The last time I was in Berlin was in 2010 when I hosted the Ms. Philippines-Germany Goodwill Ambassador pageant. I was only in Germany for a little more than a week but Berlin meant so much to me because it was my first experience of Europe. I remember I was literally crying tears of joy when I saw the Brandenburg Gate in person because it meant my dream of going to Europe finally came true. A few weeks before I left, I just saw it in a travel show on television, and now, I was standing right in front of it.
I cherished that trip thinking that it was a once in a life time moment so when I was so excited when I found out Berlin was once again part of our itinerary. We were only there for two days to meet with the winners of the pageant. Since I've been there before, it was fun now acting as the tour guide for our other companions. We just had enough time to visit the major tourist attractions like the Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, and the Berlin Wall at Potsdamer Platz but familiarity of the streets, riding the S-Bahn, and even of eating currywursts oddly but pleasantly felt like coming home for me. As cheesy as it may sound, Berlin will always have a special place in my heart.
Check out my Berlin vlog below to see more of our trip.
After our pageant in Brussels, we were finally free to tour other cities. Before flying off to other countries, we went to Ghent which is a port-city in Northwest Belgium. It used to be a prominent city-state during the middle ages because of linen trade, and is known for its medieval architecture. It was so picturesque, and the way they were able to preserve the old buildings is impressive.
One of the most scenic places in Ghent is the Graslei which is a street lined with historic buildings and cafes on the right bank of the Leie river.
It was a lot colder in Ghent than in Brussels so before starting our walking tour, we stopped for some one of the best hot chocolates I've had at L. Van Hoorebeke Chocolatier. I used to think drinking hot chocolate in cold places was just because it was delicious, but after experiencing 5 degrees celcius cold (coming from a tropical country), I realized drinking it is almost like a necessity because holding the cup will keep your hands from freezing, and the hot drink will keep you warm. I honestly wouldn't mind living in a cold place if it means I can drink hot chocolate all the time.
We also got to visit other famous landmarks in the city such as the Gravensteen (castle) and the gothic style Sint-Baafs Cathedral.
I really loved how it's such a walkable city. In fact, Ghent's city center is actually the largest carfree area in Belgium.
Before we went home, I also got to try Flemish waffles which are so much lighter than the Liege waffles which is what you'll mostly find in tourists areas in Brussels. I also got to drink mulled wine for the first time. After walking around in cold to the point where I almost couldn't feel my fingers anymore, I finally understood why the idea of hot flavored wine would be so appealing. I was so happy I was able another part of Belgium other than Brussels.
Make sure to watch my vlog below to see more of our Ghent trip!
It's been a month since I got back from our Europe trip, and here I am finally posting about it. Back when I was in college, my dream of going to Europe came true when I had the opportunity to host the Ms. Philippines-Germany Goodwill Ambassador Pageant in Berlin. Aside from Germany, I was also able to do a quick trip to Brussels and Paris. Six years later, the same organization invited me again to host the Mr. and Ms. Philippines-Europe Goodwill Ambassador Pageant in Brussels. I was ecstatic at the thought of being able to go back to Europe with my mom and sister, and this time, have the luxury of time to tour other cities as well.
Our first stop was, of course, Brussels. I love how the architecture of the city evokes an old world sophistication, and yet its amenities are one of the most modern in Europe. Out of all the cities we visited, I felt safest and most comfortable there because of its cleanliness, minimal threat of petty crimes, and even in the simple way motorists prioritize pedestrians (even if they are moving at a fast speed, they really stop when someone needs to cross the street).
Our first week in Europe was in Brussels, although we spent our full days preparing for the pageant. We usually get to tour the city at night after rehearsals. Of course, we had to go to the city center where the tourist attractions were. It felt so good to be back in the Grand Place and to see the Mannekin Pis once again. It was also fun seeing which chocolate and souvenir shops were still there and which have changed since the last time I was there.
On some nights that we strolled through the city, we ate out and that's when I got to try some legit sausages and Belgian fries at Fritland. You can also choose which sauce you want to go with your food. My favorite was the Andalouse sauce because it adds a spicy kick to your fries (it also goes well in cold cuts sandwiches).
We also got to try some sweets at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. We had their mini Merveilluex which is a small cake that consists of two meringues held together by whipped cream, covered with more whipped cream and dusted with chocolate shavings. They have a variety of flavors to choose from, and they were so light and delicate that you feel like you can eat the whole box. We also had one of their thin waffles which had a liquor filling.
On our last night in Brussels, our gracious hosts treated us to an incredible eat-all-you-can ribs dinner at Amadeo. Normally, a whole slab of ribs is already for sharing but there, you are initially given a full slab with sides of mashed potato and salad just for yourself. If you want more, you can just ask and they will happily replenish your huge plate. The ribs were so delicious and tender but it was definitely too much for me that I wasn't able to finish one serving no matter how much I wanted to.
After that huge dinner, I don't know how we managed to still have room for dessert at Drug Opera which is one of the most famous pubs in Old Brussels, but we did. We had some waffles, ice cream and tiramisu which was the perfect end not only to our night but to our trip as well.
To see more of what we did on our trip, check out my Brussels vlog and the latter half of my Rome vlog below!
If you love European culture as much as I do, then you probably share the same love that I have for delis. To me, entering a deli and seeing a wide assortment of cheese and cold cuts in a chiller makes me want to ride off in a bike with bread and wine in a basket to have a picnic in a beautiful park.
Entering Epicurious was like entering a playground for a foodie like me. It's the first lifestyle store with a shop-cook-eat concept. They have a wide range of sausages and marinated meats like their steaks and chicken packaged deli style which they can cook for you if you wish to dine there. They also offer soups, salads, sandwiches and pastas for those looking for something a little lighter to eat. I really loved the interactive experience of going around the store and really seeing the food choices rather than the usual way of just sitting down in a restaurant and choosing from a menu.
While waiting for your food to arrive, you can look around the grocery area where international and local artisanal food products are on display. What initially got my attention were the luxurious items like a whole shelf dedicated to everything truffle like truffle oil and truffle salt! As I perused more, I was happy to find that they also carry healthy, organic food, most of which were sourced locally like coco sugar. They also have good quality kitchenware and equipment. My favorite were the colorful cups that look like crumpled plastic cups but are actually ceramic. They also have a cafe corner if you want to have some coffee and dessert which is hard to miss because of the super cute rainbow cake on display
When we were there, we had their pumpkin soup and bread basket served with marmalade for starters. However, my favorite was the hungarian sausage which we asked to be cooked and sliced thinly for sharing. I loved how the sausage casing had a bite to it and how chewy it was (I hate soft, mushy sausages and hotdogs). It was well-seasoned with just the right amount of spiciness.
I'm pretty sure by now you've gotten pretty curious about this place, so go ahead and drop by Epicurious for a unique dining and food shopping experience.
