Time For A Nibble

We make no apologies for the fact that several of the “Things To Do” in our list include eating and drinking; Belgium is that kind of place!

Situated between the Grand Place and the Bourse, Maison Dandoy on rue au Charles Buls is a long-established biscuiterie with its own tea-room. You will find that almost whenever you have a cup of tea or coffee in Belgium, it will be attractively served with a small individually wrapped biscuit alongside. More often than not, the biscuit is a “speculoos”, a kind of caramelized flat gingerbread – and Maison Dandoy is home to the best. Belgian tradition involves all well behaved children receiving a speculoos biscuit from Saint Nicholas.

The biscuiterie has been in the same family for over 170 years – and as you would expect, they still use the original recipe for Speculoos, handed down over 5 generations. The shop is identified from the smell of butter cookies it gives off while wandering rue au Beurre. As you enter the shop, you will be entranced by the spicy aromas and warmth of gingerbread.

Dandoy also makes other kinds of cookies and biscuits and many traditional specialities including pain a la grecque, patiences and bernardins, small round biscuits with almonds, langues de chat and its famous homemade cookies.

We suspect that this is a little treat that may have to be revisited from time to time.