7ICI

The story

7ICI Restaurant in Chaumont-Gistoux: Gourmet Local Cooking

The Kitchen and Its Creators

At 7ICI in Chaumont-Gistoux, chef Didier Vercruysse leads a family-driven approach to gourmet Belgian cuisine. He shares the workspace with his wife Sandrine and daughters Marine and Anaïs, who manage the dining floor and shaded terrace. This four-person team operates inside a carefully preserved 1950s brick building located just off the E411 motorway. The Gault&Millau guide recently rated this gourmet Belgian kitchen thirteen out of twenty, highlighting how the domestic setup preserves authentic hospitality standards.

Signature Plates and Seasonal Rhythms

The menu shifts with the growing calendar, so vegetable preparations anchor nearly every course. Guests frequently order the handmade grey shrimp croquettes served beside the cherry tomato tatin paired with cow mozzarella and toasted nuts. Protein selections include dry-aged Bleue des prés beef ribloin marinated for twenty days, duck breast braised with roasted apricot, and seasonal fish sourced directly from Boulogne-sur-Mer. A thirty euro weekday lunch formula accommodates tighter schedules while maintaining the short supply chain that defines this regional gastronomy.

The Dining Room and Terrace

Large glass panels separate the interior seating from a hundred and thirty square meter garden terrace. The dining area mixes natural stone accents with contemporary furniture to create a relaxed environment that encourages lingering conversation. Visitors often arrive early to sample the Belgian Éole Spritz aperitif, which blends botanical gin with kumquat notes before dinner service begins. The establishment joined the Table de Terroir network after consistently championing this local cuisine through rigorous producer partnerships and sustainable fishing practices.