Shannah Zeebroek
©Pieter D'Hoop

Ambassador of GOESTING

Shannah Zeebroek
Shannah Zeebroek
Café Du Parc

Shannah Zeebroek

The green marble tables, dark wood paneling and soft fabric benches are relics from the Café Du Parc's rich past. However, the brasserie has recently undergone a thorough overhaul: the chrome has been polished, the benches have been reupholstered, and the wood has been given a new coat of varnish. A breath of fresh air at this iconic brasserie comes in the form of Shannah Zeebroek. Born and raised in Ostend, she dared to take over this local institution and make it her own.

Leading figure at restaurant Willem Hiele

She made a name for herself in the restaurant world as the driving force behind the Willem Hiele restaurant in Koksijde. As sommelier and maître d', she helped transform the restaurant into a magnet for foodies from near and far. "When the restaurant closed, I knew for sure that my future wasn’t in fine dining," says Shannah. "I enjoyed refining the service down to the last detail, but the fact that it wasn't accessible to a wider audience bothered me. I want to make a difference, which is why I considered a job in the social and cultural sector as the next step in my career." 

Then came an offer she couldn’t refuse. The new owner of the Hotel Du Parc was looking for someone to take over the brasserie. “My passion for hospitality hasn't gone away, so when this project came my way, I started to get excited again. I did have one condition: I wanted to do things my own way. That's why I didn't bring anyone from the old team with me into the new chapter. I didn't want to constantly hear about how things used to be.” 

Vitello maccarello

After undergoing an extensive renovation, the brasserie reopened in 2023 as Café Du Parc. "We installed a large, professional kitchen in the basement. That's It was necessary because I want all preparations to be done in-house. Fresh, unpeeled potatoes are delivered daily. We use them to make our own fries and mashed potatoes. We make the mayonnaise fresh, too. Details like that make all the difference. The only thing we don't make ourselves are the shrimp croquettes because we serve thousands of them every week. They are made in Ostend adhering to a recipe by my boyfriend, Tom. If you pay close attention, you might notice hints of red curry and kaffir lime, which add extra spice and freshness. But don't worry; the flavors are balanced and subtle. It's still a classic Ostend shrimp croquette, but with a twist. This classic setting calls for a menu of timeless dishes, and Café Du Parc delivers. Think sole, steak tartare, and mushroom toast. "Still, we allow ourselves a few twists. For example, I don't serve vitello tonnato; I serve vitello maccarello with mackerel instead of tuna. I only use fish from the North Sea." 

Shannah Zeebroek (4)
Woman leaning against a railing on the promenade, with sandy beach and a blurred city skyline in the background.
© Pieter D'Hoop - www.pdsign.be

From basic wine to an exclusive glass

As a sommelier, Shannah completely reworked the drinks menu. Here, you can order no fewer than 25 wines by the glass, ranging from easy-drinking options to more exclusive selections. "Importantly, we serve champagne by the glass and always pour it at the table. I think this is essential for a good brasserie. You won't find cava here, but we offer a Belgian sparkling wine as an alternative. It changes every season, just like the rest of the wine list. I spent a long time looking for the right house wine. All too often, it’s just cheap wine, but I think the house wine says a lot about a brasserie." 

"Fresh, unpeeled potatoes are delivered daily. We use them to make our own fries and mashed potatoes. We make the mayonnaise fresh, too. Details like that make all the difference." 

’Destination brasserie’

Shannah envisions Du Parc as a destination brasserie in the future. "When people come to Belgium for Boury*** or Willem Hiele*, I hope they stop here for classic brasserie dishes as part of their culinary journey." 

Visit the website of Café Du Parc in Ostend
Shannah Zeebroek (3)
Woman in a leopard-print jacket waves by a railing on the boulevard, with beach and a hazy skyline in the background.
© Pieter D'Hoop - www.pdsign.be

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