you can take the girl out of the SCA...

[extemporanea]

Ghent is rather pleasingly prone to outbreaks of dogs and bicycles. I'm not sure what prompts the dogs, invariably cute and well-conducted specimens on leads, but they're entirely consonant with the pleasant, polite, slightly reserved demeanour of the Ghentians I've met. Bicycles are a key mode of transport; little flocks of them toddle past at all

Comments

waffles

[anonymous]

The picture is of a Liège waffle (as opposed to the fluffier and less interesting Brussels waffles).

I can give you a recipe for it, if you like. It's a bit complicated, as it involves making two kinds of dough, but so definitely worth it.

You also mix in plenty of sugar in pearl form. I've only ever seen this format in Belgium. This probably comes too late for you to get any, but just in case you have time, inclination and suitcase space: you're looking for Parelkorrel suiker/Sucre Grain perlé. It often comes in a purplish 500g box, with a picture of a waffle on the box. I guess badly-crushed sugar lumps would also do in a pinch.

xavier Xalfonso III
(via my cell-phone, so not bothering to log in)

Re: waffles

[extemporanea]

Good heavens. Who knew that waffles were so technical? Thank you for the details, I shall pursue with interest on my return home.

[rumint]

Have you tried the Brussels French fries? They are great!

[dancing_crow]

I've been rereading Dorothy Dunnett, and Ghent makes me think of Nicolo, and Lymond, later, careening around the rooftops....

[extemporanea]

I haven't read those for years, had totally forgotten the Ghent connection. Hmmm. Something for the to-read list when I get back home, I'm fairly sure I have that series somewhere...

[pinkthulhu]

I was in Brussels and Leuven over the weekend - we could have nearly crossed paths!

[pinkthulhu]

Speaking of Earl Grey... some light reading for those long hours on the plane.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fifty-Shames-Earl-Grey-Parody/dp/1452658110

[extemporanea]

I think a brief, maidenly "eek" suffices. I have not yet managed to read beyond a sample few paragraphs of 30 Shades, on account of how the obnoxiously imbecile ineptitude of the writing gives me a red haze over the eyes so I can't continue. Kind of like aesthetic or literary peril-sensitive sunglasses, in fact, which are probably among the better random side-effects of an academic career.