Cafe Belge hosts Michelin-starred Yves Mattagne

Cafe Belge, the Belgian Grand Café at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, is staring its spring season with a guest appearance from two-Michelin-starred Belgian chef Yves Mattagne, as well as a new sharing-style menu, and the launch of a daily happy hour.

Mattagne, who is currently head chef in Brussels’ two Michelin-starred restaurant Sea Grill, will host a series of evenings at Café Belge, from May 11-13. With a heavy focus on seafood, Mattagne has created a five-course degustation menu, as well as a series of a la carte dishes.

Dishes will include hand peeled shrimp with white asparagus from Malines, Jura wine emulsion, morels, comte cheese and chervil, as well as Sole ‘from our Coast’ with oyster, verbena, yuzu mouseline and soya beans.

In addition, the restaurant's menu has been redesigned, with the option to order a variety of small or large plates to share, rather than a traditional two or three course a la carte menu format.

Many popular dishes remain, including its fois gras waffle, beef short rib cromesquis, asparagus a la flamande, whole roasted dover sole and filet Americaine, whilst a number of new dishes have been added to the menu, including the likes of seared sea bass with red chard, fennel chutney and lemon, and lobster fricassee with braised Belgian endives.

Desserts can also be served in a sharing format, with items including Dame Blanche or baked apple & rhubarb with speculoos crumble, and four styles of Belgian waffles. The seafood and oyster platters and variety of moules remain unchanged, alongside Café Belge’s signature frites, served with Belgian mayonnaise.

In the evenings between 6pm-8pm, guests can now enjoy an extended happy hour, receiving a complimentary second beverage when choosing from a selection of beer or cocktails.