Belgium has gone down from three Michelin star restaurants to 1 restaurant in the span of two years. Following the closure of Karmelit, the restaurant of Geert Van Hecke in Bruges in 2016 and the announced closure of Hertog Jan by Gert de Mangeleer in Zedelgem next month, the only restaurant to retain 3 stars in Belgium is Hof Van Cleve.
Despite speculation that there could be potential candidates for a third star, the Michelin guide decided to retain all 2 Michelin star restaurants at that level and at least reflect for another year as to who to elect to the highest echelon in the red guide.
However, there was good news for David Martin of La Paix. After having been named the chef of the year by Gault & Millau just a few days ago, his restaurant was finally awarded with a second Michelin star.
Another restaurant to clinch a second star was Table de Maxime in the Wallonian hamlet of Our. Young chef Maxime Collard is the chef working there and he owes his success to Geert Van Hecke where he worked till the restaurant closed two years ago.
Brussels lost two one star restaurants. These are Le monde est petit in Etterbeek and L’ecailler du Palais Royal in Sablon. The latter’s chef Maxime Maziers took over the restaurant Bruneau earlier this year.
In the South part of Belgium, three restaurants were awarded with a Michelin star. These are La Ligne Rouge in Plancenoit, Plage d’Amee in Jambes and Little Paris in Waterloo.
Young chef Philippe Heylen of EED in Leuven not only won the young chef of the year at the age of 23 but also clinched a first star for his restaurant. The chef used to work at Hertog Jan.
The other two new 1 Michelin star restaurants are both in Antwerp. These are Franq and Nathan.
The guide also paid tribute to Brussels restaurant Comme Chez Soi which has been had Michelin star for 66 consecutive years. It was a three Michelin star restaurant under the guidance of Pierre Wynants and has had two Michelin stars since his son in law Lionel Rigolet took the helms of the kitchen.
In total, Belgium has 1 3 Michelin star restaurant, 24 two Michelin star restaurants and 104 1 star restaurants.
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