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Pommes frites

I am currently in Belgium visiting Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, and Antwerp. I am attempting to find the pommes frites establishment featured in Rick’s PBS video on Belgium. Can anyone direct me to the proper location? Thank you!

Joe Ferreira

Posted by
7453 posts

Are you are talking about the segment where the guy explains the process and says the fries are speaking to them?

If so then the video shows the main square in Bruges, the shot seems to show people buying from a stand. The sequence however is shot in a full kitchen, not a stand. The sequence never shows a sign or mentions the place, I do not believe the name of the guy cooking is even mentioned. The clip is from maybe 2004...so lot's has changed.

Posted by
1576 posts

This place is in Brussels but it's really popular. The lines are ridiculously long. The stand is called Frit Flagey on the main square.

Posted by
492 posts

Season 3, Episode 7, I'm guessing!

As Paul mentioned, the initial, exterior shot shows people buying from a stand right in front of the Belfry in Bruges' Market Square. The interior segment showing the actual cooking is in a kitchen, though. Credits often mention specific places in the "Special Thanks" portion but I don't see any mention of the frites place there.

Posted by
307 posts

We had frites in more than one location in Belgium and the Netherlands, including the kiosk that is a school bus in front of Keukehhof gardens. They were all wonderful; I think the secret is the mayonnaise that is served with the frites - nothing like we find in the US
Enjoy!

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you all for the help. Our conference moves to Bruges this weekend, so, I will BOLO the frites stand in the market square. RJean, actually had the basic frites w/mayonnaise at the Belgian Frites establishment you provided the link for (https://www.belgianfrites.be/en). Thank you!

Posted by
1954 posts

You can always ask a local about their favorite “frietkot” or “frituur” in the neighbourhood.

A lot of info about frites in Belgium: http://www.navefri.be/

If you still have to visit Ghent “De Frietketel” in Papegaaistraat has an excellent reputation.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you, Wil, for the recommendation, especially for Ghent. I look forward to tracking them down!

Posted by
740 posts

We just got back from Belgium. The friets really are amazing! In Ghent, we followed Rick's Ghent City Walk and stopped on the way at the little Frituur Josef fry wagon in Vrijdagmarkt square (recommended in RS guide). The cooked to order friets were exceptional! My husband and I shared a medium size and it was huge! Piping hot, fresh friets with mayonnaise. Yum!

Posted by
32521 posts

I see the term pommes frites used with Brugge and Gent. Both are Flemish speaking areas (Brussels is primarlily French) and pommes frite is French. In Flemish it is Friet. The potato is understood.

Posted by
740 posts

Thanks, Nigel, for pointing out the correct word! Good to know! (I corrected my post)