Ostend (North Sea fish) ★ 4.3
Ostend, a quarter-hour by train from Bruges, lands the North Sea catch at its open-air Vistrap quay market, where fishermen sell fish and grey shrimp.
Ghent (waterzooi and cuberdon) is a food day trips in Bruges.
Ghent, half an hour east of Bruges, is the home of waterzooi, the creamy chicken-or-fish stew, and the purple cone-shaped cuberdon sweet sold from carts.
Ostend, a quarter-hour by train from Bruges, lands the North Sea catch at its open-air Vistrap quay market, where fishermen sell fish and grey shrimp.
Damme, 6km north of Bruges along the Damse Vaart, is a quiet canal village reached by boat or bike, with canal-side restaurants and a starred kitchen.
Zeebrugge, the working sea port of Bruges, lands the grey shrimp and North Sea fish that fill the city's kitchens, with harbour seafood rooms nearby.
Brussels, an hour from Bruges by train, is where Neuhaus invented the praline in 1912, and where grand beer cafes and Brussels waffles reward a day trip.