Viki Geunes of Zilte clinches third star
MONS: Belgium has a new three Michelin star restaurant. After years of waiting, the new three Michelin star restaurant is Zilte in Antwerp led by chef Viki Geunes. He joins Peter Goossens of Hof van Cleve who retained his three stars making Zilte the second three Michelin star restaurant in Belgium.
In a year that has been complicated by restaurant lockdowns which are still ongoing in Belgium and with restaurants having been closed for nearly six months throughout 2020, this must have been the most complicated year to judge restaurants.
“We are speechless and can’t be more proud. Thank you all for the amazing support,” Viki Geunes said.
Michelin also awarded two restaurants with two Michelin stars. One is Castor of chef Maarten Bouckaert of Castor. Batholomeus in Knokke with its new concept led by chefs Bart Desmidt and Philip Vandamme also clinched the two stars.
The guide has also awarded 10 restaurants with one Michelin star These are Attablez-vous in Namur, Lettres Gourmandes in Montignies-Saint-Christophe, Pre des Oreades in Spa, Le Pristine, Sergio Herman’s new restaurant in Antwerp which opened only in July. Boo Raan in Knokke-Heist also clinched a star as did Willem Hiele who finally was compensated for his work.
Bar Bulot, the second restaurant opened by Gert de Mangeleer and Joachim Boudens of former three Michelin star Hertog Jan also clinched a star in Bruges making it their second restaurant to have 1 star following the success of L.E.S.S. Eatery last year.
Melchior in Tienen, L’Envie in Sint-Denijs and Libertine in Erpe are the remaining new entrants with 1 star.
The guide has also awarded 10 restaurants with a green star for their work on sustainability.
These are René Mathieu with his vegetarian cuisine at La Distillerie in Luxembourg and Nicholas Decloedt of Humus x Hortense in Brussels.
Vili Sigurdarson of restaurant Souvenir in Gent, Sepp Nobels of Graanmarkt 13 in Antwerp, Arabelle Meirlaen in Marchin, Kris de Rou of Hofke van Bazel in Bazel, Stefan Jacobs of restaurant Hors-Champs in Gembloux, Sang-Hoon Degeimbre at L’Air du Temps in Liernu, Ludovic Vanackere of Atelier de Bossimé and Filip Claeys of restaurant De Jonkman in Sainte Croix were the others awarded with a green star.
“In a year that has been very difficult for the restaurant and hotel sector, our team of inspectors have been impressed by the commitment, the determination and the creativity of the sector,” Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the Michelin Guide said.
“Through new offers and services as well as sharing of recipes as well as investment to take care of staff, Belgian and Luxembourg chef have really impressed us,” he said.
A number of restaurants have lost their stars. Most of them are because they have closed their doors or have changed either chef or format. The most illustrious are the two Brussels institutions Sea Grill by Yves Mattaigne which lost two stars and Villa Lorraine which lost its one. The latter is being refurbished and will be taken over by Yves Mattaigne. It should reopen in early 2021 COVID-19 permitting.
Another illustrious removal from the list is Kobe Desramaults Chambree Séparée which also closed its doors in Gent. The closing date had been announced already when the restaurant opened so this was no surprise.
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