Hertog Jan

Haven't updated in a while. I've been fully enjoying my stay in CA but I've also started to countdown the days until I fly back to Tokyo.

Finishing up on my updates from our Eurotrip...

The reason for our detour to Bruges was to eat at Hertog Jan. The Chef and Sommelier co-own the restaurant and they organically grow most of their vegetables, herbs and flowers to create modern, gastronomy dishes (you can read more here). They earned 3 Michelin stars last year in 2011 after taking over the restaurant in 2005.

We ordered the 5-course menu paired with wine. Luckily, we got seated right next to the kitchen so we were able to watch all of the chefs in action.

It's difficult to put into words all the elaborate flavors of each dish. Actually, its impossible.

All I can say is that this truly was an "experience". Once we step in the restaurant, we get an opportunity to sample a taste of Chef Gerd De Mangeleer's culinary genious. All of the paired wines that we had were very interesting (never had wines from the mountains of Portugal, Greece and small islands in Europe) but was the perfect accent to that specific dish. The interior was so simple but the ambiance was warm and inviting and not at all stuck up. And the service was beyond amazing. They explained each dish and wine in depth, made sure everything was perfect without being in your face or staring you down. Everything about the restaurant and the food had an elegant flow that made us forget we were in there for a good 4 hours.

If you are ever in Belgium, the trip out to Bruges and Hertog Jan is SO worth it.