“Ostend hijacks our shrimp croquette:” West coast not set up with recognition of Ostend shrimp croquette

Festive moment last week: Ostend celebrated the official recognition of the Ostend shrimp croquette as an official Flemish regional product. It must be made with shrimp caught by Ostend fishermen, must contain at least a third shrimp and the local population must regard the delicacy as regional. Mayor Tommelein proclaimed Ostend the capital of the shrimp croquette. (read more below the photo)

“Here tradition”

But on the West Coast, they’ve seriously choked on the celebratory news further afield. “Koksijde-Oostduinkerke has a long tradition as a shrimp community,” says Mayor Marc Vanden Bussche. “Our horse shrimp fishing in Oostduinkerke is an intangible cultural heritage of Unesco. Our hotel school is world-class. Our catering and fish trade businesses have a name and fame. The traditionally produced shrimp croquettes with the Nieuwpoort shrimp within the catering industry on the West Coast are certainly a Flemish artisanal regional product. “

“Some two-star croquette here”

Also star chef Stephane Buyens of Le Fox in De Panne -and alderman of Tourism in De Panne- didn’t believe his own ears: “A beautiful creature swims between De Panne and Nieuwpoort, the gray West Coast shrimp. The taste of this shrimp is unique in terms of finesse, due to the quality of our sand and water.As far as the croquettes are concerned, this is where the only two-star croquette can be found by the sea.Le Fox in De Panne has been making these continuously since 1947. Shrimp dishes here are more than just the croquette.Spiced with a fishing tradition of processing shrimp for over a hundred years, they are simply the best in the world here.” (read more below the photo)

The Royal Order of Horse Fishermen also refers to a shrimp tasting in 2009. The Nieuwpoort shrimp came out as the best in terms of taste and texture. (read more below the video)