Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
chocolate molds on display in basement, Eiermarkt 6, tel. 050-
346-282). The Dumons don't provide English labels because they
believe it's best to describe their chocolates in person—and they
do it with an evangelical fervor. Try a small mix-and-match box to
sample a few out-of-this-world flavors, and come back for more of
your favorites.
The Chocolate Line:
Locals and tourists alike flock to The
Chocolate Line (pricey at €4.40/100 grams) to taste the
gas-
tronomique
varieties concocted by Dominique Person—the mad
scientist of chocolate. His unique creations include Havana cigar
(marinated in rum, cognac, and Cuban tobacco leaves—so there-
fore technically illegal in the US), lemongrass, lavender, ginger
(shaped like a Buddha), saffron curry, spicy chili, and Moroccan
mint. New combinations from Dominique's imagination are a Pop
Rocks/cola chocolate, as well as “wine vinegar” chocolate (surpris-
ingly good). The kitchen—busy whipping up 80 varieties—is on
display in the back. Enjoy the window display, renewed monthly
(daily 9:30-18:00, between Church of Our Lady and Market
Square at Simon Stevinplein 19, tel. 050-341-090).
Choco-story: The Chocolate museum
—his museum is rated
s
for chocoholics. The Chocolate Fairy leads you through 2,600
years of chocolate history—explaining why,
in the ancient Mexican world of the Mayas
and the Aztecs, chocolate was considered
the drink of the gods, and cocoa beans
were used as a means of payment. With
lots of artifacts well-described in English,
the museum fills you in on the production
of truff les, bonbons, hollow f figures, and
solid bars of chocolate. Then you'll view a
delicious little video (8 min long, repeating
continuously, alternating Flemish, French,
and then English; peek into the theater to
check the schedule. If you have time before
the next English showing, visit the exhibits in the top room). Your
finale is in the “demonstration room,” where—after a 10-minute
cooking demo—you get a taste (€6, €10 combo-ticket includes
nearby Friet Museum, daily 10:00-17:00; where Wijnzakstraat
meets Sint Jansstraat at Sint Jansplein, 3-min walk from Market
Square; tel. 050-612-237, www.choco-story.be).
Friet museum
—It's the only place in the world that
enthusiasti-
cally tells the story of french fries, which, of course, aren't even
French—they're Belgian. As there are no real artifacts, you could
just Google it and save the €6 entry fee (€10 combo-ticket includes
Chocolate Museum, daily 10:00-17:00, Vlamingstraat 33, tel. 050-
340-150, www.frietmuseum.be).
