Persepolis
Where? Persepolis (Antwerp, Belgium) Map Menu
When? Wednesday June 24, 2026
Who With? Me
Food Style? Iranian
Poor Andrew has sustained a back injury and doesn’t want to leave the hotel for dinner, so he’s going to order in and I’m going to explore Antwerp. Honestly the last few days, I haven’t been feeling like Belgian food or Asian food, so the best alternatives have been Greek or Middle Eastern. This place is very close to our hotel, so it’s convenient for a quick, small bite, and then if I’m still hungry, I can grab some Belgian waffles for dessert. Belgium has been pretty expensive so far, especially after converting to Canadian dollars.
Snack
Instead of bread, I get an assortment of crackers and pretzels, as well as some butter. I’m not sure if I should be eating these together.
Mains
Kubideh: Oriental style minced lamb
This is definitely the best value meal I’ve had in Belgium. The lamb is tasty and succulent, but it could use some herbs and a yogurt sauce to give it a boost. There’s a lot of rice, probably too much for me to finish. The portion of salad is decent, but it could use a bit more dressing. On the whole though, the dish feels clean and light, which is perfect given how heavy all the food has been recently.
Posted by Jeremy at 6:46pm on Wednesday July 8, 2026 :: 0 comments :: 
Le Pré Salé
Where? Le Pré Salé (Brussels, Belgium) Map Menu
When? Tuesday June 23, 2026
Who With? Andrew
Food Style? Belgian
We're in Brussels, where we've just seen the King and Queen of Belgium welcome the Japanese Imperial Couple at the Grand Place. It's time for lunch and I've chosen a Belgian restaurant famous for its mussels, though it also serves other local specialties like meatballs, stews and croquettes. Interestingly enough, the road we're on has many Korean, Japanese and Indian restaurants, and it surprises me that Brussels is more multicultural than I thought it would be.
Mains #1
Cote de Porc: pork chop with Blackwell sauce
Andrew opts for the pork chop. It’s a bit tough but tasty. The Blackwell sauce - whatever it's made of - is very acidic, and I’m not entirely sure it goes well with the pork.
Mains #2
Moules de Zélande: Mussels with Garlic Sauce
Definitely the better choice here. It’s so aromatic and flavoursome with all the herbs and celery enhancing the broth. I’m having a great time soaking it up with the frites and bread. I get to the bottom and there’s an odd shaped mussel that doesn’t open, but then I realise it’s actually a stone and it’s the reason the broth has maintained its heat so well during my meal. They're not particularly cheap either, this bowl cost €26.90 or close to CAD$44.
Posted by Jeremy at 6:19pm on Wednesday July 8, 2026 :: 0 comments ::