Missing the Mussels!

We will be in Belgium and Ostend 2 weeks in June.

What would be the specialty if Mussels are out of season? Are they really to be avoided?

Do they serve shrimp, Lobster, etc or just fishy fish?

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Well, there won%26#39;t be mussels available. At least not the ones from Zeeland (Holland).

Everywhere at the coast they serve plenty of fish, also shrimp and lobster ... at a price. Check out the restaurants at the Visserskaai. The %26#39;fishy fish%26#39; they serve can%26#39;t be more fresh. From some of the restaurants you will have a view on the fishing harbour.

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As well as the seafood restaurants on the Visserkaai, it%26#39;s worth checking out the restaurants On the Wapenplein, which is the main square with the band stand in the middle.

The restaurants there tend to be not as expensive, but there is still some very good food to be had.

I recommend monkfish with leeks, it%26#39;s very tasty!

Do be aware that the shrimp you have in the USA are different to the ones you will probably find in Belgium.

The local ones tend to be very small brown shrimp, not at all like you would be used to.

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%26lt;%26lt;The local ones tend to be very small brown shrimp, not at all like you would be used to. %26gt;%26gt;

The small (grey but pinkish-brown when cooked) Northsea shrimps are the best in the world ... as far as I am concerned.

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No arguments from me Amboseli, I like them too.

I was merely pointing out that Americans idea of %26#39;shrimp%26#39; is what we in the UK would call scampi, a completely different thing!

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I know, butch_wade, but I thought a little promotion for our Northsea shrimps wasn%26#39;t a bad idea. Many people, when they first see them, are reluctant because they don%26#39;t look so appetizing than tiger shrimps (what we call scampi).

Have you ever eaten them freshly cooked (right from the boat), on a sidewalk terrace along the Belgian coast where you have to peal them yourselves, with a glass of Rodenbach with it? DELICIOUS!

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I LOVE rodenbach!

What a wonderful beer it is, nice and chilled on a hot summer afternoon, it can%26#39;t be beaten.

We once had a sensational fruits de mer in one of those lovely restaurants on the Visserkaai in Oostende, it remains one of our favourite memories.

I%26#39;m so looking forward to visiting Belgium again in May.

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