Primetime Emmy
& James Beard Award Winner

  • Into the Holy Flemish Beer Lands

    The Belgian Way

    Sep 13-20, 2025

    ?

    Belgium’s beautiful north is in the midst of a culinary renaissance, as chefs and brewers refocus on local products and traditions through an imaginative contemporary lens. Guided by two of the continent’s leading experts on beer in all its gastronomic dimensions, this journey takes us from the wild yeast of Pajottenland’s farm breweries to the fire-kissed creations of the country’s most daring chefs.

    Eugenio Signoroni

    Guide

    Acclaimed Food Writer
    Eugenio Signoroni

    Kevin Patricio

    R&K Host

    Brewer, Cook, Traveler
    Kevin Patricio

Overview

The Belgian Way

In the hands of the Flemish, the humble beer becomes a thing of wonder. Over centuries, Trappist monks and master brewers have honed their craft, transforming simple ingredients into spontaneously fermented lambics with a complexity akin to fine wine. And now, Belgium’s beautiful north is in the midst of a culinary renaissance, as chefs and brewers refocus on local products and lost traditions through an imaginative contemporary lens.

Guided by two of the continent’s leading experts on beer in all its gastronomic dimensions, this journey takes us from the wild yeast of Pajottenland’s farm breweries to the briny spectacle of Flemish horse-shrimping, from golden frites in Ghent and the avant-garde chocolate of Bruges to the fire-kissed creations of Antwerp’s most daring chefs.

  • Belgium
  • Sep 13-20, 2025
  • from $12,550
Map
  • Belgium
  • Sep 13-20, 2025
  • from $12,550
The Belgian Way Inquire Now

DISCOVER FLANDERS:
Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day
1

WELCOME TO BELGIUM

  • The Dominican
  • Rue Léopold / Leopoldstraat 9 1000 Brussels
  • +32 (0)2 203 08 08
  • Private transfer from the airport to The Dominican, a grand residence turned luxury design hotel
  • Beer aperitif at Le Coq, a classic Brussels pub
  • Dinner at Manneken Pis Café, serving a modern twist on traditional Belgian cuisine, just a stone’s throw from the eponymous peeing baby fountain that has become a symbol of the city
  • Optional nightcap at the iconic puppet-filled tavern Poechenellekelder
Day
2

THE ROOTS OF BEER

  • The Dominican
  • Rue Léopold / Leopoldstraat 9 1000 Brussels
  • +32 (0)2 203 08 08
  • Relaxed breakfast at the hotel
  • Drive north past fertile fields of barley and hops to Haacht, a small Flemish town that is deeply entwined with Belgium’s beer heritage
  • Visit the farm-brewery Hof Ten Dormaal, where the Janssens family grows all the ingredients to produce a full range of classical Belgian and spontaneously fermented beers
  • At the moment when the hops are in bloom, right before they harvest, we will have a Belgian brewing masterclass, exploring the land and learning how beer is made, from seed to pour
  • Beer-paired barbecue on the land with farm-raised meat
  • Siesta
  • Dinner at Friture René, a legendary brasserie in Anderlecht known for its impeccable steak and croquettes
Day
3

MASTERS OF SPONTANEITY

  • The Dominican
  • Rue Léopold / Leopoldstraat 9 1000 Brussels
  • +32 (0)2 203 08 08
  • Journey to Pajottenland, the home of lambic, Belgium’s iconic spontaneously fermented beer
  • Visits and tastings at three of the world’s finest lambic producers—Boon in Halle, 3 Fonteinen in Beersel, and Cantillon in Anderlecht—for a masterclass on the evolution of beer, sampling from the foudre and going deep with Pajottenland’s master brewers
  • Dinner with lambic and gueuze pairings in Brussels at the classic bistro Les Brigittines, one of the best for pairing wild beers, joined by the master brewers
Day
4

THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

  • Last breakfast in Brussels
  • Road trip to Bruges, the stunningly beautiful medieval city Victor Hugo called “Venice of the North”
  • Visit the avant-garde factory of visionary chocolatier Julius Persoone (pictured below) for a deep dive into cocoa sourcing, Belgium’s chocolate heritage, and the innovation behind Persoone’s creations
  • Beer and chocolate come together in an extraordinary dinner experience in a historic locale that we’re keeping secret for now
Day
5

SHRIMPER’S PARADISE

  • Travel to the western coastal town of Oostduinkerke with Willem Hiele, one of Belgium’s most exciting chefs
  • Witness the ancient tradition of shrimp fishing by horseback at the only place in the world where it is still practiced
  • Free time in Ostend, once the favored seaside retreat of Belgian royalty
  • Dinner at one of Europe’s most interesting restaurants: Willem Hiele, an iconoclastic ode to Flemish seaside cuisine set in a brutalist masterpiece by Jacques Moeschal
Day
6

THE FINEST CUTS

  • Explore Antwerp’s best meat producers with Koen Lenaerts, chef of the celebrated neo-bistro Nage, where the day will build to our final bacchanal
  • Learn about the sourcing and craft behind Belgium’s exceptional meat traditions.
  • Dinner at Nage, featuring rare cuts paired with experimental wild beers from Antidoot, a pioneering farm-brewery whose master brewers will join us at the table
Day
7

HOLY FRIES, HOLY BEER

  • Travel to the culturally rich medieval port city of Ghent
  • Explore the art of Belgian frites with Sven and Eveline Devile of Frituur Tartaar
  • Learn about the Trappist monastic order and its deep cultural and culinary legacy
  • Final-night dinner with a big tasting of the best of the holy Trappist tradition of the region
Day
8

GOODBYE BELGIUM

  • One last breakfast in Antwerp, blinking back tears, vowing reunions
  • Private transfer to the airport

What’s Included

  • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, as well as snacks and beverages between meals
  • Expertise and services of our experienced trip leaders: at least one guide and one host per trip
  • Additional guides and experts from the region
  • Transfers to and from the airport or wherever you are on the day the trip starts and ends
  • Daily Roads & Kingdoms gifts related to the themes, activities and narratives of each trip
  • All gratuities for accommodations, meals, guiding or transport

What’s Not Included

  • International airfare to and from the journey (note: some trips begin and end at different airports)
  • Personal bar tabs (when not with the group)
  • Personal laundry or spa services
  • Personal travel insurance

Meet Our Hosts

Eugenio Signoroni

Destination Guide

Eugenio Signoroni

Celebrated Food & Beer Writer

One of Europe’s most trusted voices when it comes to food and beer, Eugenio Signoroni had a long editorial career at the iconic Slow Food before branching out to write prolifically on Italian food culture. The former editor of the authoritative Osteria d’Italia and Birre d’Italia guides, he is the author of influential works like Il piacere della Birra and Cuocere and host of the popular podcasts Lievito Madre and Beer Revolution. In 2022, he was voted “Italian Food Writer of the Year” by Identità Golose magazine.

Kevin Patricio

R&K Host

Kevin Patricio

Brewer, Cook, Traveler

A craft beer enthusiast with an incredible knowledge of the beverage in its many permutations, Kevin is the co-founder and CEO of Basqueland Brewing, one of Spain’s top breweries which is dedicated to making beer on par with the Basque culinary experience. He started his professional career in New York City at Food & Wine Magazine in 1998. After six years at the magazine he left to pursue a career in the kitchen, including training in NYC classics like The Red Cat and Blue Hill. He continued to consult for food media and spirit companies until the kitchen took him completely, which brought him to San Sebastián in 2011 and delivered him to craft beer’s doorstep in 2015.

Where You’ll Stay

The Dominican

The Dominican

A Noble House

A redesigned residence that once housed the renowned 19th-century painter Jacques-Louis David, The Dominican features grand cloisters and high-arched ceilings that draw inspiration from the 15th-century Dominican Abbey that once stood at this site. Its refined rooms, atmospheric courtyard, and luxurious spa make it a peaceful retreat in central Brussels.

Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

In Bruges

Set across a pair of gorgeous, delicate old timbered houses on the canals of Bruges, this intimate boutique hotel offers medieval charm with modern luxuries. The elegant interiors mix with phenomenal views to create an atmospheric retreat in one of Europe’s most picturesque cities and the perfect place to unwind after a day of culinary exploration.

Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp

Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp

Monastic Elegance

In the heart of old Antwerp, this restored 15th-century monastery blends historical grandeur with world-class luxury. Set within lush botanical gardens, the hotel features an opulent spa and beautifully designed rooms that honor the building’s history: a perfect finale to our journey through Flanders.

  • I had no idea what a deeply moving experience this trip would be—far beyond just a culinary tour.

    Dawn F.
    Morocco, from Medina to Mountain 2024
  • The level of thoughtfulness in every experience and every afterthought was simply amazing. I am extremely grateful to have had Eugenio as our host.

    Renee V.
    Puglia: The True Dolce Vita 2024
  • The connections R&K has in the community made this trip feel like a once-in-a-lifetime experience that could not be replicated by any other company.

    Amanda C.
    CDMX Under the Volcano 2024

Related Trips

  • Italy’s Best Kept Secret

    Abruzzo the Bold

    Oct 5-12, 2025

    ?

    Despite producing some of the best wine, cheese, salumi, and seafood on the continent, Abruzzo improbably flies under the radar, its dreamlike mountainous hinterlands, hilltop Renaissance towns, and coastal enclaves still remarkably untouched by mass tourism. But true heads know, which is why our guide Eugenio Signoroni, former editor of L’Osteria d’Italia and a longtime Abruzzo devotee, put together this fantastically well-connected journey through his favorite region. In the beautiful last blush of the harvest season, we will travel from mountain to village to seaside to farmstead, learning the secrets of Abruzzo through its incomparable cuisine.

    Eugenio Signoroni

    Local Guide

    Celebrated Food Writer
    Eugenio Signoroni

    Andy Ricker

    R&K Host

    Chef, (Grand)Son of Abruzzo
    Andy Ricker

  • How else should you live?

    Sicily, East to West

    Oct 19-26, 2025

    ?

    Gelato for breakfast. Evening aperitivos. Leisurely late-night meals: Lean in to the rhythms of Sicilian life with an unparalleled food bounty shaped by the Mediterranean and centuries of conquest and exchange. Many of Italian cuisine’s best-loved dishes are rooted in Sicilian soil—join us for a tour of some of the best ingredients and meals Europe has to offer.

    Katie Parla

    R&K Host

    Writer, Eater, Raconteur
    Katie Parla

The Belgian Way Inquire Now
R&K League of Travelers

Ready for a new adventure?

Inquire Now.

    Fill out the form to join the waitlist. We’ll reach out if space opens up.