including the people watching, horse-drawn carriage taxis clomping by and European-style outdoor seating that helped make the meal more than memorable.