Restaurant
Restaurant Elckerlijc
Maldegem, Belgium
Restaurant Elckerlijc is the restaurant of the famous Belgian Chef Peter De Clercq and is located in the fields of het Meetjesland, a relatively unknown, but beautiful region in East-Flanders. The beautifully renovated farmhouse with a view on the fields offers the perfect setting for a great lunch or dinner, and different dining rooms, saloons and an outdoor terrace make guests feel welcome and relaxed.
The interior combines interesting art with romantic, authentic furniture and the warm atmosphere of the farmhouse is kept well through the use of wood and dark colours. A beautiful bar welcomes guests at the entrance of the restaurant and invites to start your dinner or lunch with a great cocktail or glass of champagne.
Chef Patron Peter De Clerq is a dynamic Belgian chef who manages the art of grilling as no one else. Passionate about meat, Peter knew at a young age that this beautiful ingredient would become his profession. Grilled meat of the best quality and refined side products became his trade mark and with unique preparations he delivers to his customers an unforgettable experience. He became world champion barbeque in 2003, something that no other Belgian chef has accomplished since then.
Peter is not only Chef Patron of restaurant Elckerlijc, but also a barbeque advisor, author of several barbeque books, and sells barbeque tools, spices and his own meat products. The beef meat that Peter serves in his restaurant comes from top butcher Dierendonck in Sint-Idesbald; the lambs, chickens, spices, vegetables and fruit from his own Elckerlijc farm. Quality is a philosophy at the Elckerlijc farm and the team applies utmost respect and concern for animal welfare, animal health, product safety, access control and product control, strict hygiene protocols and concern for the environment.
Peter applies a ‘home-grown-philosophy’ and uses only amazingly fresh vegetables, spices and fruits (picked in the morning, served at noon), together with meat and fish of the best quality available. The meat (more than 20 beef varieties), the fish and the sea fruits are prepared on the large grill, in the outdoor oven or on one of the barbeques. The beef is matured with care, two till eight weeks, and is grilled above oak, beech or other wood with olive, wine, beer or bourbon fragrances. The meat gets a delicious tender structure and an extra smoked taste dimension, which is complemented with the characteristic flavour of each beef variety.
A meal at Elckerlijc is started in style and the drink menu with strong liquors, cocktails, beers and apéritifs surprises with a wide and varied range. The international wine menu offers wines from different regions and at different prices which make great pairing choices for the dishes. The equally extensive food menu (printed on a daily ‘gazette’) offers seafood starters and other entrées, seasonal suggestions, grilled dishes, the famous meat section and desserts. It invites to sample various dishes and to share them with the company at your table.
Tender scallops, grilled on hot stone and smoked at the table with rosemary and completed with chicory and honey is a good example of what you can have. Cod, grilled on olive wood in the Josper and accompanied by fresh mushrooms and leek is another example. The pheasant ‘on the edge of the forest’ grilled and complemented by its natural surroundings like mushrooms and elderberry is delicious. Incredibly tender hare grilled on Rioja wine barrels together with pumpkin, beet and apple is another example of the Chef’s greatness. Of course you can have Wagyu beef (Japan, six weeks of ageing, beautifully marbled and incredibly tender), but also Rubia Gallega (Spain, four weeks of ageing, very aromatic and tender) and Simmental de Bavière (Germany, five weeks of ageing, dark and very tasty). A simply stunning selection of beef that will let you experience how a perfectly grilled steak should taste like. For dessert you can have a tasty grilled pineapple infused with Bacardi reserva. Grilled extravaganza indeed. A meal at Elckerlijc is traditionally ended with the Elckerlijc chocolate pills: delicious hazelnuts, grilled on spices and covered with a layer of chocolate. A perfect ending of a delicious meal.
Restaurant Elckerlijc is a must for every lover of quality meat, home-made products and the best grill specialties. The beautiful location, the extensive and surprising menus and the great philosophy will have you come back for more. A visit to Elckerlijc guarantees for no-nonsense culinary pleasure and will let you experience one of the best grills in the world.
Written by Sven & Adriaan