I just found this sub so I wanted to keep contributing some of our 2023 experiences. Hope that’s ok!
This one was special. It’s one of the best meals we’ve ever had and might have been our top overall guest experience. What made it so special was the service. It was all hands on deck. Everyone was doing what was needed to make it work. Nobody was your server or had only one role. These people worked their ass off. Willem was so kind and even invited us to come back the next day for breakfast on him and to spend the day at the property. Just an incredible person.
Belgium was pretty tough to navigate as there aren’t many curated lists. We found this one on the Michelin guide but when we researched Willem a bit it seems like he’s a pretty special guy. We booked months in advance and it was one of our favourite experiences ever and definitely this or noma were our favourite on this trip. One mistake we made is not staying there. They have guest houses which we should have spent the night at because the meal goes quite long.
We did a day trip, visited Dunkirk and some other northern French towns before ending up here. The building is a brutalist architectural marvel. It’s stunning. They pull you inside and take you right to the backyard where you’re set up outside in a beautiful setting. It’s remote. There are fields all around you, they were actively being farmed while we were there. They set you up with a cocktail while the guests shuffle in and the chefs get ready at the smoker.
You start with some smoked fish and other small plates. You’re out there for an hour or so and then you’re whisked inside. The dining room, like everything else in the renovated home is stunning. Everything is done so well.
The food just keeps coming. The menu is almost entirely seafood oriented and you’ll try dishes like sea cucumber and fishes I didn’t really know and then you’ll get a casual plate like the best shrimp sandwich you’ll ever have and a seafood soup. Everything was delicious. Not too heavy at all and just delicious. There wasn’t a plate we didn’t enjoy. When you’re done food they’ll take you in to another room for a small desert and coffee. It was close to midnight at that point in time.
Wine was spot on, list was great, cocktails were great.
by ochief19