The site praised La Distillerie chef, René Mathieu (pictured), as being “one of the most plant-oriented chefs in all of Benelux”. La Distillerie

The site praised La Distillerie chef, René Mathieu (pictured), as being “one of the most plant-oriented chefs in all of Benelux”. La Distillerie

The ranking comes from We’re Smart World, whose mission aims for a healthier and better world by connecting companies and individuals who practice a sustainable, ecological approach. Topping this year's list were Xavier Pellicer (Barcelona, Spain) and Vrijmoed (Ghent, Belgium). La Distillerie moved up one spot from its fourth place last year.

The site praised La Distillerie chef, René Mathieu, as being “one of the most plant-oriented chefs in all of Benelux” and using local produce from small productions. His philosophy, it adds, is “an extremely creative approach to a cuisine that is firmly in tune with the times and tastes of the moment”.

La Distillerie is one of two dining options at the Bourglinster castle. The other is the Brasserie “Côté Cour”.

In 2010, Mathieu won GaultMillau’s title of chef of the year in Luxembourg. More recently in 2018 he released a cookbook titled “Végétal – mes racines, mes recettes” which presents recipes in a seasonal manner and uses augmented reality to showcase his tips and techniques, the castle surroundings and so on. 

We’re Smart World’s other projects include a fruit and vegetable week, the vegetables chef, as well as the “We’re Smart Green Guide”, which provides a number of listings of chefs placing vegetables at the heart of their cuisine.