There was one new three Michelin star restaurant in London (Sketch - the Lecture Room and Library) when the guide announced the results for Great Britain and Ireland. But, the biggest surprise, at least for those who did not know the background to Jordan Bailey’s success in Ireland was the promotion of his restaurant Aimsir in Celbridge directly to two Michelin stars (it had been open for only a few months). The restaurant which is focused on produce from Ireland is led by Jordan Bailey, originally from Cornwall is the former head chef of Maaemo in Oslo, Norway which has three Michelin stars, and his Danish front of house manager and wife Majken Bech Bailey. They moved to Ireland early last year to explore the food procurers and ingredients of their newly adopted home and got married during their first six months there. “Despite the obvious challenges being faced by the industry here in the UK, we are thrilled that this has been such a stellar year, and we have seen many … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2019
Three Michelin star De Leest in the Netherlands to close its doors
Kim Veldman and Jacob Jan Boerma, the owners of three Michelin star restaurant De Leest in the Netherlands will close its doors before the end of the year. The couple said that they will close the doors to the restaurant at the end of the year to star a new culinary adventure which will include a new restaurant opening in Amsterdam next year. One of the key reasons for the closure is the desire to spend more time with their four-year-old son Senne. Chef Boerma told the Dutch public broadcaster RTL that he had never been to a zoo or an amusement park with his son. Previously in the Netherlands, chef Sergio Herman had closed restaurant Oud Sluis at the pinnacle of his success. And in Belgium, Hertog Jan, the restaurant of Gert de Mangeleer and Joachim Boudens also closed its doors. The Dutch chef that it took a huge effort to make the restaurant successful but it was more than worth it. "We have worked incredibly hard for more than 17 years and it was mega intensive but the … [Read more...]
Tickets for second leg of ‘Two Brothers from another Sea’ up for sale on Friday
Tickets for the second leg of the collaboration between South African chef Kobus Van der Merwe, chef of Wolfgat and Belgian Willem Hiele, chef of the restaurant by the same name in Belgium will go on sale on Friday 9 October. The event, named Two Brothers from Another Sea will take place on 7 and 8 December in Paternoster, South Africa. The first part of the event took place in June in the Flemish seaside resort, Koksijde. Thousands of kilometres separate South Africa from Belgium. But the two chefs, brought together by Alexandra Sweden, have a lot in common as was evident in the first performance at Willem Hiele. The two chefs have a similar passion for the sea and ocean but also the people of their territory and their approach to cooking. Wolfgat was awarded the Restaurant of the Year and 'Off-Map destination restaurant at the World Restaurant Awards earlier this year. For the event in Belgium, Margot Janse, a chef who made a name for herself in South Africa was … [Read more...]
Third International Chef Summit to debut in Singapore this year
SINGAPORE: Following two successful editions in Taipei, the International Chefs Summit Asia (ICSA) will be held in Singapore this year from 9 to 11 October 2019, with the theme of ‘Sourcing Locally, Innovating Globally’. Organised by Favorable Impression Media (FIM Media) and supported by Singapore Tourism Board, this year’s event will showcase the stellar cuisines and flavours of Asia, and see the region’s internationally acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs, food experts, and industry insiders taking part in constructive dialogue on the pulse of Asia’s culinary development. “As two cosmopolitan cities and gastronomic hubs in Asia with rich food cultures, it was only natural to take ICSA to Singapore this year and allow Taiwan-based chefs to share their philosophies away from their home ground and on the international stage. With ICSA providing a platform for mutual exchange of experiences and learnings between chefs, we hope to encourage even more positive changes in the sector,” … [Read more...]
Round trip four hands dinners by Christophe Pauly to resume
One says never change a winning formula. Belgian chef Christophe Pauly of restaurant Coq aux Champs has decided to organise a second edition of the 'round trip'. These round-trips are the occasion for the chef to invite colleagues to his restaurant and then to go back and cook with them inside their kitchens. This enhances the collaboration between the chefs and also gives the opportunity for guests to see the evolution. Alexandre Dionisio, chef of Brussels two Michelin star restaurant La Villa in the Sky will be cooking at Coq aux Champs in the Ardennes on 22 October. In November, Christophe Pauly will visit the Chateau de Bourglinster to cook together with René Mathieu, chef of La Distillerie. The lunch will take place on Sunday 17 November. This will be the opportunity for Christophe to return after a visit of Mathieu at Coq aux Champs in October last year. For information and reservations: Restaurant Le Coq aux Champs: 71, Rue du Montys, 4557 Soheit-Tinlot … [Read more...]
The new Carnuntum
For more than fifteen years, Austria’s oenographic nomenclature has been undergoing substantial restructuring. In 2003, the first DAC regulations and classifications were introduced. While grape varieties were the main focus of attention at the time, today stylistic concerns are coming steadily to the fore, and the grape variety now is part of a bigger picture. And that is exactly how Carnuntum, the latest entrant to the DAC system, has defined its DAC regulations. It has taken time, 16 years in total, but the winegrowing region of Carnuntum, needed this time to present a well-designed a comprehensive new structure for the region. The concept »Districtus Austriae Controllatus« (Controlled Austrian Denomination of Origin) was introduced in 2003. The viticultural region Weinviertel was the first to use DAC. Since then, the Kremstal, Kamptal, Traisental, Eisenberg, Wien/Vienna, Leithaberg, Mittelburgenland, Neusiedlersee, Rosalia and finally the Steiermark – with Vulkanland, … [Read more...]
Riccardo Camanini and the magic of Lido 84: ‘an unexpected success’
Riccardo Camanini and his brother Giancarlo opened Lido 84 in Italy five years ago and it has been on my places to visit for at least three years, way before it became known. Today the secret is out about Lido 84 but till this day, the two brothers who own the restaurant, still cannot really understand the hype about their success. One thing strikes you when you enter the magical dining room of Lido 84. It is not the view of Lago Di Garda, which you would have soaked in by driving there or else walking from the car park. Neither are it the art pieces that have been very carefully selected by the Camanini brothers. It is rather a striking collection of books which even for a bookworm like me is nothing short of impressive. They are not there to add to the decor of the restaurant. They form an integral part of Riccardo Camanini’s way of working. “Saturday morning is a time of reflection for us. We wanted to create a space where our staff could take the time to read. I wanted … [Read more...]