ROME: Osteria Francescana, in Modena, with chef Massimo Bottura; L’Argine a Vencò, in Dolegna del Collio (GO), led by Antonia Klugmann; Antica Osteria del Mirasole, in San Giovanni in Persiceto (BO), by Franco Cimini; and Panificio Bonci, in Rome, by Gabriele Bonci triumphed at the 50 Top Italy which was announced at the Teatro Eliseo in Rome on Monday 2 December. This free online guide is unique because it divides the Italian restaurant sector into four categories: over 120 euros, up to 120 euros, Trattoria/Osteria and Low Cost. It is a project by LSDM (an annual gourmet cooking congress held since 2008 in Paestum) and is curated by its creators, Barbara Guerra and Albert Sapere, in collaboration with the journalist Luciano Pignataro. In second and third place for the category Over 120 euros were Uliassi, in Senigalia (AN), by chef Mauro Uliassi, and the St. Hubertus restaurant in San Cassiano (BZ), by Norbert Niederkofler. In the Up to 120 euros ranking, second place went … [Read more...]
GELINAZ stay at home shuffle: The tofu camembert that gave the game away
BRUSSELS: On November 17, an innocuous post was published on Inua's Instagram page. It was a repost from one of the restaurant chefs. "After 60 or so trials and variations (some of which were the worse things I've tasted in a very long time we've finally reached consistency in something we're pretty happy with." With it they posted a photo of tofu treated like camembert made with soy milk. Thousands of kilometres away, at Bon Bon Restaurant in Brussels, Christophe Hardiquest and his team were wrecking their brains on the matrixes they received from one of 148 chefs around the world. It was part of the GELINAZ! Stay in Tour Shuffle. "We have been working the whole month on the recipes. We were not used to certain produce, to certain ingredients and also to certain fermentations," Christophe Hardiquest told Food and Wine Gazette. He knew that the recipes came from Asia, that was evident from the ingredients and there also was a Nordic touch though though the penny really … [Read more...]
GELINAZ! and largest event ever: ‘Time to say the emperor has no clothes’
Andrea Petrini In less than a week’s time, on Tuesday 3 December at 8pm, 148 chefs will stay at home as part of the Grand GELINAZ Shuffle Stay in tour. What’s the big deal you may ask and why all the social media buzz about this event? We sat down with Andrea Petrini, one of the faces of GELINAZ! (And co-founder of the collective with Fulvio Pierangelini) who together with Patricia Meunier and Mat Gallet are organising the GELINAZ!’s most political event ever at Tosca Restaurant in Hong Kong. GELINAZ!, the collective of chefs born to push boundaries in 2005 has been bringing together chefs to work outside their comfort zone, to have fun and experiment. A space for risk taking where customers are there to join in the fun without necessarily judging the work of chefs. “The idea was born out of the frustration of always needing sponsors to organise events. We are in between five to six projects in the United States, Eastern Europe and Berlin but we always need to beg the usual … [Read more...]
Valeria Piccini takes a touch of Tuscany to Angelo Agliano’s Tosca in Hong Kong
Valeria Piccini and Angelo Agliano at the four hands dinner in Hong Kong HONG KONG: Valeria Piccini and Angelo Agliano had never met before Valeria’s trip to Hong Kong. They had spoken briefly over the phone to plan a series of three four hands dinners. But you would not have noticed the moment they met on the 108th floor of the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong, the highest hotel in the world. Tosca, the restaurant run by Sicilian chef Agliano was hosting Valeria for the first in the series of events called Gems and Pearl which will see other female Italian chefs visiting Hong Kong next year. It was last Monday evening when Valeria arrived together with sous chef Guglielmo Chiarapini and Andrea Bertolino together with Agrodolce journalist and editor Lorenza Fumelli after a long flight via London. We sat down to sample Angelo’s cooking that evening and slowly get to know the team at Tosca. After a necessary visit to Macau on Tuesday, Wednesday’s morning start was not for the … [Read more...]
Christian Bau of Victor’s Fine Dining to cook at Agustin Balbi’s HAKU
Christian Bau HONG KONG: Between the 6th and 8th January, HAKU will kick off the New Year by welcoming renowned German Chef, Christian Bau of Victor’s Fine Dining for a special collaboration together with executive chef Agustin Balbi. Located in the heart of the picturesque Moselle vineyards in Schloss Berg, Victor’s Fine Dining was awarded its 3rd Michelin Star in 2005. It retains the honour to this day. The chef de cuisine and head host since 1998, Christian Bau was the youngest German chef to achieve the three-star accolade. He continues to enchant diners with highly innovative European gastronomy with Japanese influences. The HAKU X Victor’s Fine Dining 8-course collaboration menu will be priced at HK$2,580 + 10% per guest on 6-8 January, bringing a taste of Germany’s sought-after dining experience to Hong Kong. Christian Bau heads the kitchen of Victor’s Fine Dining, a position that has honed him into one of Europe’s most distinguished culinary figures. Following a … [Read more...]
Sang Hoon Degeimbre to take over Maru’s kitchen for 7th anniversary
BRUSSELS: Maru, the Korean restaurant in Brussels is celebrating its seven year anniversary with a very special dinner. Sang Hoon Degeimbre, chef of L’Air du Temps, a two Michelin star restaurant will be cooking at the restaurant on its seventh anniversary. The Korean born chef, who also operates other restaurants like San in Brussels and Gent will be taking over the Maru kitchen on Wednesday 11 December at 8pm for this seven course Banchan Style dinner. “The chef and owner of L’Air Du Temps will blow up the Maru Kitchen for a one night dinner,” the restaurant said. The 7 course menu, all inclusive costs EUR 165. Maru is one of the city’s best kept secrets. Foodies and chefs in Brussels and outside visit it for the Korean kitchen and barbecue but also for its selection of natural wines, sojus, beers, sake and whiskeys. … [Read more...]
Young talents shine in new edition of Belgian Michelin guide – two 2 Michelin star restaurants downgraded
Werner Loens, director of the Michelin Belgium and Luxembourg guide had announced in an interview in the local Belgian press that this would not be a vintage year for the guide given a number of issues which he highlighted including the cost of personnel and also regulations. In the end, there was one new 2 Michelin star restaurant when the guide was announced in Gent this afternoon. The new two-star restaurant is the Cuchara restaurant in Lommel that is run by chef Jan T`ournier. “Jan Tournier is extremely good in his kitchen, focusing on the basics. His creativity and technical mastery translate today through impressive creations. By concentrating on a few ingredients, he manages to create real taste explosions,” he said. Restaurant Hof van Cleve retains its three stars this year thanks to the talent and expertise of chef Peter Goossens. Today the chef, is the only chef to run a three Michelin star restaurant in Belgium. Seven restaurants in the new Michelin guide were … [Read more...]
Star chef and top barista launch coffee
Syrco Bakker and Rob Clarijs (Photo by Joey Rietveld) ZEELAND: Dutch star chef Syrco Bakker and coffee specialist Rob Clarijs have joined forces to create Oostenwind, a sublime coffee in which you can taste their ambition, authenticity, pride and passion. The coffee has been available from 11 November at Pure C and selected outlets in the Netherlands. See here for details. Syrco Bakker earned his second Michelin star for restaurant Pure C in Cadzand in December 2018 and Rob Clarijs won the famous coffee Masters international coffee competition in London in April 2019. They have been at the highest level in their field for a number of years. In addition to being a chef, Syrco is the founder of Hierbas de Las Dunas, a herbal liqueur made from local Zeeland herbs. A few years ago Rob founded his coffee brand De Zeeuwse Branding, which focuses on the higher segment of the hospitality industry in Zeeland. The two have one thing in common: Zeeland. “Syrco sets high … [Read more...]
Teddington: the new Brussels bar and bistro with a ‘hockey theme’
BRUSSELS: Hockey is big in Belgium. After all the Red Lions, as the Hockey team is called are the current World Champions. A brand new address in Brussels that has just opened just off Place St Job in Uccle by Olivier and Catherine Lust, the owners of a gastronomic restaurant in Lasne called La Ligne Rouge. Teddington is housed inside a former printing press just off Place St Job, Uccle. The square in Uccle is at the crossroads of four of the commune's four hockey clubs and just a few 100 metres away from Royal Racing Club Brussels. Olivier has played hockey for more than 40 years. He and his wife have decided to call the restaurant Teddington, reminiscent of the English city where the foundations of hockey were created. In addition to the name of the new bar and bistro, the atmosphere of the old printing press has been maintained with the combination of wood, metal and old bricks and this is enhanced by black and white photographs of the main players of the Belgian national … [Read more...]
20 year anniversary for Le Chalet de la Forêt: 3 dinners including one with Belgian legendary chef Roger Souvereyns
BRUSSELS: Le Chalet de la Forêt, one of Brussels top restaurants run by chef owner Pascal Devalkeneer is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a series of dinners including one with Belgian legendary chef Roger Souvereyns. The first dinner will be held on 16 November with René Meilleur, the chef of restaurant La Bouitte in Savoie. The second will be with Pascal Devalkeneer’s mentor Roger Souvereyns who has had a huge influence on a number of contemporary chefs and who was extremely famous during his time having three stars for his restaurant between 1985 and 1993. This will be held on 1 December. The third dinner will be more of a party with friends Pierre Marcolini, Julien Burlat, The Folmer brothers of Couvert Couvert in Heverlee and Pau Barba of Can Domo in Ibiza. The third dinner will be held on 8 December. The three dinners are selling at the price of EUR 345 including of aperitif, the menu and wine. Kasper Kurdhal, who was the executive chef at Le Chalet de … [Read more...]