ANTWERP: After the success of Blueness in Cadzand, Sergio Herman has announced that he will open Blueness Antwerp in spring 2002 in a classic building on the Lange Gasthuisstraat in the heart of the fashion district.
The project will be in the hands of chef Jaclyn Kong and Maitre Dorine van den Eydne who both share a common professional past and a healthy dose of ambition. Both women used to work with Sergio Herman at Oud Sluis and The Jane. While Jaclyn has been part of the Pure C team and later was one of the two chefs at Blueness Cadzand, Dorine went to the UK to work at Dinner by Heston Blumnethal before going to Restaurant 108 in Copenhagen.
The Blueness project focuses on modern French cuisine with Japanese accents and the two promise to provide a unique hospitality experience.
The concept is based on a fine casual approach in which the bar plays a prominent role for signature cocktails, special wines and exclusive sakes. Opening hours and the actual date of the open still have to be announced.
The design of the space has been entrusted to Space Copenhagen from Denmark. They had previously collaborated with Sergio Herman on his other Antwerp project Le Pristine. The interior will take the guest into the dynamics of a food bar with an open kitchen that is connected to the pure oriental atmosphere of the restaurant.
Artistic collaborations have also been set with Cor Unum for the design of unique ceramics and contemporary work by Germans Ermics, Mae Engelgeer and Destroyers Builders will also be on display. This is the second time the Dheedene family join forces with the Sergio Herman Group.
“To open Blueness Antwerp in this beautiful and historic building is a fantastic challenge. Personally, it gives me enormous satisfaction to be able to give confidence to people that I have been able to train myself. Jaclyn and Dorine are two women with enormous ambition who are ready to take on the adventure with us at this point in their career,” Sergio Herman said.
Sergio is a firm believer in the Blueness concept. “I believe the contemporary appearance, its modest class and unique character is a concept that has a very bright future ahead.”
He said that thanks to the efforts and success of Le Pristine, this opportunity has come along. “I see this as a huge token of appreciation for the Sergio Herman Group to turn the Gasthuisstraat into a culinary destination.”
Miguel Dheedene, co-owner of Fashion Club 70 said the family have decided to let Sergio Herman’s concept take the place of Verso Cafe. “The arrival of Le Pristine and the new energy it provided gave us an impetus to provide a fresh face to our fantastic multi-brand store in the Gasthuisstraat. It was a non-obvious choice to close our successful formula Verso Cafe but we trust Sergio and his team and he has given us the courage to take the decision which is what the family business Fashion Club 70 stands for.”
He said the family was convinced that Blueness Antwerp will strike the right chord with both the Antwerp public and international visitors and that they will strengthen their position as a reference in both food and fashion in Antwerp.
The Belgian city is fast developing into Belgium’s new culinary capital.
Sergio Herman closed the doors of 3 star restaurant Oud Sluis in 2013. Since then he has not looked back. He set up the Sergio Herman Group a few years ago under the leadership of John Jansen and an ambitious team of experts to develop an astonishing number of culinary concepts. These include the successful The Jane which he eventually sold to his former partner Nick Bril, Le Pristine, Pure C, Air Republic, Air Cafe, Blueness and Frites Atelier. Some of his current portfolio of culinary brands from fast-casual to fine dining experiences are available for franchise or licensing agreements.
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