Beer and chocolate are trendy

Dominique Persoone & Damme Noir

“Beer and chocolate are trendy”

“Beer is the drink for people who relish life... and chocolate is the perfect matching nibble. Beer and chocolate are both right on trend. It’s my dream to launch a collection of beer truffles”, declares chocolatier Dominique Persoone.

TEXT BIEKE COBBAERT PHOTO DAVY COGHE

“Beer production and chocolate production are actually quite similar”, points out Dominique: “they both involve fermentation. Cocoa beans mature their flavour during the process, and that’s just what happens for beer. And you can make bitter beer just like you make bitter chocolate”. “All the same, there are some important differences. Beer is the drink for people who relish life... and chocolate is the perfect matching nibble. Beer and chocolate are both right on trend. But that doesn’t mean that they guarantee a perfect pairing. You won’t taste the best of light chocolate with a strong beer any more than you can team a mild beer with pure dark chocolate. The stronger and darker the beer, the better it will go with a chunk of darker milk chocolate or fondant. In fact, the two things each enrich the other. And that also happens when you mix them in certain products. The first thing that comes to mind is my favourite food: the stoofvlees my wife Fabienne makes. It’s a traditional Belgian beef stew, and she always pops in a chunk of bitter chocolate. Actually, that’s a tip from Michelin-starred chef Geert Vanhecke from Zet’joe (and previously De Karmeliet). And when Fabienne cooks a keuntje (rabbit), she always adds a bit of bitter chocolate (as well as beer, of course). Definitely recommended!”

DAMME NOIR

“I have to admit that I haven’t been particularly impressed by most of the chocolate beers that I’ve tried. Too sweet, too sticky. But when, as a proud Damme resident, I got the chance to work on Damme Noir, a Damse Brouwers beer, I became a total convert. Damme Noir is a beer that has only seen the cocoa beans for a short time. They aren’t given the chance to lend the beer a sweet, vanilla-chocolate flavour. Instead, you get the purity and bitterness of the cocoa bean. Another thing I’m still dreaming of is launching a collection of beer truffles. It’s one for the bucket list!” 

Dominique Persoone: “The stronger and darker the beer, the better it will go with a chunk of darker milk chocolate or fondant.”

Beer and bites (1)

West Flanders has many, many excellent bistros and restaurants where you can be assured your food will be matched with a good beer or can select from an extensive beer list.

Cambrinus (Bruges)

©Toerisme Leiestreek vzw

This beer brasserie in central Bruges has no less than 400 Belgian beers on its menu. Enjoy a delicious bite from their extensive ‘beer cuisine’; for example, rabbit cooked in the traditional Flemish way, using their own beer Gambrivinus. (Philipstockstraat 19, Bruges) www.bierbrasseriecambrinus.eu

De Jonkman (Sint-Kruis)

Michelin-starred De Jonkman matches an impressive wine list with an equally excellent and varied selection of beers. The beer list won Gault & Millau’s ‘Beer menu of the Year (Belgium)’ in 2020. (Maalse Steenweg 438, Bruges) www.dejonkman.be

Toogoloog (Middelkerke)

A butchery back in the roaring twenties, Toogoloog is now all about beer. It has a warm, welcoming ambiance and around 200 different beers to sample. The food menu includes prawn croquettes, pork belly and a charcuterie platter. (Kerkstraat 7, Middelkerke) www.dentoogoloog.be

Bar Bernard (Poperinge)

Bar Bernard is the storefront for St Bernardus Brewery. The bar & restaurant boasts a roof terrace with three-sixty views over the hopfields, Westhoek and France. It’s no surprise that the brewery’s own beers take pride of place at Bar Bernard. (Trappistenweg 23, Poperinge) www.sintbernardus.be

The Mash (Izegem)

he brewpub attached to D’Oude Maalderij Brewery has oft been named ‘Belgium’s best brewpub’ by Ratebeer. Relax in this unique atmosphere where you can enjoy home-cooked Belgian food paired with a home-brewed craft beer. (Ardooisestraat 130, Izegem) www.doudemaalderij.com

©Westtoer

Botteltje (Ostend)

Chef James loves to use beer in his cuisine. Try his pork cheeks made with Keyte from Strubbe Brewery or a crème brulee with St Bernadus Prior. Botteltje also has its own house beer: Ostensche Strever. (Louisastraat 19, Ostend) www.botteltje.be

©Westtoer

Den Heksestoel (Heuvelland)

Heksestoel is all about authentic regional food perfectly teamed with local craft beer. Dishes recovered from the mists of time and foaming brews, enjoyed in the timeless surroundings of creaking floorboards, a solid wood bar and traditional décor. (Douanestraat 1, Heuvelland) www.denheksestoel.be

’t Rusteel (Gullegem-Wevelgem)

’t Rusteel is a restaurant with a mighty beer list, prominently featuring home breweries Gulden Spoor and De Feniks. Many of the dishes on the menu have been enhanced with a splash of beer, and are often are listed with a suitable matching brew. (Heulestraat 168, Gullegem-Wevelgem) www.rusteel.be

’t Nieuw Museum (Bruges)

Bier & Vlees, reads the menu heading. Beer & Meat. The title has been carefully chosen. Try cuts grilled on the wood grill and local farm produce – all paired with a West Flanders beer from the extensive selection on offer. (Hooistraat 42, Bruges) www.nieuw-museum.com

More tasty tips:

Meet 170 Lekkere Westen chefs at

www.hetlekkerewesten.be