HONG KONG: A few weeks after the opening of MONO restaurant, Ricardo Chaneton has invited three South American chefs to join him for a unique eight hands dinner. Hong Kong based Agustin Balbi from Haku will join the power couple Virgilio Martinez of Central Restaurante and wife Pia Leon of Kjolle for a one-night-only event showcasing the multi-faceted cuisine of their South American roots. The dinner will take place on 22 January and will feature two dishes and a canapé from each chef. Mono is the latest addition to JIA Group's growing restaurant empire and is run by Ricardo Chaneton, formerly Head Chef of the 3 Michelin Star and World’s no 1 restaurant (2019) Mirazur. MONO opened its doors on On Lan Street, Central, introducing a new take on contemporary French cuisine by South American-born Ricardo, who has worked and trained extensively in French cuisine throughout this career. About Virgilio Martínez, Chef-Owner of Central Restaurante With the high distinction … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2019
René Redzepi takes three month sabbatical, to propose it to staff members at full pay
René Redzepi is not just at the forefront of gastronomy but has also been at the forefront of ideas on how to improve the wellbeing of his staff at noma. Together with his general manager, they have discussed a way to grant staff members a three month paid leave after they've spent a certain amount of years with them. In announcing this, he has also announced through an Instagram post that while they are figuring out how to implement the scheme within their organisation, he has decided to test this approach after working almost 18 years on the Noma project. "I am writing this to let future guests know that for the next three months, I will not be at noma or in Denmark. I will be with Nadine and our three children somewhere in the world, not working," He ensured clients that they will still be in the best hands. "Just before I left, we finished a new seafood menu that I personally think is the best one yet." Redzepi said that the idea came over a coffee with the general … [Read more...]
Antonia Klugmann to cook at Tosca di Angelo in Hong Kong
HONG KONG: Italian chef Antonia Klugmann is the next chef to cook at Tosca di Angelo at the Ritz Carlton in Hong Kong. After the first four hands dinner with Valeria Piccini, it is the turn of Antonia Klugmann, one of the top Italian chefs in circulation to visit Hong Kong and cook with Italian chef Angelo Agliano. Antonia Klugmann left her law studies to pursue a career in the culinary world and is known for her creative ingredients-based cuisine at her restaurant L’Argine a Venco in Italy on the border with Slovenia. She opened the restaurant in 2014 and gained a Michelin star a few months later. This second instalment of the Gems and Pearl series is taking place on January 14 and 15. Guests can expect a menu honouring Antonia and Angelo’s respect for fresh seasonal ingredients. This series is being curated by acclaimed food personalities Andrea Petrini and Florent Bonnefoy. Between November 2019 and September 2020, chef Angelo Agliano is inviting five prominent female … [Read more...]
Wolf, the first food market in Brussels opens its doors
BRUSSELS: The first Brussels food market opened its doors last weekend inside the headquarters of the former bank ASLK (Algemene Spaar en Lijfrentekas) or CGER (Caisse générale d'épargne et de retraite) as it is known in French. Inside the food market are 16 restaurants that can handle up to 755 people, a bar, a brewery, a chocolatier. It will soon have a bio market where customers can shop for produce. Thousands of locals and tourists alike have flocked to the Wolf food market over the past few days with queues forming outside to get a glimpse of the bank turned into food market and to try some of the best of Brussels street food offering all now coming together under one roof. Wolf, the name of the food market takes its name from the road (Rue Fossé aux Loups. The historic Brussels building is famous for its 7 metre entrance doors made of bronze and enamel. Alfred Chambon started building the bank in 1943. The food market is more of a space for 'street' food outlets than … [Read more...]
Kobe Desramaults to close Chambre Séparée in December 2020
GHENT: Kobe Desramaults, the chef and owner of Chambre Séparée, the restaurant in Ghent will close it in exactly one year on 12 December 2020. It was always Desramaults' intention to open the restaurant for just four years. “It has been a great ride since the opening,” Kobe Desramaults said on Instagram. "In my mind, it makes a lot of sense to close a restaurant after four years. This end date pushed the team and myself from day one into 6th gear. To know the end date is to start dreaming of future projects," he said. Kobe said that although he carried a great love for Ghent and its wonderful people (It is also the city where he had another restaurant De Vitrine as well as his bakery and brunch place De Superette), he is looking forward to dive back into a very remote location and he will reveal his plans in a few months time. "As for now, better book that seat at Chambre Séparée," he said. Chambre Séparée was Kobe's new restaurant after the closure of his renowned … [Read more...]
New book by René Sepul puts Wallonia in the spotlight
BRUSSELS: A new book written by food writer René Sepul and published by Sh-op Editions puts Wallonia, the French speaking part of Belgium, in the spotlight. La Wallonie, à pleines dents is the follow-up to the book Mange Wallonie published six years ago. "A lot has changed in the past six years in Wallonia. The book is a portrait of some of the positive developments in the region. Chefs have moved forward and are showcasing producers more and more," said René in his introduction to this book. The author said the choice of chefs and restaurants is subjective but offers a view of Wallonia today. The book portrays 30 different chefs from different gastronomic restaurants, brasseries and bistros as well as a café and wine bar. This deliberate mix is aimed to showcase what is on offer in this Belgian region. The book was published in the week when René's previous book La Bonne Addresse written together with chocolatier Pierre Marcolini on their favourite places in Brussels … [Read more...]
Trattoria dell’Acciughetta: an innovative touch in Genova
GENOVA: No one goes to Liguria and Genova, the region’s main city for its food. At least no one did for many years. But young chef Simone Vesuviano and Giorgia Losi of Trattoria dell’ Acciughetta are working to change this. Ask many Italians who know their food and they would struggle to give you recommendations of where to eat in this region of Italy. Despite giving the world amazing olives like 'taggiasche' or more importantly pesto the region does not have a reputation when it comes to food. Giorgia Losi, who worked in marketing, had other ideas. Fed up with her desk job in Milan she invested in a restaurant in Piazza Sant' Elena in Genova close to the port which made the city famous throughout history. It was part of the town which no one in Genova wanted to visit but that has slowly start to change. Just off Via Prè, this was an area that all Genovese used to avoid. 10 days after opening the restaurant she was joined by the 19 year-old Simone Vesuviano. Today, at 23, … [Read more...]
Michelin adds Malta to its list of restaurant guides
MALTA: Amid the largest political crisis to have ever hit the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta, Michelin announced the release of an online guide on Maltese restaurants. The guide will be available free of charge. The Michelin guide will be revealed on 26 February on Michelin's digital platform guide.michelin.com Malta joins 32 countries that will be covered by the Michelin Guide in 2020. Gwendal Pullennec, the International Director of the Michelin guides said "Our mission at the Michelin Guide has always been to highlight the best gastronomic establishments around the world to its readers. Today the Maltese culinary scene has talents that are worthy of discovery by foodies from around the world." Malta joins Slovenia which will is also being added to the portfolio of countries that are covered by Michelin. The latter is rumoured to have paid around EUR 1 million to have Michelin judge its restaurants. It is not known what the cost for Malta has been but it is likely to run … [Read more...]
Massimo Bottura, Antonia Klugmann, Franco Cimini and Gabriele Bonci triumph in new 50 Top Italy guide
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...]
Sergio Herman to open new restaurant Le Pristine in Antwerp in April
ANTWERP: Sergio Herman will open a second restaurant in Antwerp, Le Pristine, in April 2020. Following the success of The Jane, which he owns together with chef Nick Bril, the talented Dutch chef has set his sights on a new concept for Antwerp blending the terroir of his home region Zeeland with Italian flair. Le Pristine will open its doors in the fashion heart of the Belgian city at Lange Gasthuisstraat 13. It is likely to have a similar concept to the highly successful AiRrepublic in Cadzand. Sergio Herman will open Le Pristine restaurant and Le Pristine café in April though the date has not yet been announced. He said that the new restaurant and cafe will be focused on the local terroir but will be internationally inspired. The name Le Pristine comes from the English word ’Pristine’ which means pure and unspoiled. The restaurant will take reservations and walk-ins while the Café will welcome just walk-ins and is aimed at being ideal for a short stop while shopping in … [Read more...]