TRAVELLING CHEFS SERIES
EAST MEETS WEST
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The term 'East Meets West' is used to mark a moment when different cultures come together in harmony. Chef Gert De Mangeleer takes aspects of Flemish cuisine and masterfully integrates in Japanese influences with Thai seasonality & regional products.
Siri Sala is honored to welcome Chef Gert De Mangeleer from Belgium, who will be cooking in the fine dining style of his restaurant Hertog Jan in Antwerp. In this exchange of cultures through food, the best of both Belgium & Thailand will be experienced through food, drinks and music.
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Episode 4 | Gert De Mangeleer
About Chef Gert De Mangeleer
Siri Sala is delighted to announce that internationally acclaimed Gert De Mangeleer from Belgium will be our next Travelling Chef.
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Chef De Mangeleer’s love affair with Asia is legendary. His presentation of local products with international influences has wowed the culinary world and garnered him 3 Michelin stars, a ranking in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and a rating of 18/20 from Gault & Millau, among others. He was also awarded as the “European Chef of the Year” in 2014.
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At the end of 2018, the 3 Michelin Star Hertog Jan restaurant in Zedelgem (near Bruges) closed its doors. To many, this decision came as a surprise, but Chef De Mangeleer and his partner sommelier Joachim Boudens deemed it a logical step. They wanted to make time for other projects and new dreams: more casual dining concepts like Bar Bulot & a trendy restaurant with worldy influences LESS Eatery. This break also allowed Chef De Mangeleer to focus on farming, sustainability, new projects and provide more opportunities for young chefs to excel.
The partners had the opportunity to revive Hertog Jan in Botanic Sanctuary in Antwerp in 2021 and has since then received 2 Michelin stars in a mere seven months after opening. With the restaurant open only a few days a month, the restaurant is in high demand.
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At Hertog Jan (and as will be during his residency at Siri Sala), Chef De Mangeleer will offer a fixed menu in an intimate setting. The balanced, well thought out menu can be compared to a Japanese omakase menu where the chef selects the menu in accordance with the season and supplies. The guests sit back & enjoy the culinary experience.
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