Waffles, frites (fries) and chocolates were the foods most mentioned whenever I told anyone that I was headed to Belgium for three months. After my arrival, I could see why. I live in Grand Place, which is the city center and the most touristic part of town. There's a waffle or frites stop every two to three stores. Multiple storefronts of the same chocolatiers are concentrated in this one-mile radius in town. What else was there to Belgian cuisine?
Well, as it turns out, Belgian cuisine is actually quite meat-heavy, and I don't eat beef or pork. Belgian food reflects the influences of its neighbors including France, Germany and the Netherlands. Yes, there are frites, but they're often the side dish for the main meat entrée such as steak, mussels or meatballs in a creamy gravy or with other herb flavors. My experience with food in Belgium has, therefore, been a little different from the experiences of those who do eat meat.
In an attempt to balance out the waffles and other sweets, I've actively sought out cuisines with more vegetables. I eat a lot of Mediterranean food, which is quite good here. In some ways, I think that the ample availability of other, non-Belgian cuisines is a better reflection of the melting pot that is Brussels.
