Flemish street food avant la lettre
While street food may be a relatively new word, the phenomenon of eating in the street has long been ingrained in our culture. Quality materials, know-how and hospitality are the pillars of our street food culture.
There’s nothing more beautiful than giving people food made with love. For me, this is the most beautiful sector there is
Chef Wim Ballieu - Balls & Glory
Sausage fair
In the days before fridges, when a pig was slaughtered, people would organise an event at which all the pieces of the meat that couldn’t be kept would be turned into sausages.
Gentse waterzooi
During the Middle Ages, the waters of Ghent were filled with fish. Gentse waterzooi is originally a peasant’s dish based on seven kinds of river fish. Since the 18th century, this typical Flemish meal has been made with chicken, cream and finely chopped vegetables.
Shrimp croquettes
Grey shrimps were once eaten at every meal by people living on the coast. Horseback fishermen would catch them with nets from the North Sea and, once ashore, they would be packed into half-kilo (1.1lbs) bags.
Winkles
On cold days, Brussels natives will always find their way to the winkle vans. These are a typical Brussels phenomenon; for many a long year they’ve been cooked on the street in a warming, herby broth. Every seller prepares them according to their own secret recipe.
