Créé par Emilie, le 1 juil. 2026
Votre guide Ryo
Top 9 Culinary Specialties of Ghent
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Known for its beauty and canals, Ghent is a surprising city. The capital of Flanders can be visited as much on foot as on the plate. Its delights will leave the most gourmand speechless. Flemish cuisine is more refined than Belgian cuisine in general. When we think of Belgium, we first think of the traditional mussels and fries and waffles. But Ghent knows how to surprise your palate by offering specialties galore, ranging from savory to sweet, without forgetting a dose of beer, a drink very attached to the local culture.
1- Ghent Waterzoi
Ghent waterzoi is the Flemish dish par excellence. It is a sort of pot-au-feu composed of hazelnut potatoes, celery, carrots, leeks and chicken, all drowned in a soup with fresh cream and egg yolk. Note that chicken can sometimes be replaced by fish. This dish brings joy to the people of Ghent during the winter period.
2- Flemish carbonade
Meat lovers, this dish will delight your palate. Flemish carbonade is prepared by braising pieces of beef in a casserole with onions and local beer. To accompany this dish, nothing beats a good portion of fries cooked in beef fat to give them an additional taste that's really quite pleasant! To appear like a true Ghent native, a Belgian beer is perfect for washing down this hearty meal.
3- Paling int groen
Also called eel in green, this particular dish will introduce you to unique flavors. This purely Flemish dish is composed of freshwater eel and an assortment of green plants that constitute a kind of soup. Among the plants present, we find sorrel, oregano, sage, lemon thyme, lemon balm, savory, parsley, spearmint, salad burnet, nettle, watercress, basil and tarragon. Just that. Like many dishes, eel in green is very often served with a plate of fries.
4- Cuberdons
If there is indeed one treat to taste during a Flemish stay, it is definitely cuberdons. On the street with a small stand run by a producer or directly at the confectioner's, cuberdons will reach your mouth without great difficulty. This cone-shaped candy is made by mixing liquid sugar, acacia resin, gelatin and flavorings. The original cuberdon is raspberry flavored. But the popularity of this candy has given birth to a multitude of flavors. There are now about forty different tastes. You will therefore surely find the right fit, or rather the right cuberdon for your palate.
5- Snowballs
Belgians are really not bad when it comes to making treats, and snowballs are proof of this. These little sweets are made of vanilla coated with a thin layer of dark chocolate and dusted with powdered sugar.
6- Mastelles
Mastelles are very often enjoyed at breakfast. These are small flat brioches, sweetened with a pronounced taste of cinnamon. This food has existed for centuries and centuries. Some even brought them to mass to have them blessed! Legend said that blessed mastelles were an excellent remedy against rabies. Well, until proven otherwise, it's difficult to admit but the anecdote is no less amusing.
7- Ganda ham
And no, it's not only the Basque Country, Italy or Spain that have high-quality ham. Our Belgian neighbors have nothing to envy us with ganda ham or more simply ganda ham. The name "ganda" comes from the Celtic name of the city of Ghent. This salted ham is made from the best pork meat. It is then well salted and dried for a long period of 10 months to give this so succulent taste.
8- Gruut
An exhaustive list of Belgian specialties without a beer would be surprising to say the least! Belgians are proven beer consumers and this is well anchored in their culture. In the Flemish region, Gruut is the local beer par excellence. It exists in several varieties. In white, blonde, amber or brown, Gruut can accompany your meals or your aperitif!
9- Roomer
After filling your belly properly, are you looking to digest a bit? Roomer will take care of all that. It is a 100% natural drink based on elderflower and spices whose secret is still well kept. It can be drunk alone or in cocktails like with vodka or tonic.