We, Yannick, Hanne and Katrien would like to introduce you to the Belgian kitchen. We have a very wealthy kitchen although we are just a small country. Just a few examples to make your mouth water: Belgian chocolate, frites, waffles, cauliflower, chicory, etc... We should say :" Just give it a try, they are all very delicious!"

Belgium is known all over the world for its chocolates. Wherever you go, you find shops in which you can buy chocolate of different forms and tastes. It isn't only for special festival occasions, like Easter or New Year, but all year long. ("Leonidas" and "Godiva" are only two of the most known trade-marks). Every tourist likes to take a box of chocolates as a souvenir for their relatives.

Each tourist who returns from Belgium will tell you how surprised he was about the fact that there were so many bakeries. Most of all, they will be delighted with the many sorts of pastries and cakes. There are some with marchpane, with whipped cream, with fresh fruit. There are so many sorts that it is sometimes very hard to define one to taste. What we definitely can't forget are the 'Belgian' French Fries. This is a typical fast food in Belgium. In every town, there are at least four or five French fries stalls. We are very fond of those chips. Even the Americans are! Just recently New York opened its own stall, and it is a big success.

We also have a wealthy beer-menu at our disposal. Here in Belgium, it is no exception when you find twenty-five different beers. A few of those beers really have got droll names Sloeber, Kwak or Mort Subite! There's even a new beer at the moment, namely Maes 'COOL' for young and cool pupils. Young people aren't allowed to drink alcohol under the age of 16 and that is for the best, but the limit for the adults is also very severe. During the weekends, there are a lot of patrols to check if they haven't drunk too much and that's also for the best. And last but not least, even in our small town, we have our typical beer, Tannekens Beer. Although it isn't very old yet, it is already quite famous. Just like all the other beers, there is also a story about this one. It is named after a woman who was supposed to be a witch. She lived some three hundred years ago somewhere in the neighbourhood of Tielt. Just like what happened with all the other witches at that time, she ended up on the funeral pile. Because we haven't forgotten her yet and because we are proud to have had a witch, we have given her a statue in the centre of Tielt.

Belgium isn't only known for its beer. We also have some well-known liqueurs. You have probably already heard of our Hasseltse gin. It is a quite strong liqueur. Another kind of spirit is a healthy one. It is our Elexir d'Anvers. It's a kind of decoction of herbs. With its 37 degrees it is really good against all sorts of complaint! Also, we must not forget we have some water sources, specifically in the south, in Spa. Moreover the Spa-water is known world-wide. As you can see, we also have some typical "healthy" drinks.

Young people often drink 'Cocktails' too, especially Martini, Baccardi (Breezer), Pisang. If you are interested, here is a recipe ! In this way, you can make your own cocktail!

•a glass of pulverised icecubes

•two table-spoons fine sugar

•one table-spoon Gin

•two table-spoons Whisky

•juice of two half lemons

•two glasses of soda-water

Method of preparation :

•mingle all the ingredients, except the soda-water

•pour out a bit of this mixture into a few big glasses

•add the soda-water

•serve with a straw

Many delicious greetings,

Yannick VANHOORELBEKE, Hanne VERBEKE, Katrien VANKEIRSBILCK

Year 13 - Tielt (Belgium)