Fucking Perfect

Official Trailer Sergio Herman, FUCKING PERFECT from TRUEWORKS on Vimeo.
Sergio Herman, chef of 3 Michelin star Oud Sluis decided to close the restaurant last year to follow his dreams. In March, a documentary Fucking Perfect will be screened for the first time at the International Film Festival of Berlin. The film is included in the Culinary Cinema programme with others including a documentary on Italian chef Massimo Bottura.

The documentary shows the pressures of a 3 Michelin star kitchen and the chef’s search of perfection. It  is a story of ambition, perfection and sacrifices.

In the trailer, you can see why Sergio Herman decided to close Oud Sluis. He says: “And then you are not kind, you are not the father you should be or the friend or the husband you know.”
The visuals of the film are stunning.

The documentary also shows the preparations for the opening of The Jane which Herman opened together with chef Nick Bril in Antwerp. In November, the restaurant, which has become incredibly popular since its opening, earned its first Michelin star.

Story by Ivan Brincat via http://www.foodandwinegazette.com/?p=2617


Just because this came out a year ago doesn't mean it's "old" news if you are just discovering this now!  This documentary is a powerful story of ambition, creativity, perfectionism, pressures of success, self doubt and re-questioning what is important and the price(s) we are willing to pay for our dreams.  Chef Sergio Herman is Dutch, not Belgian. But he came on board to open THE JANE in Antwerp ... which we blogged about here ... highly recommended!

https://www.thejaneantwerp.com/

Magazyn - simplicity at its best!

Stumbled upon this store on the ever so elegant blog REMODELISTA. A stunningly curated selection of clean and organic designs, this little shop has a big impact on the ever so stylish city of Antwerp, Belgium. With a palette of neutrals and raw textures - Magazyn showcases objects with clean lines allowing the beauty of the chosen materials to shine in harmony with its surroundings. This store is minimalism at its best!

"Owned by Thomas Haarmann, a former art director from Düsseldorf, Germany, Magazyn sells a range of tableware, furniture, and objects—everything from Astier de Villatte ceramics and Lobmeyr glassware to basic cotton laundry bags. Back in 2012, Haarmann moved the store from a location within Antwerp's central mall to a spot near Nationalestraat, a street featuring the likes of Dries Van Noten and Ann Demeulemeester. The store is more spacious with a palette of concrete and white walls cast in low lighting from Michael Anastassiades." - Remodelista

MAGAZYN

Steenhouwersvest 34A

2000 Antwerpen

Belgium

011-32-(0)3 226 66 06 

http://www.magazyn.be

From Military Church to Restaurant : presenting The Jane

Dutch designer Piet Boon has transformed the interior of a former military hospital chapel in Antwerp, Belgium, into a contemporary restaurant featuring a sculptural chandelier.

Piet Boon's Amsterdam studio worked with lighting designers .PSLAB and artists Studio Job on the interior of The Jane restaurant, combining modern elements with the chapel's high ceilings and patterned tile floor.

"The main features we retained in The Jane were the ceiling, of which the peeling paintwork was preserved, and the original pottery floor tiles," the design team told Dezeen.

Described by the designers as "fine dining meets rock 'n roll", the restaurant accommodates its kitchen in the church's former altar.

.PSLAB's large chandelier made from steel and hand-blown crystal glass forms a centrepiece in the restaurant. Thin steel poles extend out in all directions from its central cylinder, with small crystal globes attached to the end of each one.

Black circular tables and pale green armchairs sit beneath the chandelier, while larger seating areas are positioned against the walls.

Studio Job created 500 colourful glass window panels to replace the former stained-glass windows.

Referencing "stories of good and evil, rich and poor, life and death as well as good food and religion", the panels include images of sunflowers, devils and skulls.

A marble-topped bar is installed on an upper-level viewing platform and surrounded by black upholstered bar stools. An illuminated skull light hangs down at the rear of the space.

Bespoke speakers were also installed to "spread sound", reducing noise and echo from the high ceilings. "The acoustics of the restaurant play an important role in speech intelligibility and ambiance," added the designers.

This post via
http://www.dezeen.com/

And for more information about this incredible location and the people who made it happen,
click here http://www.dezeen.com/2014/04/06/military-church-antwerp-transformed-restaurant-piet-boon-studio-job/

Hotel Julien - Antwerp

What: For me at this moment Hotel Julien is the most beautiful hotel in Antwerp. If you get the chance to sleep in this city, you have to take this option in serious consideration.

Atmosphere & design: The design of the hotel is extraordinary. I am a big fan of the combination of the light wood and marble in their bathrooms, I love to sit in their living room in front of the fireplace, I want to hang out in their spa forever, I adore the fresh flowers throughout the hotel and I like to spend evenings in their bar sipping great cocktails (open for non-hotel guests too!).

Location: Their location is perfect. It lies a few doorsteps away from the Antwerp cathedral, good restaurants and the shopping area. You are in the most central part of Antwerp city.

Insiders tip: They have a beautiful private spa in their cellar that you can book (also as a non-hotel guest). Combine it with a treatment (REN products!) and feel like new when you come outside. Don’t forget to have a look at their rooftop terrace to have the best views of the cathedral.

Price category: Rooms are between 180 and 260 euros per night.

Korte Nieuwstraat 24, 

Antwerp

(+32) 03 229 06 00

info@hotel-julien.com

www.hotel-julien.com

Copyright pictures: Marie Monsieur

This post via http://mademoisellemonsieur.be/let-me-take-you-to/hotel-julien/

A hidden seafood gem in Antwerp

What: A hidden seafood gem in Antwerp. The owner of the restaurant, Philippe, was already known for his oyster stall ‘Oesterkraam’ at the Saturday market in Antwerp. Now you can also taste fresh seafood in his restaurant.

Food: The place to be for seafood lovers. Oysters, king crab, lobster, plateau fruits de mer, bouillabaisse and various sorts of fish. They have it all!

Atmosphere & design: The restaurant is situated in a cosy garage, which used to be their storage room for fish. Think: wooden tables and cute lamps in fishing nets. Since Vrijdag Visdag is not situated in the city center the place is only known by locals.

Insiders tip: Make your reservation in advance! Vrijdag Visdag is always fully booked. If you have a hard time selecting your dish you can ask Philippe for recommendations.

Price category: Reasonable prices. Main courses start from 25 euros. (Detailed menu and price list on their website)

Vrijdag Visdag

Lange Elzenstraat 75

2018 Antwerpen

T: 0495 10 80 08

info@oesterkraam.be

Official website: http://vrijdagvisdag.be/
This post via  http://mademoisellemonsieur.be/let-me-take-you-to/vrijdag-visdag/

Roji Restaurant

  

Roji is a Japanese restaurant located in the cellar of a medieval building (check out the stunning arches) in the city of Antwerp, Belgium. Inspired by Wabi-Sabi and decorated by world-famous designer Axel Vervoordt, the food is served on beautiful Japanese-inspired pottery by Belgian ceramicist Patty Wouters.  Dining at Roji is an experience and an atmosphere you will never forget. Romantic and cozy, it's practically a spiritual awakening for all your senses.  Reservations are highly recommended!

The "roji", the garden path, which leads from the machiai (waiting room) to the tearoom, signified the first stage of meditation: the passage into self-illumination. One who has trodden this garden path cannot fail to remember how his spirit, as he walked in the twilight of evergreens over the regular irregularities of the stepping stones, beneath which lay dried pine needles, and passed beside the moss-covered granite lanterns, became uplifted above ordinary thoughts. 

 

- Kakuzo Okakura "The Boof of Tea"

Restaurant Roji

Oude Koornmarkt 26

2000 Antwerpen


(+32) 03 296 61 33

info@roji.be

http://www.roji.be

Boulevard Leopold Bed & Breakfast

Going to Antwerp? In such a stylish city so full of life, creative stores and delicious restaurants - why not stay in a stunning Bed & Breakfast such as Boulevard Leopold. Situated in a 19th Century house, located in the old Jewish neighborhood of Antwerp, this charming location was renovated with flair, warmth and typical Belgian minimal elegance. They do not accept credit cards so bring cash or organize a bank transfer before you go - other than that little hiccup for international travelers, if you can get over that, check them out!

boulevard-leopold.be

Hotel Hotelo

With three locations in the North of Belgium (Antwerp), HotelO offers travelers a sophisticated, warm, hip, minimalist and totally Belgian Design experience in one of the country's most eclectic and creative cities - Antwerp.

www.hotelhotelo.be/

Discovered via http://zangra.com/

NR53

How do you sell your house? Indeed, you make a website for it. NR53 isn’t your average house, it’s the house of Sietze Kalkwijk, a dutch designer, in Antwerp Belgium. Actually I posted his black radiator lamp before.

This post via http://www.todayandtomorrow.net/

Hangar 41 - Antwerp

Jan Michiels, the man behind Antwerp hot spot Hangar Eenenveertig, also manages the equally happening hotel Room National as well as several other bars in town. Hangar Eenenveertig (known familiarly as Hangar 41) overlooks Antwerp's Scheldt River and was designed by Belgian architect Jo Peeters. Peeters retained all the elements of a traditional European grand cafe but added a contemporary vibe with moody dark gray walls, end-cut wood walls, and astral-looking pendant lights from Moooi. Go to Hangar Eenenveertig for more information.

This post via http://remodelista.com/

The Home Project

Following the previous post ... from the people who brought you (M)eating .... is the actual store (The Home Project) where you can get all the incredible furniture and objects you see in these pictures. Clean, modern, yet warm and cozy Belgian style 101 ... in an old industrial building, not too far from Antwerp.

http://www.thehomeproject.be/