Comments on A Tuscan foodie in America: Behind the Speculoos craze, or how cool it is to b...

Claudio, if you find the cookies, give them a try,...

2011-11-14T18:14:18.426-06:00

Claudio, if you find the cookies, give them a try, dunk (pucciati) in a hot latte. They are good.

Honestly, the only things I know about Belgium are...

2011-11-14T17:57:46.173-06:00

Honestly, the only things I know about Belgium are Tin Tin, Musseuw and Merckx... Apart from comics and some succesful cyclists, apparently nothing interesting to me is coming from that country. At least before reading your post, of course.. Now I really looking forward to try some speculoos, if I ever should find them in Italy.

Hello Trobairitz, and welcome! Aside from the frie...

2011-11-14T12:47:22.715-06:00

Hello Trobairitz, and welcome! Aside from the fries, that should really be called "Belgian Fries", and not French fries, because they were invented by the Belgians, I would say the most typical dish you can find at least on the East Coast and in the Midwest is Mussels with fries and the "Flemish stew", made with beef and a special type of Belgian beer.

From you say it seems the "Belgian fade" didn't make it yet all the way to the West?

I've never given Belgian food a thought. What...

2011-11-14T12:22:26.243-06:00

I've never given Belgian food a thought. What is the most traditional food from Belgium that you would find on a menu here in the USA?

I've never acquired a taste for beer, but I know that Fat Tire is a huge seller in these parts of Oregon.

I find the idea of Speculoos intriguing. I'd never heard of it. Thanks for the education.

Nothing better than pasta e fagioli on a cold Fall...

2011-11-14T11:34:45.141-06:00

Nothing better than pasta e fagioli on a cold Fall night...

For once, we are 'aligned'...BTW, tonight ...

2011-11-14T11:18:55.108-06:00

For once, we are 'aligned'...BTW, tonight pasta & fagioli (e meta' li abbiamo passati!)

NTJAPD: you are obviously right about service in t...

2011-11-14T11:15:51.991-06:00

NTJAPD: you are obviously right about service in the Belgian locations of LPQ. But that is a problem typical of all Belgian restaurants and all Belgian shops. They treat you like shit, as if you really were making them a favor in patronising their busjness. The last year I spent in Belgium I had almost stopped dining out, because I had had enough of rude, long, and poor service.

Having said that, in the US they are way better (no restaurant would remain open if hey offered Belgian service). Yet, it was the worse setvice we have found in America. I guess the Belgian curse was in the air.

As for the food: I think the only good thing in LPQ is their basket of pastries and bread with jams. All the rest is overpriced tasteless food.

I love speculoos and it would be great if you coul...

2011-11-14T10:50:19.474-06:00

I love speculoos and it would be great if you could share the recipe. On Le Pain Quotidien, actually I have my reservations. I've always found a very poor customer service: I've been to several LPQ in Belgium and people are always hostile and look like you are doing them a favour to be there. Furthermore, they tend to market it as this very special cool place and it has this "Sex & the City" hype around that I found completely pretentious and unjustified for a chain... The only thing that I really like from LPQ is the lemonade with fresh mint, delicious.

I prefer my Liege waffles "nature", or w...

2011-11-14T10:43:03.908-06:00

I prefer my Liege waffles "nature", or with some good old chocolate spread...

always love me some speculoos on my Liege Waffle !...

2011-11-14T10:41:19.360-06:00

always love me some speculoos on my Liege Waffle !