Poules Moules

Before our train back to Paris, we had dinner at Poules Moules in Bruges.

They are known for two things: Poules (Chicken) and Moules (Mussels) and that is what we ordered. The Chicken was a bit too dry, but the Mussels were so good! It was one of the largest servings of Mussels I've ever had and of course comes with a side of frites.

Hertog Jan

Haven't updated in a while. I've been fully enjoying my stay in CA but I've also started to countdown the days until I fly back to Tokyo.

Finishing up on my updates from our Eurotrip...

The reason for our detour to Bruges was to eat at Hertog Jan. The Chef and Sommelier co-own the restaurant and they organically grow most of their vegetables, herbs and flowers to create modern, gastronomy dishes (you can read more here). They earned 3 Michelin stars last year in 2011 after taking over the restaurant in 2005.

We ordered the 5-course menu paired with wine. Luckily, we got seated right next to the kitchen so we were able to watch all of the chefs in action.

It's difficult to put into words all the elaborate flavors of each dish. Actually, its impossible.

All I can say is that this truly was an "experience". Once we step in the restaurant, we get an opportunity to sample a taste of Chef Gerd De Mangeleer's culinary genious. All of the paired wines that we had were very interesting (never had wines from the mountains of Portugal, Greece and small islands in Europe) but was the perfect accent to that specific dish. The interior was so simple but the ambiance was warm and inviting and not at all stuck up. And the service was beyond amazing. They explained each dish and wine in depth, made sure everything was perfect without being in your face or staring you down. Everything about the restaurant and the food had an elegant flow that made us forget we were in there for a good 4 hours.

If you are ever in Belgium, the trip out to Bruges and Hertog Jan is SO worth it.

Bruges: B&B Sint Niklaas

Stayed at B&B Sint Niklaas in Bruges.

This was my first time at a B&B and had such a pleasant stay. It's a charming, old house that is conveniently located a block away from Market Square. There are only 3 rooms and we stayed in the rooftop room. Anne, the lady who runs the place, was so friendly, hospitable and welcoming. She let us leave our bags until 8PM and kindly called cabs for us whenever we needed. She also had freshly squeezed Orange Juice in the morning. I would definitely recommend this B&B to anyone who is thinking of visiting Bruges.

Rooftop Room.

Super clean and spacious bathroom/shower.

Views from the window:

Bruges: Market Square

After we booked our flight to Paris, we both agreed that we wanted to go to Belgium. We both love Belgian beers and only a train ride away, why not? We were originally only planning on going to Brussels, but one restaurant extended our trip to Bruges. I LOVED Bruges! It's a tiny city but really scenic and beautiful. You can walk around the main parts of the city in a couple hours, but you'll need much more time than that to taste all the beers! The atmosphere and buildings in Belgium are more gothic, very medieval complete with horse carriages.

Here are pictures of the Market Square during the day and night, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.