Belgium ranks third in a global ranking of most Michel-starred restaurants per inhabitant, with one such award-winning eatery for almost every 82,000 people, a new report showed. The country is also lauded for its affordable high-class cuisine.
From mayonnaise-covered frites to waffles and chocolate, Belgium is most commonly known for its more simple, rather fatty cuisine. However, a recent report published by the international food magazine Chef's Pencil, highlights that the country is also a forerunner when it comes to fine dining.
The report analysed the number of Michelin-starred restaurants on the official Michelin Guide website. This showed that Belgium, with a total of 143 Michelin-starred restaurants, ranks third worldwide and third in Europe for the highest density of such establishments. Three years ago, Belgium landed in fourth place, with 127 Michelin-starred restaurants.
Data from Chef's Pencil.
The result is not surprising to connoisseurs, as Belgium has increasingly made a name for itself in recent years on the culinary scene. Going back as far as 1972, the country was the first – outside of France, where the Michelin Guide originated – to have a three-star Michelin restaurant.
Currently, Belgium has two three-star restaurants: 'Zilte' run by Chef Viki Geunes in Antwerp and 'Boury' by Tim Boury in Roeselare. Until recently, the list also included 'Hof van Cleve' in Kruisem (East Flanders), run by chef Peter Goossens who left at the end of last year. The 'Hof van Cleve' under the helm of Floris Van der Veken has two stars.
Aside from the large number of Michelin-starred restaurants per person in Belgium, the country was also lauded for offering some of the most affordable fine dining venues in Europe. "Our Michelin pricing analysis shows that the median tasting menu costs €135 in Belgium – the fourth lowest in Europe."
Antwerp's brilliance
When it comes to the overall number of establishments included in the Michelin Guide, France comes out on top. There are no fewer than 639 Michelin-starred restaurants in the country.
Belgium's second-largest city, Antwerp, is home to 17 Michelin restaurants. Antwerp was ranked in fourth place for Michelin-starred restaurant density in the global listing, outranking global fine dining heavyweights such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Copenhagen and Barcelona. The Jane is one of the most famous fine dining restaurants in the city.
Antwerp is also one of the most affordable cities in Europe in which to enjoy a Michelin-starred meal. Brussels ranked 42nd for Michelin-starred density.
