A beautiful and sunny day, I spent some time with an amazing chef: Sergio Herman.
Getting to know such a talent, and to have some quality time together, was a worth-remembering moment. Perfectionist, exceptional chef and businessman, he is driven by an extraordinary energy.
Sergio Herman is the famous chef from Oud Sluis, next to the Belgian border in the Netherlands, that he took over from his father in 1990.
He received his first star in 1995, a second followed in 1999 and in 2005 Oud Sluis was the third retaurant in the Netherlands ever to be awarded three Michelin stars in 2006.
From 2003, Sergio appeared in The World’s 50 Best restaurants list, and climbed up to number 17.
Sergio has nothing commun as he has also been awarded 20 points by the Dutch Gault Millau Guide, which is not only unique but exceptional.
In June 2013, Sergio Herman announced the closure of The Oud Sluis restaurant to focus on his other projects: he decided to open The Jane and Pure C, which are now two of the best dining places in Belgium and Netherlands.
He started up a french fries concept, Frites Atelier Amsterdam, and just opened last month in Antwerp.
That day, I was lucky to have a meeting with an exceptional chef, and a driven human being. sharing with me some of his thoughts, tastes and experiences.
S.H.: I don’t have a process, the creativity comes and go… Sometimes, my inspiration comes when i’m jogging – i try to do it 2-3 times a week – it’s important for me to feel the nature. I need to feel this nature, otherwise i would become crazy. Sometimes, it comes when we go to the city with my wife to see artists and other stuffs. Or just sometimes, that happens on the road from Antwerp to Knokke (Belgian seaside), when I’m thinking of new mix taste. And I find my inspiration on holiday of course, when I travel.
S.H.: That’s difficult…. We always know what’s happening outside but it’s important to put your own personality and your own style in your plate. That’s the most important thing.
S.H.: Herbs and spices because it can bring you to another level. But it’s also important to mix those herbs and spices, especially to hit the perfection because otherwise it’s too easy… Everybody can do that. It’s very important to balance your taste to be more elegant and powerful. And those elements bring you to the perfection.
Red cabbage and brussels sprouts.
S.H.: What we do here is not changing all the times. We do it sometimes. After holiday we start a new menu. But we change it step-by-step because people are not really happy when we change everything in one time. When my farmer call me and tell me : oh sergio I have carrots and some new stuff, then we try to put it in.
S.H.: I think the Fish from Zealand. We have the best one and it’s very important to keep good contact with the fishemermen because they know what we expect from them and what we don’t like.
S.H.: We have a biologised farm house, and it’s awesome. To respect the animal and the biologische atmosphere is very important. It’s like a diamond for them, they are so passionate, it’s sometimes unbelievable.
S.H.: The creation, always being in the kitchen. And the feeling that everybody is happy, that the team is moving, feeling the vibe. Then you can go home and you feel so satisfied.
S.H.: London.
S.H.: Open a restaurant in London (haha) but we are also going to open a new restaurant in Cadzand in June 2016. It’s going to be a beach house, with fantastique view. And also The hotel of the “Pure C” will be more bigger. I will start to design 6 suites in it.
S.H.: Pierre Gagnaire, he opened my eyes so many years ago, because he cooked out of the box. There’s a lot of chef, it’s difficult.
S.H.: Pasta from my wife.
S.H.: …With my family and pasta (haha)
S.H.: Home perfume from Colette and wood fires. The most sexy perfume is the home perfume from Costes.
S.H.: Ibiza is my second home, I go six seven times a year. I always try to see a lot of places. I just went to Costa Rica last year. Ibiza is a good a way to feel free, it’s a special energy-vibes, i always relax myself over there.
S.H.: Go to countryside. And jog, it’s freedom inside (music and it’s just pushy).
S.H.: Black or White.
S.H.: Dog
S.H.: London
S.H.: The southern part
S.H.: The 80’s when I grow up and begin of 90’s. It was a super nice period because I worked in Oud-Sluis, The best part in my life. I was working with Kobe and those years were dedicated to power, passion, we fought for each other. I see him very often.
S.H.: Art and design
S.H.: Thriller and documentary, because I love to learn. The last tutorial I watched was about Anton Corbijn, and photography on Youtube.
S.H.: Leather
S.H.: Sour
S.H.: Fight for something, people who have the mentality to push everyday.
S.H.: The most important thing: My family, the taste, and beauty – ‘aesthetic’ for me, it’s very important to bring it aesthetic – into the look of dishes and the designs of the restaurant. I want to bring a very nice culinary level and make it nice and different things. For me it’s important when I eat, but it’s also important when you have nice atmosphere and good music.
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Belgium.
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1.1 For orders placed online at www.thefoodalist.com
When you order the merchandise on the site, your contract is made with
Amélie Vincent -The Foodalist
88 rue Franz Merjay
1050 Brussels
Belgium
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In any other European country, the delivery cost is 20 euros.
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2.4 If you decide to return any item ordered in accordance with these terms (see section 6 below and our return policy) we will refund the standard shipping charge. We will not refund any additional cost associated with express delivery.
3.1 We accept the following payment methods: Paypal.
Please note that we only accept payments from accounts within the European Union (EU). You are responsible for any costs associated with money transactions.
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Subject to the further terms set out below (including some important exceptions), when you purchase an item from www.thefoodalsit.com have a statutory right of revocation: The first thing you should know is that if you decide to return merchandise, you can use the return shipping label enclosed with your order, or it can also be printed out from your customer account page. If you do not have access to a printer, you encounter problems downloading the return shipping label or you require a new return shipping label, you can contact Customer Care to request one (contact details below). Please help us to avoid unnecessary costs by always using the return shipping label when returning merchandise.
Information regarding the statutory right to cancel:
You have the right to cancel your contract with us within 14 days without giving any reasons. The cancellation period will expire 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires possession of the last item in your order.
To exercise the statutory right to cancel you must inform us by contacting us in one of the following ways:
The Foodalist
Amélie Vincent
88 rue Franz Merjay
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32477662418
By using the attached cancellation form, (you may use this form but you are not obliged to do so).
To meet the cancellation deadline, you must send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.
What happens after you have told us you wish to cancel
If you cancel the contract under the statutory right to cancel, we shall reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (with the exception of supplementary costs resulting from your choice of a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us), without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel. We will carry out such reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction (Paypal).
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest. You must return the items you no longer want to us without undue delay, and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you told us you were cancelling the contract. We will bear the costs of returning the goods provided you use the return shipping label provided by us for shipment from the country in which delivery was made to you, otherwise you will be required to pay the return shipping costs. You are only obliged to cover any depreciation in the value of returned items if the depreciation is attributable to your improper handling of the returned items when examining their condition, properties and function.
Cancellation form
(If you wish to cancel the contract, please complete this form and return it to us)
Attn: The Foodalist
Amélie Vincent
88 rue Franz Merjay
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32477662418
I/we (*) hereby give notice that I/we (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*):
— ordered on (*)/received on (*)
— name of customer(s)
— address of customer(s)
— signature of consumer (s) (only if this form is notified on paper),
— date
(*) Delete as appropriate
The right of cancellation expires prematurely for contracts subject to sealed goods which have been unsealed after delivery and which are not suitable for return due to hygienic reasons.
End of notice
Subject to the further terms set out below (including some important exceptions), when you purchase on www.thefoodalist.com you have a statutory right of revocation: The first thing you should know is that if you decide to return merchandise, you can use the return shipping label enclosed with your order. If you require a new return shipping label, you can contact Customer Care to request one (contact details below). Please help us to avoid unnecessary costs by always using the return shipping label when returning merchandise.
Information regarding the right of revocation:
You have the right to cancel your contract with us within 14 days without giving any reasons. The cancellation period will expire 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires possession of the last item in your order. To exercise the statutory right to cancel you must inform us by contacting us in one of the following ways:
The Foodalist
Amélie Vincent
88 rue Franz Merjay
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32477662418
Consequences of revocation
If you cancel the contract contract under the statutory right to cancel, we shall reimburse to you all payments we received from you, including delivery costs (with the exception of supplementary costs resulting from your choice of a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us), without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel. We will carry out such reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise. The refund will be sent to your Paypal. If you used a gift voucher for your purchase, we will credit the relevant amount to your gift voucher account. We may withhold reimbursement until we have/has received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest. You must return the items you no longer want to us without undue delay, and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you told us you were cancelling the contract.
Cancellation form
(If you wish to cancel the contract, please complete this form and return it to us)
Attn:
The Foodalist
Amélie Vincent
88 rue Franz Merjay
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32477662418
I/we (*) hereby give notice that I/we (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/:
— ordered on (*)/received on (*)
— name of customer(s)
— signature of consumer (s) (only if this form is notified on paper),
— date
— address of customer(s)
— date (*)
Delete as appropriate
The right of cancellation expires prematurely for contracts subject to sealed goods which have been unsealed after delivery and which are not suitable for return due to hygienic reasons.
End of notice
8.1 Without prejudice to your statutory right to cancel set out above, we offer you the option of returning items ordered from thefoodalist.com website within 100 days of you receiving them. This return option allows you to return items to us, even after the 14-day cancellation period has expired (see "Statutory Right to Cancel above).
8.2 If you are returning merchandise, you can use the return shipping label enclosed with your order, or you can print the label out yourself from your customer account page. Please contact Customer Care if you have any problems downloading the return shipping label or you do not have access to a printer.
8.3 Your returned items will be deemed returned within 100 days if you send it within such time.
8.4 Your exercise of this return option is limited to unworn items that you have worn/tried on only as you would have in a shop. All returned items must be returned in their original condition, intact and undamaged, and in its original packaging. Until the period for exercising the statutory right to cancel expires, the statutory provisions governing returns shall apply exclusively.
8.5 The voluntary 100 days return right does not exist for contracts subject to sealed goods which have been unsealed after delivery and which are not suitable for return due to hygienic reasons.
8.6 We do not offer exchanges for returned items. If you wish to purchase a new item, please place a new order.
Any refunds are paid automatically to the Paypal account.
If you used a gift voucher for your purchase, we will credit the relevant amount to your gift voucher account.
For questions please contact our customer care team on amelie@thefoodalist.com.
Please contact us if an item you have purchased from thefoodalist.com website develops a fault. Nothing in these terms shall affect your statutory rights.
These terms are governed by Belgian law. Any disputes may be submitted for online resolution to the European Commission Online Dispute Resolution platform, or in front of the Belgian courts.
The Foodalist
Amélie Vincent
88 rue Franz Merjay
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32477662418