Surprise: Tim Boury from Roeselare wins a third Michelin star. It supreme moment seemed to surprise the organization itself, because the group photo with the other three-star restaurants Hof van Cleve and Zilte had just been taken when Tim Boury was called on stage. Comme Chez Soi loses its second Michelin star and reacts with disappointment.
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Viki Geunes van Zilte in Antwerp and Peter Goossens from the Hof van Cleve in Kruishoutem have succeeded in three stars to keep. They were immediately treated to a standing ovation from the audience. Peter Goossens thus remains king of Belgian gastronomy: it is the eighteenth time that he can keep his three stars. Moreover, many chefs who were allowed to take the stage today, once stood in his kitchen. ‘That’s the great thing about being a mentor, that you can insure the future,’ said Goossens.
And then the plot twist: after the group photo had already been taken, the news suddenly came that chef Tim Boury of restaurant Boury from Roeselare will also receive a third star. The tightly directed show at the Royal Theater in Bergen still has surprises.
A second surprise came for the Brussels institute Comme Chez Soi. Even before the stars were officially awarded, the restaurant announced in a press release that it is losing its second Michelin star. ‘We are very surprised to learn that our restaurant has been stripped of its Michelin star’, said chef Lionel Rigolet. “We want to thank our fantastic team, our loyal customers, our friends and family for their unwavering support through good and bad times: their presence goes straight to our hearts and is worthy of all the stars in the world. Comme Chez Soi is first and foremost a house that likes to receive, please and share. It always has been and always will be.’
From two Michelin stars go to these restaurants:
- Thijs Vervloet of restaurant Colette – De Vijvers in Averbode is a newcomer to the two-star firmament. “It was a hellish ride, but we reached our goal,” he said. “This is the pinnacle, just fantastic.”
- Yves Mattagne of La Villa Lorraine by Yves Mattagne in Brussels also receives two stars. ‘La grande dame’ of gastronomy is working on it soon a comeback after it lost its three stars one by one.
- The duo Gert De Mangeleer and Joachim Boudens from restaurant Hertog Jan at Botanic in Antwerp are again awarded. After Hertog Jan in Bruges, the chefs went to recharge their batteries and the Michelin inspectors clearly appreciated that.
No fewer than sixteen cases will receive their . this year first star:
- Ruben Christiaens from restaurant Vintage in Kontich. The 25-year-old chef was also named ‘Young Chef of the Year’.
- Alex Verhoeven from restaurant Hert in Turnhout
- Marius Bosmans from restaurant Arden in Villers-sur-Lesse
- Thomas Diepersloot of Fine Fleur in Antwerp
- Frederik Dhooge from restaurant In den Hert in Wannegem-Lede.
- Maxence Bouralha & Charles Maxime Legrand van restaurant Quai n°4 in Ath
- Dimitri De Koninck from restaurant Nebo in Antwerp
- Lode De Roover of restaurant Fleur De Lin in Zele
- Ryôdo Kajiwara from the Rylodô restaurant in Luxembourg
- Ken Verschuren of restaurant Tinèlle in Mechelen. It is the second time that the chef has been awarded a first star for a restaurant where he is a chef.
- Martijn Defauw from restaurant Rebelle in Marke
- Gary Kirchens from restaurant Aurum by Gary Kirchens in Ordingen
- Julien Lucas van restaurant La Villa de Camille and Julien in Luxembourg
- Simon van Dun from restaurant Dim Dining in Antwerp
- Michiel De Bruyn from restaurant Sense in Waasmunster
- Thomas Troupin of restaurant Toma in Liège. He also wins a green star that ‘inspires tomorrow’s gastronomy’.
The Sommelier award goes to Maxime Sanzot of Racines in Floreffe.
Bib Gourmand
The Bib Gourmand consists of a selection of restaurants offering excellent value for money. This year there are 24:
Strofilia in Brussel, Bizie Lizie in Antwerpen, Nr. 12 by Helsen in Herentals, La Fermette des Pins in Buvrinnes, La Cantinetta in Grivegnée, Jeux de Goûts in Orchimont, Fico in Elsene, Instroom in Antwerpen, Monsieur V in Linkebeek, Fleur de Salt in Komen-Waasten, Le Sixième in Geldenaken, Table Rase in Polleur, Bottega Vannini in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, Bistrot Benoit in Antwerpen, Antonio Morreale in Sterrebeek, Le Grand Pré in Erquelinnes, L’entretien in Leuze, Le Grand Maur in Spa, Bistrot L’île in Antwerpen, Bar Bask in Gent, Maïnoï in Eigenbrakel, La Fermette in Falaën, Origines in Bergen, Cuisine & Nous in Tilff.
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