Perks of living with a homestay: They know all of the best places to eat and shop.
When my boyfriend came to visit last weekend, I was a little hard pressed to find a place that I really wanted to take him on a date night. I was supposed to be showing him around the amazing city that is Brussels, but up to that point, I had been saving money eating at Panera equivalents and with my homestay family. I hadn’t really ventured to have a nice sit down meal that wasn’t included in my program. After all, on our excursions with CIEE we’re treated to 3 course meals with wine and beer included.
When I asked my homestay mom where I should take him, she suggested an Ethiopian restaurant very close to Grand Place. I have to admit, I had no idea what to expect when it came to “Ethiopian” food. I’d never even heard of a restaurant that specialized in such cuisine. But Kokob in Brussels is now my favorite restaurant.
Less is more here. Sebastien and I ordered two meats, a vegetable, and a small side and we easily could have fed a third person. The beef was cooked perfectly and had an incredible flavor with a little spice to it. The herb cheese added some spice as well, and the vegetables were equally as tasty as the meat. Everything is presented on a crepe like pancake and a basket of said crepes comes on the side. Utensils are not necessary, one simply picks up whatever you would like with a piece of crepe. There’s a tradition that the first bite is always given away, not taken for oneself.
The food was as rich as the culture, and I’m so glad I got to experience it. I returned just a couple days later with a good friend, and we haven’t stopped talking about it since.
Mack's Compass 