I've been going down memory lane a bit and with some recent serious chocolate cravings, I started…read morereminiscing about my Brussels trip back a few summers ago and my trip to the Neuhaus Factory (Store). Hands down, THE BEST, most DELICIOUS CHOCOLATE I have ever tasted. Amazing! Free samples and such a wide variety of flavors and types of chocolates. Truly a craft. I got to see how they make the chocolate in the back as well. Next time we are visiting Brussels, we are loading up on more Belgian heavenly chocolate!

If you're in Brussels and want chocolate (of course you do you're in Belgium for god's sake!) you…read moregotta come here. There are lines and lines and lines of chocolates for you to sample FOR FREE. It is a ways from the center of Brussels but the 40-60 min trip one way IS WORTH the excursion. Neuhaus claims to be the inventor of the praline and is world renowned and where better to try it than where you can sample to your hearts content for FREE. Also you can buy 1kg boxes galore. They have a sale 3 boxes (1kg each) for 90 euro which is crazy expensive but if you're doing the math it's a good price because one of those chocolates on its own is sure to cost 2.50/3 dollars. (Yes I bought three boxes) if you don't want to spend 90 euros (reasonable lol) there's lots of other things to choose from that will likely be more within budget!

Visiting Catherine's was a bucket list experience that I'm glad I was able to do. The best part was…read moreCatherine herself making our sandwiches! We were able to make selections from over 100 different cheeses as well as a variety of cured meats. The sandwich rivals my other fave from Alain Alain in Paris. It's a small but charming and quintessential Belgian shop. Traditional in every sense of the word. Simply put, it's a cheese lover's paradise. Catherine is extremely kind and patient as are her employees. They offer the ability to taste samples before making decisions. They're very helpful with making said decisions as well. A haven for like minded cheesemongers means the line can sometimes go out the door, especially at lunchtime. It is well worth the wait because so much love and care goes into every transaction with every customer. A most divine experience indeed.

What's not to love about Catherine...the cheese, the meat, the bread, the made to order $5 Eur…read moresandwiches and especially the owner - Catherine. Was so looking forward to our return trip to Brussels and visiting Catherine's. Over our week long stay we managed 3 visits to pick up cheese, freshly sliced deli meat, bead and made to order sandwiches. The cheeses that we selected were so very fresh and the selection to choose from was amazing. Of course my favorite was the truffle. We picked up sandwiches on two occasions and they were basically the same. The second one Catherine added a new little taste with the addition of three small roasted peppers. We had forgotten to ask for arugula and Catherine asked if we wanted it on this one...what a memory. Catherine's is a small place and always very busy. Quality shines throughout. The customers are almost all locals...another great sign. We noticed that when there were about three people inside that the patrons formed a line out of the door. Think out of respect for Catherine. Wish we had had a quality shop like Catherine's in metro Atlanta. We would drive to experience this and here in the hustle and bustle of Brussels there is a gem. Highly recommend. Prices are extremely reasonable. Can't wait to return...sooner than later. Thanks Catherine.

This is a fabulous epicurean market with very unique French and Belgian delicacies. The shop is…read moresmall and the assortment but what they have is of amazing quality. They have fresh produce, juice, nice meats, pastas, sauces, oils, syrups, jams, etc. Not all of the employees spoke English but they where all very nice and helpful. Fabulex!! www.champigros.com

What a lovely shop with so much variety. Every time I come to Brussels I stop in. They have such…read morefresh produce, and so many varieties of gourmet foods. It's really a special store. Unfortunately, I'm American so I don't speak a word of French, and this is a local shop. They don't speak English. But they're friendly enough and if you know what you want you can make it happen. It's really a remarkable little produce shop. I highly recommend it.

The kids were entertained when my request for the fine (fjine) mustard was fulfilled by filling a…read morejar from the large vat with a wooden spoon. It's a powerful topping. Meanwhile, the stone ground (grove) mustard is simply the best mustard I've ever had. And I'm an aficionado!

Tierenteyn-Verlant is a little shop in Ghent's Groentemarkt Square that sells pickles, spices,…read moresauces, teas, and most notably, mustard. Tierenteyn is actually the name of the Ghent mustard producing company that's been around since its founding by Petrus Tierenteyn back in the early 1800s. Nowadays, it's one of the only ones left. When we were taken quickly around Ghent so we could be given as much free time as possible, our guide specifically pointed out this shop to us. Not only is the square and building itself historical, but it also allows you to peek in on their stores of traditionally made mustard. It's another product special to this region and something you can't get in the US, as it doesn't ship. Not only can you get the mustard bottled or packed for your directly from the barrel with a wooden spoon (as is traditional), but they also give out samples of their mustard, mayos, and sauces with the help of breadstick crackers. I found the shop to be positively charming. And so much fun even though I'm not even that much of a mustard fan, but this was definitely fun to try out. There's a distinctly horse-radish-y and is a distinct souvenir or gift. You'll have to transport it back through a checked-in bag, as it's definitely liquid, and much more fluid than the mustard we're used to. If you're especially worried about the glass jars breaking, they have plastic containers as well. We ended up getting a jar for ourselves because (while they really are great gifts) we didn't want to share. If you're a fan of their mustard, you can ask the staff about other local establishments that make use of Tierenteyn-Verlant's mustard. If you're feeling especially daring, their website mentions places that use their mustard to create cocktails. Overall, I think this is definitely a place worth stopping by while you're in Ghent. As a unique specialty and a shop where you can choose which jar you would like, it's worth going in to take a look, maybe sample a bit, and grab something for either yourself or a friend. My family uses it for a surprising amount of occasions, including as part of charcuterie boards we make for gatherings and apparently pretzels. For those in the Silicon Valley area, there is a German butcher/meat shop/sandwich location in Los Altos called Dittmer's Gourmet Meats & Wurst-Haus. They sell a variety of pretzels and I can now say that mustard from Tierenteyn-Verlant goes GREAT with them.

Hand crafted small batch chocolates that are simply to die for. Please come in an keep this fast…read moregrowing small and personal chocolate store going. Their chocolates will not disappoint and surely blow you little mouth's mind. I went all out and got every type of dark chocolate combination but the praline ones are simply mouth watering! Do yourself a favour and cure your addiction.

Finally a place where I can buy my clotted cream for a cream tea and some Irn-Bru for a little…read moretaste of Scotland! I wish we had a shop like this IN Brussels -- surely the British community is larger there? -- but the Vlasmarkt in Antwerp is actually quite easy to reach by public transport, and even quicker than Everberg or Waterloo ... The shop is small -- most night shops are bigger -- but quite well stocked, and if you can't find a specific item, don't hesitate to ask for it, they might bring it for you next time they stock up in the UK. Only cash though, so come prepared!

From the owner: Located in the heart of historic Antwerp, The British Shop is the premier British food, tea and…read moregift shop in Flanders. Discover a wide selection of hard-to-find British tea, biscuits, chocolates, fresh food products, marmalade, preserves, pickles & fine groceries among many other delicious items. We're a great a source for unique gifts & simply the Best of British goods and groceries! You'll find the biggest selection of British Chocolate in town! And Bangers, proper Bacon, traditional Sweets , Branston Pickle, HP Sauce.... Quality Street... Fill your cupboard and fridge with your favourite British goodies.