Tah-Dah!

It's finally here! The official Wafflefest '09 Video!!!

This should accurately depict how awesome the waffles were. The video quality isn't entirely up to par, because I had to compress it to a smaller size in order to upload it to Youtube without problems. My apologies. But you should get the gist of it. Also if the sound isn't working that great, use headphones. I've found that helps. At least when you live on a busy street next to the Duomo. Enjoy!

Ciao Bella!

Matteo "Wafflemeister" Yazge

Ciocolato Belgio

 

Chocolate versions of the peeing boy statue; the outside of Pierre Marcolini - chocolate genius.

Belgian chocolate lives up to the hype. They even make chocolate in the shape of naked babies peeing! Apparently the peeing baby is this really famous fountain (as famous as a fountain in Brussels can be). We saw it. I guess it looked famous. Lots of people were taking pictures of it while it was making a gross display of itself in public. Kind of like Lindsay Lohan. Only it worked more like one of those 5 pound plastic dolls that really wets itself. Kind of like Lindsay Lohan. The water part of the fountain is the pee... Must be famous. Anyway, they sell all kinds of versions of the statue/fountain/baby. I saw these huge 3 foot tall chocolate replicas in all different colors. A picture was necessary.

Chocolat du Pierre

But the real chocolate was at Pierre Marcolini. Erika found it online before we went. Follow the link and watch the video about how he crafts his chocolates. The man is brilliant. While we were there we found out that there's a Park Avenue location, so I can get it as often as I want when I go home! One of the things I found to be the most special was this 16 piece collection of chocolates, each of which uses a different type of cocoa bean from a various parts of the world. It's all dark chocolate, 70%+. They only way to do chocolate really. Although to be fair I did try the free milk chocolate and almond samples they had out, and they weren't bad. I'm not a huge milk chocolate person. I think it may have dirtied my teeth a bit, but the girls behind the counter were insisting. I didn't want to be rude. Just don't let dark chocolate find out. She can't know I've been seeing other chocolates. Because deep down, I love my chocolate just like I love my women: dark and with a cup of coffee.

Ciao Bella!

Matteo "Au Chocolat" Yazge

I cibi del cielo

I want to go back. Immediately.

Les Brassins might have been the best part of the entire trip. You have to understand that, for me, there is nothing more enjoyable than food. I eat to relax; I eat for fun; I eat to eat; I eat and eat and eat. I dropped over $45 on dinner at Les Brassins. Why? Because it was amazing.

Appetizer: Spinach Soup and Stewed Mussels

Deep down I knew that I really wanted French Onion soup, but I opted for something new and different. I have this complex when I eat out, that once I've tried something I like I refuse to order anything different. Since I'm abroad and trying new things, I thought it'd be a good idea to branch out gastronomically. It proved to be a decent decision, though after eating half of Sonali's French Onion soup, I realized that I still have a ways to go before I'm free of my old restaurant habits. Do they offer counseling for your dinner palate?

By far and away the highlight of the evening was the mussels. Stewed in a garlic cream sauce with celery and onion, these little guys were the most delicious shell fish I may have ever eaten. Jamie and I split an entrée  portion as an appetizer. Best decision I've made in recent history. I would also be remiss if I didn't point out the humor in eating "mussels in Brussels."

Main Course: Warmed Goat Cheese Salad with Smoked Salmon

We all know how much I love the goat cheese. God bless that little baa-ing animal for deciding to lactate. The plate was arranged with two large, thin slices of smoked salmon on top of field greens. This was drizzled with some type of yellow dressing that had what I think was dill. My mouth was too in awe to differentiate distinct herbs. On top of all of that was a piece of toasted bread that had been soaked in some sort of honey glaze. Normally I'm a huge fan of honey, and glazes, but it tended to be a bit too sweet for me because of the sweetness of the dressing. It did go very well with the ring of warmed goat cheese that sat on top of the toasted bread though. The cheese was fantastic, golden around the edges, with a bite but not bitter. The overall effect of the salad was heaven. I had to forsake the glaze-soaked bread halfway through because it was too strong, but if that's my only complaint of the evening, I think the restaurant did a fairly good job.

To Drink: Bourgogne des Flandres

I'm not a huge beer person, but when it's properly matched to the food you're eating (Corona with ceviche, Stella with Pommes Frites) it does amazing things to bring out the flavor. The waitress recommended this one, which was dark with subtle notes of honey and spice. It went really well with the salad, and even the mussels. When the waitress first brought it out to us, I started to take the bottle to my lips to taste it, but then I saw that she had a glasses for us to pour it into. We both laughed a little bit, and she earned a little bigger tip. I do have to say that the entire staff was wonderful. Very cheerful and funny. One even told Lindsey that she had to finish her beef stew before she was allowed to leave!

Dessert: No room.

But I would have gotten one of their molten chocolate cakes.

We were really tempted to go back the next day for lunch, but none of us wanted to taint the experience. And judging by how busy it was the night we were there (we got the only table that wasn't already reserved) we might not have been able to find a seat. It's no surprise that it's always packed, what with the yellowed lighting, French posters all over the walls, and Jazz music playing softly in the background. You can't help but get the warm fuzzies. But maybe that was just the Bourgogne des Flanders talking!

Ciao Bella!

Matteo "Brassins-boy" Yazge

Chiesa e Stato

From top down: church (inside and out); outside the EU, artistically expressing the strength of the euro; me being kingly outside the palace

The Duomo in Florence has nothing on the churches in Brussels. These babies are gorgeous inside and out. Sure, the Duomo has a nice marble exterior and sets the skyline for the city. But inside? The thing is practically barren. It feels empty, even during Sunday Mass. The churches we went to in Brussels were gorgeous. Granted I'm a sucker for Gothic architecture, but still. Inside every church we visited, there were floor to ceiling stained-glass windows, marble statues, side altars, even a few icons. We also managed to catch a recital in the one we visited on Sunday afternoon. Coincidentally, that church has a pretty awesome market outside of it. I was tempted to buy lots of cool antique jewelry to bring back for people, but at that point I was out of cash. Mi dispiace. Maybe there will be a better market in Paris?

We also managed to see the EU, which lucky for us is based in Brussels so we didn't have to go far. In the square just outside the EU headquarters, there was a guy who was protesting something in the Middle East: oppression, genocide, sand. Though I'm fairly sure it had something to do with Iran killing politicians in Iraq. But maybe it was over sand. You never know. If I lived in a place that was that hot all the time and didn't have running water, I'd be pretty pissed at the sand too. Regardless, we signed his petition, proving that we are tourists for a cause. We should make it our goal to sign a petition in every country we visit. That should be easy enough in Europe as no one actually wants to work, so protesting/petitioning/going on strike are easy ways to do that. We should have no problem finding angsty workers or civil rights proponents.

The last place of political or religious significance that we saw was the Royal Palace. It has a name, but I don't know it. Nor do I particularly care what it is, because they don't allow tours. Not to mention that it was the palace where King Leopold lived. You know Leo, the Congo-conquering madman that caused Joseph Conrad to write Heart of Darkness. Real sweetheart.

As a last tidbit, I'm trying to upload pictures to Facebook so you can see even more of Belgium as I continue to blog about it this week. For some reason Facebook doesn't want to cooperate, but no surprise there. Facebook never works when you want it to. Least of all when you're in Italy. But keep your eyes open, and I'll let you know when they're up!


Ciao Bella!

Matteo "Peace in the Middle East (and the Congo)" Yazge

L'albergo e la strada

Some fun things found whilst wandering...

So to begin the recounting of my Belgian tale, I think it's best to start with our general wanderings. Some of the best finds are the ones that you stumble across, not the ones you go looking for.

First, our hotel. It had The Shining written all over it. I was waiting for two little girls to appear at the end of the hallway and ask me to come play with them. There weren't any lights in the stairwell, and our window faced a covered courtyard - if you could call it that. It was just big enough to fit a fire escape, and probably a few heroin addicts if you looked hard enough. Usually they're too emaciated to see in such dim lighting. The icing on the cake was the trap door on the ceiling of our bathroom, which probably kept the dead bodies from falling out of the ceiling. The hotel itself was in a fantastic neighborhood, surrounded by strip joints and x-rated movie houses/bookstores. Classy in a very esoteric sense. If I ever have children, I will definitely bring them back to this family-friendly hotel. After all, everyone needs to learn how to shower in a tub that doesn't have a curtain or a shower-head affixed to the wall. It's just like washing your dog in a metal tub in the backyard with a hose, only you're the dog.

Needless to say, we wandered away from the hotel for most of our time in Brussels. The pictures above are mostly from a park we found and the surrounding streets. There was a restaurant in the middle of the park that had everything that I want in my restaurant that I plan on opening when I "retire." My plan is to own a restaurant in my old age to give me something to do between writing my books (and a place to get a nice roasted goat cheese sandwich and cup of coffee while I write!) They took this old garden building/shed and renovated the inside into a chic, modern café. Outside there were tables and chairs where attractive, well-dressed Belgian couples and their equally dapper children were eating/playing. There were dogs, Peter Pan sculptures, and grandmas. Everything I could ask for. I may just plan a forceful takeover of that restaurant to save me time. The bottom two pictures are from a sign that was outside the restaurant. I wanted to go back for brunch the next morning, but my travel companions weren't in the mood; it was 25 euro... but all you can eat - which for me is a lot - and included fruit, yogurt, parfaits, nutella, cheeses, crêpes, eggs, salads, lox and other select seafood, baguettes and pastries, the works. Next time I'm in Brussels I'm going if it means I have to go by myself.

Ciao Bella!

Matteo "Belgian-Brunching" Yazge

Il cielo è Belgio

I want to know who thought it was OK to keep Belgium a secret...

That may have been one of the most wonderful weekends I've ever had. Ever. It felt like one of those day-dreamy trips where everywhere you went was just as awesome as the last. A bit like Disney, only minus the scary people in costumes and plus a lot more waffles.

There was so much to discuss that I think I'm going to spread out the recounting of our tale over the course of this week. Plus I'm tired and really don't have time to do it all now. We got back last night around midnight, and I had class all day today. I found the DVD recordings of the Operas I need to watch for class, but they were all at least 30 euro. Not willing to pay that. So I ordered them on Amazon, had them delivered to the famiglia, and my mom is bringing them when she comes in a week and a half. Crazy, right? I can't believe it's so soon! She and one of our close family friends (Aunt Selma for those of you who know her!) are flying into Rome and I'm going to meet them for the weekend, and then they'll spend the week here in Firenze.

Before I go, I'd like to draw your attention to the change in picture. Since this week is the week of the waffle - and all about Belgium - I felt it was appropriate. Also, by the end of the week expect a video on the festivities surrounding Wafflefest '09. That's right. We video taped it.

Ciao Bella!

Matteo "Born-to-be-Belgian" Yazge

Belgio!

The land of beer and waffles...

That's right! We're off to Wafflefest '09! You better be excited! I won't be able to post until I get back on Sunday, so you're going to have to do without for a while. I know, it'll be rough, but you must find a way to go. Perhaps you can read something like the New York Times. I hear they're kinda good over there. I mean, obviously no where near the intellectual material I discuss here at The Ugly American, but nobody's perfect.

OK. I should really go now. I need to make sure I have everything I need. Drink maple syrup and think of me!

Ciao Bella!

Matteo "Wafflemeister" Yazge