Ghent's Most Exciting Menu

Living in Germany, Belgium is just a couple of hours away on the train. We can nip over for the weekend if we want to. And we have the perfect reason to - restaurant Cochon de Luxe in Ghent (http://cochondeluxe.be). It holds a special place in our hearts because not only was it our first experience of a tasting menu, but it's also the most fun we've had at a restaurant.

Run by a husband and wife team, each course of the tasting menu is a super-personal affair, inspired by something they've seen, somewhere they've been, or current affairs. Look on their Instagram page (or chef Tom van Lysebetten's) and you'll find a dish inspired by their son's habit of throwing his Actimel yoghurt on the floor every day, as well as a dish dedicated to Donald Trumo entitled 'Trump's Tiny Truffle Toasts'. The menu changes monthly, and they never seem to run out of ideas!

Not convinced? Just see below for samples from our first and second visits. And trust me, there WILL be a third.

Above: "Help, there's a snail in my garden!" Escargots, with squid ink "dirt" under a salad "garden", with garlic powder "snail away"

Above: "What's up, doc?" A Bugs Bunny made of carrot!

Above: "We all live in a yellow submarine", featuring a mango submarine on meringue

Above: "We all scream..."

Above: a selection of amuse bouches