He visits restaurants so often that he looks for the menu at home at the table out of habit. Like no other, culinary entrepreneur Carsten Klint knows where to make reservations.Text: Carsten Klint
Image: NOOR | CIEL BLEU | PETER PAUL DE MEIJER | DAALDER
Online editing: Fleur de Jong
Jeroen and Marleen Brouwer have sold their Michelin-starred restaurant with hotel rooms De Loohoeve in Schoonloo. The entrepreneurial couple wants to focus only on top gastronomy, without lodging. In Groningen, they opened restaurant Noor on March 1 in the monumental Theresia Chapel. None other than three-star married couple Jonnie and Thérèse Boer of De Librije performed the official opening for the ambitious entrepreneurs. The kitchen has received a state-of-the-art stove with chef's table, and the restaurant seats forty guests. One of the eye-catchers is the presbytery, from which the wines are served. Nice detail: the interior was designed by MASTERS EXPO participant Dofine from Winschoten. Given Jeroen and Marleen's reputation and skill on the plate, it will not be surprising if Michelin awards one star immediately during the presentation of the new guide for the Netherlands at the end of May this year.
At the end of December, quite a shock wave went through culinary Holland: Hotel Okura Amsterdam unexpectedly announced that executive chef Onno Kokmeijer, after nearly twenty (!) years of service, was calling it a day as of January 1, 2022 behind the stove of the restaurant awarded two Michelin stars. But not to fear: his right-hand man of all those years, and creative culinary brain, Arjan Speelman has taken over his position. Currently, the kitchen of the restaurant on the 23rd floor, with magnificent views of the city, is completely gutted. The renovation will be finished by the end of March and the restaurant can reopen its doors with the new chef at the helm. Not only for curious guests are eager, but also the inspectors of the culinary Red Bible. Curious to see if they will once again experience Arjan's cooking at two-star level.
Zeeland cooking god Sergio Herman opened July 2020 in Antwerp (again) an eclectic restaurant: Italian casual fine dining is the motto at Le Pristine. Herman was immediately awarded one star by Michelin in its 2021 guide. The restaurant is located in Antwerp's fashion center. In addition to all the great visually and tastefully innovative dishes, design, art and music - Herman's signature - are once again central. Of course, the sea is leading on the menu, which exudes Italian class. When you enter the restaurant, you walk past the Café, where you can also eat (spontaneously) and all the senses are triggered: a combination of classic, industrial, light, shadow and music. In the restaurant an open kitchen where cooking is done with military precision and a service team where hospitality is written with a capital G. After dinner with only wow moments, the question arises: will it stay with that one star?
Photographer: Peter Paul de Meijer
Dennis Huwaë is a great culinary talent, having been a chef with Moshik Roth for many years. Since 2016, he has been co-owner of Daalder, which has been awarded one Michelin star. Less than six months after that award, the restaurant in Amsterdam's Jordaan neighborhood moved to Het Sieraad on Postjesweg. Here there is more space for the guests as well as the chefs, with a great terrace on the water. The interior is embellished with street art by artist ELLE from New York. An accessible establishment and still with the star quality you would expect from Dennis and a great sommelier, Pardon Taguzu, who serves you pearls from the wine list. The old restaurant in the Jordaan has undergone a metamorphosis with private dining for ten on the second floor and opened its doors as Daalder Atelier. Literally a testing ground, as this is where Dennis develops new dishes and flavor combinations every week.
The spring issue of MASTERS celebrates regained freedom after two years of corona. Its value is underscored by developments in Eastern Europe, where the freedom of an entire people is at stake. We live in a new reality, but we can plan again, eat out, meet people. The world is turning again! Only: which way? Time for new bridges, new initiatives. To which this edition of MASTERS offers inspiration.
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