Bruges Brugge - Amsterdam Bruges and Brussels - page 374

play (Wed-Sat 11:00-24:00, Sun 11:00-19:00, closed Mon-Tue,
Blekersstraat 2, tel. [phone]).
Pub 't Gezelleke lacks the mystique of the Vlissinghe, but
it's a true neighborhood pub offering small, forgettable plates and
a fine chance to drink with locals. Its name is an appropriate play
on the word for cozy and the name of a great local poet (Mon-Fri
11:00-24:00, closed Sat-Sun, Carmersstraat 15, tel. [phone],
Peter and Gried).
Café Terrastje is a cozy pub serving light meals. Experience
the grown-up ambience inside, or relax on the front terrace over-
looking the canal and heart of the gezellig district (food served
12:00-21:00, open until 23:30, closed Thu, corner of Genthof and
Langerei, tel. [phone], Ian and Patricia).
Fries, Fast Food, and Picnics
Local french fries (frites) are a treat. Proud and traditional frituurs
serve tubs of fries and various local-style shish kebabs. Belgians
dip their frites in mayonnaise, but ketchup is there for the Yankees
(along with spicier sauces). For a quick, cheap, hot, and scenic
snack, hit a frituur and sit on the steps or benches overlooking
Market Square (convenience benches are about 50 yards past the
post office).
Market Square Frituur: Twin, take-away french fry carts are
on Market Square at the base of the bell tower (daily 10:00-24:00).
Skip the ketchup and have a sauce adventure. I find the cart on the
left more user-friendly.
Pickles Frituur, a block off Market Square, is handy for sit-
down fries. Its forte is greasy, fast, deep-fried Flemish fast food.
The “menu 2” comes with three traditional gut bombs: shrimp,
chicken, and “spicy gypsy” sausage (daily 11:30-24:00, at the cor-
ner of Geldmuntstraat and Sint Jakobstraat, tel. [phone]).
Delhaize-Proxy Supermarket is ideal for picnics. Its push-
button produce pricer lets you buy as few as one mushroom (Mon-
Sat 9:00-19:00, closed Sun, 3 blocks off Market
Square on Geldmuntstraat). For midnight snacks,
you'll find Indian-run corner grocery stores scat-
tered around town.
Belgian Waffles and Ice Cream
While Americans think of “Belgian” waffles for
breakfast, the Belgians (who don't eat waffles or
pancakes for breakfast) think of wafels as Liège-
style (dense, sweet, heated up, and eaten plain)
and Brussels-style (lighter, often with powdered
sugar or whipped cream and strawberries, served
in teahouses only in the afternoons 14:00-18:00).