PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAWhen I think of Belgium I immediately think of chocolate, and while it is possible to find said chocolate here, there is a far stronger emphasis on Belgian beer. In fact, the Belgian Beer Cafe has a whole menu dedicated to introducing Australians to the European beverage. Quite a clever idea really, considering the average Australian is rather partial to a frosty, foam-laden pint. Add the fact that the establishment is located in a refurbished heritage-style building that is quite palatial in size, and you have yourself a hit.
The interior is old-school traditional with timber floors and furnishings, and a rustic bar. The food is designed around the beer and maintains a Belgian feel. For the mussel connoisseur there are six different ways to enjoy the bivalves, all served in traditional Belgian mussel pots and accompanied by beer battered frites. For truly European tastes there are baked snails or crispy lambs brains for entree, as well as smoked salmon on a warm potato and green been salad. Mains offers some hearty and robust flavours such as pork and fennel sausages with mash, caramelised onion and seeded mustard jus. You must finish, of course, with the traditional dark Belgian Callebaut chocolate mousse to properly round off your experience.
Meagan Hepworth, December 2007
