Local cuisine features a large variety of dishes and unexpected combination of different taste characteristics of components. In Lille chefs aren’t accustomed to spare time and money; they carefully study the ancient Flemish recipes and enrich them with original author’s notes to cook real culinary masterpieces. Travelers, who expect to visit local restaurants, have to consider another important feature. Dishes in the local dining places are quite large, so it would be appropriate to order one dish for two.
One of the most interesting and popular national dishes is carbonate in Flemish. It is made from the tenderest beef, which is stewed in beer for several hours. Another interesting dish is waterzoï. Fillet of fish or poultry is stewed in a special cream sauce; thinly sliced vegetables are served as a garnish. It is also worth to try potjevleesch. This jelly is prepared from different types of meat and is served only in clay pots. Fans of fine cuisine and gourmets will certainly have to taste stewed rabbit with plum sauce; seafood fans have to order fried mussels. In September, an interesting holiday, Major Sale, is held in Lille. Fried mussels are considered the most important holiday treat.
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