If, for you, end-of-year celebrations rhyme with food, food and more food, these Christmas markets and gourmet places 2024 edition in Brussels and Wallonia could well interest you. You have the right not to touch only with your eyes!
Who says Christmas market says, of course, smells of wine and warm chestnuts which mix with fatter and sweeter scents. All urban and rural Christmas markets offer tasting stands of local or less local specialties, and at any market you will find something to delight your taste buds.
But if you want to take your discovery a little further than the chalet at your local market, head to these few addresses. Hurry quickly, it starts this weekend!
1. The gourmet village of Aubel
Head to the Pays de Herve, in the province of Liège, to discover the charming little town of Aubel which rhymes so well with Christmas. Obviously focused on local gastronomy, the 23 exhibitors of the Gourmet Village offer the specialties that are the delight of the Herve plateau. On the menu of the celebrations is its famous cheese, of course, but also apple and pear syrups, Lev’gos (the local blood sausage), onion soup and hot cider, white pudding hot dogs and local bubbles, aubeloise tartiflettes and sangria Christmas. Something to delight gourmets and bon vivants, all in a more than charming setting, a little out of time.
From Friday 29 to Sunday December 1, 2024 8 p.m. More information on aubel.be
2. Gourmet Pleasures in Malmedy
A change of scenery guaranteed in the Eastern Cantons, in the heart of the pretty little town nestled in the hollow of the surrounding mountains, Malmedy. This year, the Winter Fairies are hosting an ice rink, a bullfight (we’re talking about running, not the thing with the bull…), crèches, concerts (on weekends), treasure hunts and a Christmas parade (December 22). And of course, 10 chalets where you can enjoy tartiflettes, reibekuchen, mushroom toasts, and other seasonal goodies. The only thing missing is snow, fingers crossed!
From November 29 to December 25. Ice rink open from November 29 to January 5 The Christmas Gourmet Pleasures and the entire Winter Wonderland program can be found on malmedy-tourisme.be
3. The Vignoble des Agaises Christmas market in Haulchin
Like every year on the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December, a local artisan market takes place at the Agaises vineyards, where Ruffus is produced, under a heated marquee along the vines. You can taste Ruffus, but also mulled wine, caviar, special beers, cured meats or Belgian spirits, all in an ultra-warm and friendly atmosphere. We admit it, sometimes Christmas is a good excuse!
Fireworks Friday November 29. All the program and participants under Ruffus’ Instagram post.
4. Eole’s Christmas in Quévy
We stay on the vineyard side at Domaine du Chant d’Eole. This year again, the Domaine is offering its famous Christmas market from December 13 to 15, where you will discover hand-picked local artisans and producers. And if you miss the appointment, don’t panic, the pop-up store is set up for almost a month of magic. There you can buy something to compose your festive menu or make your gifts. Local products, wines and alcohol, caviar, jam and honey, various delicacies… Something to please all palates!
In terms of atmosphere, you won’t be left out, everything is planned to welcome and entertain young and old, with distribution of cotton candy for the kids on Sundays. Special mention for the raclette/fondue from the Brasserie d’Eole, which you can eat… in a gondola located in the heart of the vineyards!
Pop-up shop: from December 18 to 31 (open every day).
Meals in cabins from November 15 to December 29, for 4 to 8 people.
Christmas market: Friday 13: from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 14: from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. & Sunday 15: from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. chantdeole.be
5. Hors-Champs Christmas market in Gembloux
We head to Ernage (section of Gembloux) to (re)discover the Hors-Champs Christmas market which, for the fourth year, offers, among other festivities, its famous wood-firedflamekueche (which is best reserved for the advance), but also its oyster bar, its homemade foie gras and its smoked fish. Of course, you can take advantage of the creative and sustainable market to make your Christmas gifts, whether they are gourmet or not!
Friday December 6, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday December 7 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday December 8 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. More information on hors-champs.be
6. Belgian Jingle, the return! In Brussels
The bells will ring again at the Petit Mercado in Saint-Gilles, which is offering you, for the second year, a farandole of gifts concocted, among others, by nine winners of the Fooding Belgium 2024 guide. Over a period of three days, you can choose to have brunch (in party mode) or dinner under the care of Davy Schellemans (from veranda_antwerp) whose Café Commercial was elected “Fooding of love” in the Guide 2024. And if you will fill your belly with pleasure – after all it is Christmas – you can take the opportunity to also fill your basket with a quantity of gourmet gifts to wrap quickly, quickly, in case you are tempted to taste them…
From Friday December 6 to Sunday December 8 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. All the information to reserve brunches and dinners on lefooding.com
