Antwerp's food street

On a recent trip to Antwerp I was pleasantly surprised by how cosmopolitan the city is and how many cuisines are represented there. For such a small city with a well preserved and beautiful medieval city center, there are a great many international restaurants located close together. On Statiestraat to be specific. A two minute walk from the gorgeous Antwerpen Centraal Station brings one to what can be termed as "Antwerp's own food street" with a potpourri of world cuisine. Mexican, Chinese, Argentinian, Lebanese and Italian food to choose from, all within a minute from each other and lining a cobbled that also housed traditional Belgian fare.

We were warned about the neighborhood but found it absolutely safe and buzzing with activity. An impressive collection of restaurants right on the edge of the border between the old inhabitants of diamond center and the newer middle eastern immigrants.

Can you match the beer and the glass?

While in Belgium be careful to use the appropriate glass for each beer. They take it seriously and picking the wrong glass is a big mistake. Belgium produces a lot of variety of beer for such a small country - over 8000 varieties. Every beer has its own branded glass. The brewery usually selects a glass form to accentuate certain qualities of their beer. A goblet, for example, lets the drinker's nose inhale the beer's aroma at the same time the mouth is drinking in the liquid. A tulip glass, for example, is very good for foam retention. A wider glass is required for top fermented beers so that the taste and aroma is enjoyed to the fullest. A facet glass is best for white beer so that its cloudiness and freshness are highlighted.

As one walks along the street side cafe's in Antwerp one can see four people at a table, each with a different type of glass. I found that fascinating.