Our first night in Brussels, we met my aunt at a drinking establishment called A la Mort Subite. It is known for having a wide selection of great Belgium beers. The term a la mort subite means "at the sudden death". It refers to the loser of a game of dice played at the last minute while the bar was closing. We didn't see anyone playing dice while we were there. We did see a lot of beer being enjoyed though.
The bar was crowded but in a cozy way. Everyone was sitting and talking to their companions. There is no smoking inside public places in Belgium so there wasn't the haze that can occur in some American bars (depending on the city that you are in, of course). Mirrors, advertisements, vintage photographs, and interesting light fixtures made up the decor. The tables were wooden and arranged in long rows.
We made friends with two men sitting at the same long table as us. One man was from Paris and spoke only French. I am not sure where the other man was from but he has traveled all over the world. He spoke English. We talked to them for some time about their thoughts on Brussels, Paris, and the world.
My aunt arrived and we enjoyed catching up with her. After a bit, we headed out for dinner. There is a street close by A la Mort Subite that is jammed packed with restaurants. There is literally one after another, after another. Each establishment had a maitre d' standing outside, drumming up business. We were offered drinks, a seat for the baby, and told about their specials. My daughter was called a princess several times. Apparently the competition for restaurant patrons is tough in that neighborhood.
We decided to go to Chez Leon which is well known for its seafood. Of course, we had to have mussels in Brussels. My husband and I enjoyed plump mussels and crisp fries while my aunt had waterzooi de poulet. Waterzooi is a traditional Belgium dish with chicken (or possibly fish) and vegetables in a creamy sauce. My daughter enjoyed sharing the waterzooi and some fries. After our tasty dinner, we went back to our hotel, ready to rest up for the next day's adventure in Brussels.
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