Apr 14, '15

Photo report from In de Wulf

The fields of Flanders...
The fields of Flanders…

Nature is not always pleasing. We tend to ignore, or at least hide from our view the unpleasant parts of it, like, death for example. Not at In de Wulf (Wulvestraat 1, 8951, Belgium; tel. +32 57 44 55 67), where you are greeted with a large cow skull in the center of the dining room. In de Wulf’s chef Kobe Desramault practices natural cooking and celebrates everything that goes with it, death including. One of the first dishes of my lunch at In de Wulf was a filet of smoked mackerel, served on its skeleton. Further along the tasting menu, we see Kobe going even further. Pig’s skull is used as a tray for pig’s head tartelette. The tartelette is delicious.

When the prestigious  Opinionated About Dining guide named In De Wulf as Europe’s number one restaurant in 2014, I could only guess why. Now I know. Despite the rustic appearance and the smoke-filled dining room, In de Wulf is one of the most progressive restaurants in Europe at the moment. Kobe Desramaults beautifully presents the culinary reflections of his native Flanders region. Yes, you can smell the spirit of the rebel from the inside of In de Wulf kitchen, but the finesse of the cooking is speaking for itself.

My favourite moments from the meal…

In de Wulf
Savoy cabbage
Savoy cabbage
Salsify dipped in "Wostyn" powder
Salsify dipped in “Wostyn” powder
Mackere l,curry plant
Mackere l,curry plant
Homemade bread, butter and pork fat
Homemade bread, butter and pork fat
Homemade bread, butter and pork fat
Homemade bread, butter and pork fat
Oyster from Grevelingen, smoked over pine
Oyster from Grevelingen, smoked over pine
Turnip, apple root and hazelnut
Turnip, apple root and hazelnut
Egg yolk, pumpkin and crab jus
Egg yolk, pumpkin and crab jus
Baked potato with smoked potato mousse
Baked potato with smoked potato mousse
Baked potato with smoked potato mousse
Baked potato with smoked potato mousse
Pork neck with new greens
Pork neck with new greens
Pork's head tartelette
Pork’s head tartelette
Endive, sea buckthorn and goats cheese ice cream
Endive, sea buckthorn and goats cheese ice cream
Fermented carrot, caramelised white chocolate
Fermented carrot, caramelised white chocolate
Apple and hogweed sorbet
Apple and hogweed sorbet
Apple and hogweed sorbet
Apple and hogweed sorbet
Chicory millefeuille
Chicory millefeuille
In de Wulf
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