Rascasse

The story

Rascasse in Kalmthout: Chef Erwin Denys’ Sustainable Seafood & Modern Cuisine

A Chef and Host with History

Since 2008, chef Erwin Denys and hostess Caroline Claeys have been the heart of Rascasse, a former café transformed into a warm, accessible restaurant in the green outskirts of Kalmthout. Caroline’s love of gastronomy is in her genes – her parents ran the renowned La Souricière in Adinkerke – and she brings a professional warmth that earned her Gault&Millau’s Hostess of the Year. Erwin honed his craft in several Michelin-starred kitchens, and today his experience shines in a creative Modern Cuisine built on taste, product quality, and simplicity.

Sustainable Seafood from the North Sea

The restaurant’s name – Rascasse – is the scorpion fish, and the menu leans toward seafood, though meat dishes also appear. As a member of the “Noordseachefs” (North Sea Chefs), Erwin is committed to sustainability, focusing on lesser-known fish species and by-catch from Belgian and Dutch fishermen. The menu follows the seasons, offering pure, recognizable flavors. A limited à la carte selection and three‑, four‑, and five‑course discovery menus change regularly, always with respect for the product.

The Experience at Rascasse

The atmosphere is welcoming yet refined, with Caroline ensuring every guest feels at home. The restaurant’s Michelin Recommended status confirms the consistent quality of this kitchen. Open for lunch Wednesday through Friday, and dinner Wednesday through Saturday (closed Sunday–Tuesday and Saturday lunch), Rascasse offers a genuine taste of the North Sea, rooted in passion and seasonality.