On the list of what my favorite city must meet, Breda ticks quite a few boxes. From canals (in this case, singels) and Old Dutch streets to hotspots and abundant hospitality; you can find coziness in all shapes and sizes, and yet I come here far too little.

Fortunately, Big Belly Bar & Garden gave me a valid reason to travel south again last week. Together with their new chef Joshua van Hijfte, who previously cooked stars in a Michelin-star restaurant, they have developed a new menu full of creative variations on familiar comfort food. Well, you can't get the slightly revamped Bourgondiër in me any wilder. Or can you?

Upon entering, my interior heart skipped a beat at the hotspot-worthy interior. Dark blue, gold, rattan, and artworks on the wall that manage to catch your eye just a little longer. You feel good, cozy. Something they also effortlessly manage to carry over to the terrace, where it is lovely to stay among the atmospheric lights and heaters until the late evening hours (okay, 12 o'clock for now).

I enjoyed the KFC (haha) Korean Fried Cauliflower with cauliflower miso cream and the pickled salmon sashimi in red beet, but also the taco tasting and the Big Belly smashed burger with secret sauce. Well, you can leave good food and drink to Brabanders... I can already hear Guus singing: ’That's why I love Brabanders so much!

But anyway, something else they are good at at Big Belly Bar is beer. You couldn't miss it since the 24-tap rotating draft is quite noticeable upon entering. Half of these beers are brewed by themselves in their own local Big Belly Brewery. Fun fact: with every beer, they have a wine that resembles it. My eye fell on the IPA JETSET, named after their own Jet. It is a rosé variant of a white beer that is many times fresher than the rosé beers we are used to. I'm not averse to an alcoholic treat and would love to take a crate of this home, but I hold back. Furthermore, I was very curious about their Liquid Dessert, but I will save that for my next visit, because that will definitely happen.

To all Bredanaars, city trippers, and day visitors: you understand: Big Belly Bar & Garden is where you need to be. See you, huh!