Launch ‘Regional Guide - A Taste of Knokke-Heist 2021’

Knokke-Heist, Tuesday 31 August 2021

Gault&Millau cements Knokke-Heist's name on the map as a gastronomic hotspot by publishing ‘Regional Guide - A Taste of Knokke-Heist 2021’

Gault&Millau’s new culinary guide, ‘A Taste of Knokke-Heist 2021’, was officially presented to the general public on Tuesday 31 August. In recent years, Knokke-Heist has made a culinary name for itself in Belgium and far beyond as a true frontrunner in the field of fine dining. In fact, gastronomy and Knokke-Heist are like salt and pepper: inextricably connected. The new guide acknowledges the sustained daily efforts made by the municipality and local food merchants to take Knokke-Heist’s culinary landscape to a higher level.

A world first
Knokke-Heist’s new guide is a world first: no other municipality has ever been singled out by Gault&Millau this way, with its very own guide featuring a selection of must-visit foodie destinations in the region, from top restaurants to specialty delicatessens. So far, 49,000 copies have been printed of the guide, which has 140 pages. All establishments mentioned in the publication have received a Gault&Millau sticker, allowing passers-by to quickly spot and recognise them.

 A taste of Knokke-Heist
Gault&Millau’s inspectors spent the past few months traversing Knokke-Heist to scout the region for the most fingerlickingly delicious locations. They compiled an independently curated list of 148 eateries, divided into four different categories:

• A gastronomic selection with Gault&Millau scores and toques being awarded
• A special Knokke-Heist selection with additional delightful local wining & dining spots
• A selection of artisan shops and delicatessens, including bakeries, butchers, caterers, fishmongers, ice cream parlours and wine merchants
• A selection of beach bars

The guide also includes feature articles on regional products, farmers', markets, recommended eateries in the nearby Zwin region, local establishments who’ve won Gault&Millau awards in recent years, interviews with well-known foodies, a behind-the-scenes look at AZ Zeno’s kitchen and the ART Tour Knokke-Heist.

 Gastronomic selection
Knokke-Heist is home to top restaurants that cater to every taste. We have compiled a quick overview of the highest-ranking addresses listed in the new culinary guide. These are: Bartholomeus (18/20), Cuines 33 (17/20), Sel Gris (16.5/20), Il Trionfo (15.5/20), Caillou (15/20) and Escabèche (15/20).

The publication also includes some rising stars. Gault&Millau’s inspectors were sufficiently impressed to award a higher ranking to Caillou (15/20), Bistro JETT (14.5/20) and Boo Raan (14/20).

They also stumbled across plenty of new culinary treasure troves they hadn’t previously spotted in Knokke-Heist: Dah Makan (14/20), Restaurant Alexandra (13/20), Blanco (13/20), Le Chardonnay (13/20), LeBeau19 (12/20), Luxo (12/20) and Tomatous (12/20).

In total, Knokke-Heist’s gastronomic selection now boasts no fewer than 37 restaurants.

Knokke-Heist special selection 

In the ‘Knokke-Heist Special Selection’ chapter, readers are introduced to an additional 50 delightful wining & dining hotspots: from breakfast places, lunchtime options, themed restaurants and much-frequented Gault&Millau-scored gems to bistros, brasseries, coffee bars, cocktail bars and several cafés.

Artisan shops and delicatessens
Gault&Millau curated a list of no fewer than 61 artisans shops and delicatessens who proudly offer wares of the highest quality. This section of the guide highlights 10 bakeries and patisseries, 3 chocolatiers, 12 catering restaurants, 4 greengrocers, 6 ice cream parlours, 9 butchers, 4 fishmongers and 6 wine merchants.

New website: www.atasteofknokkeheist.be

All the addresses listed in the Knokke-Heist guide can also be found on a new website, www.atasteofknokkeheist.be. Thanks to the site’s handy search bar, photos, maps, the integrated Resengo booking system and clear navigation instructions, you’ll find what you're looking for in no time! The site can be freely accessed by anyone.

All Knokke-Heist residents, second-home owners and short-stay tenants will receive a free guide by post. The print publication will also be available at Tourism Knokke-Heist and in local bookstores for just €19.95. So starting this September, foodies everywhere will be able to leaf through the guide both in print and online to salivate over the restaurants and sinfully tasty treats it recommends.