The Year of Gastronomy

Well, go figure! According to visitbelgium.com, the Belgium Tourist Office's website, 2012 is the year of gastronomy! And, they've confirmed what we already suspected: There's much more to Belgian cuisine than chocolate, beer and waffles.

For instance, did you know that Belgium invented French fries? They did, way back in 1781 in the town of Huy. When the river froze in winter and fish were no longer available, the locals would cut potatoes into fish shapes and fry them up to replace their usual treat. Today, traditional Belgian fries - or frites - are thicker, twice-baked versions of the French shoestring fries, and Belgians consume 33% more fries than the average American - 165 pounds each year! But, don't grab the ketchup; frites are typically eaten with mayonnaise, Russian dressing and other creamy condiments.

The country's signature cookies are called speculoos - crispy, browned pressed shortbreads that originally were baked only around Christmastime. Thus, they're often stamped with images of Saint Nicholas, even though they're now available year round. I've found several recipes online, including this very vague one, so I might have to file these away for this year's holiday cookie swap!

If you're in the mood for something more savory, Jambon d'Ardennes is an air-dried ham, similar to Italian prosciutto, that's cured with sea salt, juniper berries, thyme and coriander and smoked over beech and oak woods till dark brown. Originating from the Ardennes forest in southern Belgium, each ham has a yellow-numbered leaden seal of authenticity.

You can sample these and many other Belgian specialties at the many food festivals and events scheduled there, beginning in May and running through year end. In Liege, a gastronomic village, the (world's?) biggest open-air restaurant, will open in June. Libramont hosts its Agricultural and Forest Fair in late July, with more than 1,500 exhibits highlighting all aspects of the "rural world," including livestock breeding, horticulture, agrifood, etc.).

There also are festivals scheduled for BBQ, omelettes and cheese in August, soup and beer in September, and fries in December. A veritable smorgasbord of events to choose from!

So, if you're looking for a place to go to celebrate your love for all things food, then Belgium should be your destination in 2012.