À La Maison Du Bonheur

Poised between Steenvoorde and Saint-Omer in the heart of Flanders, Cassel is a darling of a brick-built village. A small village for a tiny restaurant. Housed in a beautiful 18C abode with space for just 20 diners, it is run by owners who are truly passionate about fine cuisine. Chef Eugène Hobraiche meticulously crafts contemporary cuisine that goes hand in hand with seasonal produce, using local fruit and vegetables, as well as fish from Dunkirk's market: salmon confit with Sichuan pepper, textures of cabbage and shiitake dashi; roasted pollack, mustard and multi-coloured carrot gnocchi. To

This bistro nurtures its authentic vintage look, courtesy of banquette seating, mirrors and Art deco-style posters. Patrick Comte is at the helm, rolling out his tasty take on traditional seasonal dishes: snail persillade; egg bourguignonne and a buttery golden turnip; Angus faux-filet steak, gratin dauphinois with maroilles and béarnaise sauce; a Paris-Brest-style éclair with hazelnut ice cream… Indulgent cooking that hits the spot every time!

Tucked away in the lush green countryside, this 19C former farm is now an exquisite gourmet establishment. A huge, paved courtyard is framed by historic stone buildings dripping in character, the outhouses of which have been converted into cosy guestrooms. The inviting, airy dining room sports a glazed façade and a warm vibe courtesy of a log-burning fireplace. The establishment’s sensibly priced food is indulgent, wholesome and deftly crafted with local produce and showcased in a well-balanced, authentic menu.

Dunkirk-born Charles Bruneval completed stints at some top establishments before opening this restaurant, the name of which pays tribute to his grandmother. In an unpretentious setting, he cooks up traditional, hearty and meticulous fare: skate wings à la grenobloise, pâté en croûte, shrimp croquettes. Precise cooking and rich sauces – every bite reveals the touch of a seasoned chef.

Chef Christophe Dufossé has been thriving in his homeland, as his cooking illustrates. This pretty château set in leafy grounds sports a contemporary conservatory extension. Here, he champions organic, self-sufficient and sustainable surf and turf cooking centred on vegetables and produce from the North. Every dish is delicately yet generously crafted – and flanked by robust classic sauces. The dishes speak for themselves – monkfish gratin with a sabayon sauce and its ragout of clams, razor clams and cockles. Other highlights are the bread and sweets, particularly the incredibly lavish dessert

Isma'il and Inès Guerre-Genton now run their own restaurant on the village square in Ardres. Behind a spruce white façade, the elegantly understated interior is done out in a palette of cream tones. The chef's cuisine is creative and uninhibited, combining land lettuce and sea lettuce with citrus fruit, for example. With an accomplished dish of matured pollock, wild garlic and asparagus, which reveals the meticulous work behind the scenes, he takes things up a notch. Personal and sincere cuisine with excellent local ingredients at its heart.

Stéphane Buyens and Ellen Dulst have traded in their renowned Le Fox Hostelry for this enchanting seaside villa. The enthusiastic couple invites diners into a warm interior, whose welcoming portrait boasts a surfeit of refined details, among which parquet floors, a period fireplace and a terrace flanked by a lush green dune. Every day the couple demonstrates their impressive knowhow as Ellen supervises the seamless front of house operations and Stéphane crafts a suave classical score with a penchant for fish and seafood.Some of their must-try signature dishes include shrimp fritters, omelette