Meals on wheels: Camper van dining beats lockdown rules in Belgium

Belgium is under lockdown and restaurants are expected to stay closed until January

Last updated: December 05, 2020 | 12:51

Reuters and compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor

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A Belgian restaurant has found a way to keep orders rolling in during lockdown - by serving its seafood to customers in camper vans.

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People can rent a vehicle or bring their own, park up outside the "Matthias and Sea" restaurant and wait for masked staff to bring the food over from the kitchens.

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People have lunch in their motor home parked outside the "Matthia and sea" restaurant in Tarcienne. COVID-19 restrictions have banned indoor dining. But restaurants can still do takeaways and serve food outside.

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Owner Mattia Collu (pictured) said he got the idea while delivering orders to people's houses in and around his base in the southern village of Tarcienne.

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"I saw a lot of nice camper vans. I thought it was silly that they had to eat at home when they could come to our parking lot. It would also avoid packaging," Collu said.

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Servers bring dinner to customers sitting inside a motorhome camper parked at the Belgian restaurant Matthias And Sea. Customers can choose from a menu including lobsters, foie gras and drinks and place their orders by text message.

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They can then tuck in at the back of their motorhome, an idea that is also being tried out by the Neumuenster cooking school in neighbouring Germany.

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"It lets us breathe a bit and spend time with each other without the children so that's really good," said one woman customer.

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Mattia Collu prepares dinner for customers sitting inside motorhome campers parked outside the restaurant.

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Belgium is currently under lockdown until December 13, but even as shops open gradually, restaurants are expected to stay closed until January.

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Mattia Collu helps a motor home to park on his restaurant's parking.

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Servers bring dinner to customers sitting inside a motorhome camper parked at the Belgian restaurant Matthias And Sea.

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Customers enjoy dinner sitting inside a motorhome camper parked at the Belgian restaurant Matthias And Sea.

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Customers enjoy dinner sitting inside a motorhome camper parked at the Belgian restaurant Matthias And Sea.

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