Le Chalet de la Forêt

The story

Le Chalet de la Forêt, Brussels – Michelin Two-Star Modern French Cuisine by Pascal Devalkeneer

A Little Jewel in the Heart of Uccle

Pascal Devalkeneer’s ambition for Le Chalet de la Forêt was clear from the start: “I want to turn this place into a little jewel, a meeting place that is unique in its genre, a top spot for haute cuisine but also a warm place where people are pleased to come because they know beforehand that they will feel at ease here.” Set in the leafy Brussels suburb of Uccle, the restaurant brings together a traditional wood-and-glass chalet with a strikingly modern interior. The result is a dining room that feels both elegant and welcoming, with a large terrace, private parking, and spaces for private events.

The Garden as a Source of Inspiration

Devalkeneer’s long-held dream of an on-site vegetable garden has become a reality: 1,156 square metres of meticulously planted plots, designed by garden architect Erik Dhondt. The garden mingles English-style flowerbeds with French-style divisions, and the selection of varieties is chosen to create a self-regulating ecosystem. Here, aromatic plants, wild flowers, and heritage fruit trees supply the kitchen with produce that changes with the seasons. “It’s not a question of being trendy, it’s a question of taste,” the chef says. The vegetable garden is not merely a decorative feature—it is the engine of the cuisine, providing the herbs, salads, and vegetables that define the Modern French menu.

The Cuisine and the Recognition

Every day, wood is lit in the kitchen. Bread is baked, vegetables are grilled, salted, and smoked on the premises. The cooking philosophy is grounded in the product: “Classicism is in the product. Modernity, in the plating.” Devalkeneer’s approach has earned Le Chalet de la Forêt two Michelin stars, a distinction woven into the restaurant’s daily rhythm rather than displayed as a trophy. The kitchen works with small producers, organic farming, and protected designations of origin, and the menu changes with what the garden and the seasons offer. Guests can choose from a three-course lunch (€90) or the more extensive Forêt menus of four or five courses, with or without wine pairings. A special “Menu Jeunes” at €130 is available to diners under 30, offering a full three-course meal with aperitif, wine, and coffee. At the heart of it all is Devalkeneer’s guiding principle: “Simplicity as a route to finding the most appropriate flavour.”