Yesterday, we had the opportunity to attend the very first edition of Chef’s Invitation, the brand-new project of former 3-star chef Gert De Mangeleer at restaurant L.E.S.S. Eatery in Bruges. Together with chefs Susumu Shimizu and Hiroyasu Kawate, Gert De Mangeleer and Ruige Vermeire created an exquisite menu that combined perfectly the cuisine and unique style of the four chefs. It became a great, culinary night out in the beautiful city of Bruges, boasting a well-balanced mixture of the Belgian and Japanese cuisine.
8-hands dinner
With its cosmopolitan vibe, L.E.S.S. Eatery was the perfect place to host this 8-hands dinner, featuring chefs Gert De Mangeleer, Ruige Vermeire, Susumu Shimizu and Hiroyaso Kawate.
Chef Susumu Shimizu
Chef Susumu Shimizu left for France in 2002 where he became the first Japanese chef to head the meat section at restaurant l’Arpège. Afterwards, he worked for a year at Paris’ premier meat merchant Hugo Desnoyer to learn everything about handling meats. Later, Shimizu returned to Japan and opened the doors of his very own restaurant Anis in 2013. Seeing that Shimizu learned the basics in France, Anis incorporates touches from the French cuisine and its menu is built entirely around the chef’s passion for meat.
Chef Hiroyasu Kawate
After his studies, chef Hiroyasu Kawate also went to France to gain experience at restaurant Le Jardin des Sens and to learn the basics of the French cuisine. In 2009, he opened his own restaurant Florilège, combining traditional French techniques with Japanese artistry. He’s also an advocate of sustainability and follows the zero-waste philosophy.
Chef Ruige Vermeire
Once started as a trainee in the Hertog Jan service team when he was still a student, chef Ruige Vermeire became in 2016 the head chef and co-owner of L.E.S.S. Eatery in Bruges. Only eight months later, he and his team received a first Michelin star.
Chef Gert De Mangeleer
For chef Gert De Mangeleer, it all started in 2005 when he and his soulmate Joachim Boudens acquired the Hertog Jan brasserie in Bruges. Six years later, they received a 3th Michelin star. With the opening of L.E.S.S. Eatery and Bar Bulot, he showed that even after the closure of restaurant Hertog Jan, he still remains full of passion, energy and innovative ideas.
Belgian x Japanese x French cuisine
Both chef Shimizu and chef Kawate are trained in the classic French style, which they masterfully blend with their Japanese roots. So, we were sure that their cuisine would stand out during this very first edition of Chef’s Invitation. The concept contained every ingredient to make it a night to remember: a great atmosphere with a laidback vibe, smooth service and good company. Moreover, it was wonderful to experience the great synergy between the chefs from the front row. You could really feel the chemistry when they’re cooking together.
We started off with some bites to share, which showcased some of the classic of L.E.S.S. Eatery, combined with very nice creations of the Japanese guest chefs.
- Caviar explosion | L.E.S.S. Eatery
- Cherry wood smoked ratte potatoes | Anis
- Tea smoked sweet potato | Florilège
We continued our experience with a series of starters, all brought in a sequence of two in order to create an exciting melting-pot of the three restaurant’s signature styles.
- Kombu, scallops, ponzu and finger lime vinaigrette | L.E.S.S. Eatery
- Squid, fresh cheese, turnip and caviar | Florilège
- Squid beignet | Florilège
- Razor clams, chicory and lemongrass | Anis
- Lacquered Hamachi collar | L.E.S.S. Eatery
- Dim sum, Iberico and black truffle | L.E.S.S. Eatery
- Various preparations of spinach | Florilège
Over to the main courses. The Duke of Berkshire pork by Anis Restaurant was roasted slowly under the watching eye of the audience at the bar of the open kitchen. So, everyone’s mouth was watering when it was finally time for the apotheosis of the evening – the slicing of the meat. The side dishes were created by L.E.S.S. Eatery: Thai vinaigrette, Jews ear and fried rice.
To finish our lovely experience, the chefs served us a delicious selection of desserts.
- Mexican style spicy mango in combination with lime sorbet | L.E.S.S. Eatery
- Rice, litchi, matcha and rose – A beloved, classic from the former restaurant Hertog Jan | L.E.S.S. Eatery
Excited to also attend one of Gert De Mangeleer’s Chef’s Invitation? Mark your calendar, as on the 6th and 7th of May 2020 chef Jordy Navarra of Toyo Eatery in Manila, Philippines, will join the Belgian team as a guest chef.
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Text: Carline Roggeman
Photography: Piet De Kersgieter
