Flanders Feasting

In celebration of Belgium's 182nd year of independence, Washington, DC hosts Belgian Restaurant Week, a food festival that runs July 12-21 and features 10 of the area's top Belgian restaurants.

A bevy of Belgian bistros, including Belga Café, Brabo, Brasserie Beck, Et Voila!, Granville Moore's, Locolat, Le Pain Quotidien, Marcel's, Marvin, and Mussel Bar, are offering special food and drink deals and activities.

"The Belgian Restaurant Week in Washington, DC is a showcase of the best Belgium has to offer in the culinary field," said Belgian Ambassador Jan Matthysen.

The activities include a waffle brunch on July 15, a celebration of the Trappist beer Chimay's 150th anniversary on July 18, and a mussel throw down among top Washington, DC chefs on July 21. Other events include beer sampling nearly every day, Belgian music, and prize giveaway including roundtrip airfare and a three-night stay in Brussels.