4 Traditional Foods
You Have To Try in Ghent

Waterzooi is a traditional seafood stew with a creamy consistency. It incorporates julienne-sliced vegetables, an egg, and a cream-based soup. The dish originated in the city of Ghent, and according to the most popular belief, the rivers around the city were abundant in fish, so the dish was invented as a new way to incorporate fish into traditional Belgian cuisine. However, the decrease in fish population and pollution have caused this dish to be reinvented once again, and today it is commonly prepared with chicken. Although it can be found in other Belgian regions and cities, Ghent has specialized in the preparation of the dish, and there are numerous restaurants across the city which offer waterzooi as their signature dish. It is usually paired with crusty French bread on the side and garnished with chopped parsley or chervil.Expand

Available only from September to March, sneeuwballen (lit. snowballs) are traditional Belgian sweet treats consisting of a vanilla cloud that is coated with dark Belgian chocolate and sprinkled with icing sugar. Although the recipe is still a closely guarded secret of the Larmuseau brand, it is known that a perfect sneeuwbal will crack when you bite into it, and it should melt on your tongue. These delicious treats were invented in the early 20th century by August Larmuseau from Ghent.Expand

Bicky burger is a unique Belgian hamburger that is also popular in the Netherlands, consisting of a sesame seed-topped bun filled with a deep-fried patty made from a combination of pork, chicken, and horse meat. The hamburger is additionally filled with pickles, fried onions, ketchup, hot sauce, and a special dressing consisting of cucumbers, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, and mustard. The first Bicky was made by a Dutch company named Beckers in 1981, and although the company is Dutch, no one knows why they have decided to target the Belgian market in the first place. In 2019, an advertisement for Bicky burger caused an uproar on social media because it shows a man hitting a woman for bringing him a 'fake' Bicky.Expand

Kroakemandels is a typical Ghent snack consisting of salted peas which have previously been deep-fried in hot oil. Preparing this snack requires 48 hours, and it is available exclusively at Café Folklore on Saturdays – the owner Jacques makes kroakemandels based on a secret recipe that he obtained from an elderly woman across the road. The snack can be consumed with your fingers or from a cone, preferably while the peas are still warm. It is recommended to accompany kroakemandels with a cold beer or two on the side.Expand