bread snobs

One of the pleasures of life in Belgium is the availability of a vast array of breads, rolls, and sweets at the many bakeries.  I would estimate that within a 10 minute radius of our house there are 4 bakeries.  Make the radius 15 minutes and it increases quite a bit.

I recently accompanied my daughter and her class on a field trip to a dairy farm.  In a lunch time conversation with the teacher and the other adults present I heard comments about how there are no good bakeries in our neighborhood.  Really?  I also heard comments like one bakery is good as a patisserie and another has good volkoren bread (a hearty multi-grain type bread).  I must be a bread novice.  

So three years into life in Belgium (and nearing the end of our time hear) I'm still learning things about the people and the culture.  I hope that the posture of a learner is something I will maintain the rest of my life.