The chef-patron of Le Pristine, which opened at the revamped Grand Hyatt in Scotts Road on Oct 8, first came to Singapore 18 years ago for a week-long, four-hands collaboration at a Sentosa hotel.
He says: "Singapore is my first love in Asia. It was my first time in Asia, something really new to me. That first night, at 11pm, eating stingray at Newton hawker centre, I thought, what is this, where am I? It was amazing to feel that vibe.
"When I come to Singapore, I want to eat in hawker centres; to explore, see and feel. I love the quality of the hawker centres. That's the real Singapore."
The 120-seat restaurant, which takes the space that Mezza9 used to occupy, is the third Le Pristine restaurant.
The original opened in 2020 in Antwerp, where the 54-year-old chef is based. It has one Michelin star. In December 2023, he opened Le Pristine in Tokyo, at Hotel Toranomon Hills, a Hyatt brand.
Chef Herman is known for transforming his parents' seafood restaurant, Oud Sluis in Sluis in The Netherlands, into a three-Michelin-starred establishment. He kept those stars from 2006 until 2013, when he decided to close the restaurant.
He went on to open others, including The Jane Antwerp, with fellow Dutch chef and Oud Sluis alumnus Nick Bril. Housed in a former military chapel, it has two Michelin stars. Chef Bril took over the restaurant in 2017.
Chef Herman focused on growing the brands in his Sergio Herman Group - Le Pristine; Le Pristine Cafe; Frites Atelier, a fast casual fries chain; and PrivePrivee, his 24-seat private kitchen in Antwerp, where he cooks.
Restaurateurs go to great lengths to transport diners away from the humdrum. To enter Le Pristine Singapore is to be immersed in Herman world.
This story is from the October 13, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 13, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Touring exhibition of graffiti artist Banksy to open in Singapore in December
The guerilla-style political art of anonymous graffiti artist Banksy, which has popped up on streets in cities worldwide, will finally grace vandalism-tough Singapore this December—albeit indoors.
Bag brand Aupen's founder is former national swimmer Nicholas Tan
The Singapore-founded bag brand Aupen has been seen on the arms of pop superstars Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce, but the team behind the trendy label has largely kept a low profile—until now.
Music from Bridgerton in upcoming concert
Fans of the Netflix historical romance series Bridgerton (2020 to present) are in for a treat as songs from the hit show will be performed in Singapore.
Travel news Travel discounts at Trafalgar Tours' showcase
From Nov 6 to 10, Trafalgar Tours, a brand under travel company The Travel Corporation (TTC), is holding its first travel fair at the level one atrium of shopping centre Plaza Singapura.
Musical Six retells stories of Henry VIII's wives in pop-concert style
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived - this is how most people remember the six wives of 16th-century King of England Henry VIII.
Nafa's hopes of building a print archive
The acquisition of a collection from Typesettingsg, Singapore's only letterpress heritage studio, has increased its holdings by about 10 times
Brotherly bonds cut deeper than blades
Psychological thriller Pierce offers a bracing portrait of how young men seek out and cling to male role models
Thousands of girls sold and forced into sex trade in India
West Bengal a key trafficking hub, with more than 50,000 girls missing
Dua Lipa gets Singapore crowd 'levitating'
The words \"training season's over\" flashed on the screen as British-Albanian singer Dua Lipa took the Singapore Indoor Stadium stage on Nov 5 to kick off her Radical Optimism Tour.
4 movies, 2 islands
Singapore film-makers look to Taiwan for funding, hands-on support, cultural kinship