Potiron

The story

Potiron Kasterlee – Modern Cuisine with French Roots in Belgium

Potiron

In the small Kempen village of Kasterlee, Dirk Ver Heyen and Sophie Fleerackers have spent 25 years building a restaurant that reflects their deep connection to the land. The name Potiron – French for pumpkin – is a nod to the town’s beloved symbol, but the cooking reaches far beyond any single ingredient.

The couple met in the kitchens of renowned restaurants before striking out on their own. Today, they lead a close-knit team that tends more than 1.5 hectares of vegetable and herb gardens. The produce from those plots drives the kitchen: dishes change with the season and are built around what is freshly picked.

The menu reads like a confident tour of modern cuisine with French roots. Starters range from a snow crab with miso-mayonnaise and pumpkin to a duo of vitello tonnato with sweetbread croquette. Mains include calf sweetbreads with cavolo nero and a Fine Champagne sauce, Landes Label Rouge chicken with asparagus and morels, and a lobster pasta with truffle and mushrooms. Desserts stay true to the house style – a pumpkin crème brûlée, a tarte Tatin with pumpkin ice cream, or a Bordalou of chestnut, apple and caramel chocolate.

Sophie Fleerackers runs the front of house with warmth and precision. The dining room is cosy, and in good weather the terrace opens for lunch and dinner. For those who want the full picture, the tasting menus – three, four or five courses – offer a curated path through the kitchen’s strengths, with optional wine pairings.

The restaurant has earned a Michelin Recommended distinction, a recognition that matches the steady, unhurried ambition of the team. Potiron is not about flash – it is about cooking that respects the ingredients, the garden, and the people around the table.