Breaking news: Sergio Herman leaves Pure C and AIRrepublic
Striking news from the world of haute cuisine. Sergio Herman has announced that he is stepping down from his restaurants Pure C and AIRrepublic. After 15 years, he has decided that he no longer wants to be involved with the restaurants in Cadzand. His personal ambitions—including new (international) plans for the future—play a major role in his decision.
In his press release on the Pure C website, Herman says that this decision ‘was not made lightly’. He says he still has ‘that ultimate passion for cooking’, but also wants to free up more time ‘for my family, children and friends, more travel and taking a leap into unique international projects such as those in Asia’. Those plans in Asia have been underway for some time. For example, Herman opened Le Pristine restaurant in Singapore in January 2023.
Het Strandhotel
Herman is transferring all responsibilities for Pure C and AIRrepublic to Het Strandhotel: a hotel in Cadzand with several restaurants attached to it. According to Herman, the most important aspect of the transfer and collaboration is ‘the wellbeing and careers of each of the employees, who have now been informed of the decision’. Herman will also ‘continue discussions about the choices to be made to enable Strandhotel to continue its culinary heritage’. What is certain in any case is that the names Pure C and AIRrepublic will change. According to Herman, they are ‘too closely connected to the personal memories I want to retain of the restaurants’.
Sergio Herman in Asia
Asia is therefore an important part of Herman’s new future. In collaboration with the HYATT hotel group, the chef and hospitality entrepreneur will open at least 2 restaurants on the continent, specifically in Tokyo and Singapore. In addition, Frites Atelier is expanding beyond the border. In his press release, Herman mentions an agreement with a franchise partner in Istanbul, Turkey. This would be a first step towards growing Frites Atelier worldwide.
Antwerp
Fortunately, Sergio is not ending his involvement with all his existing restaurants—especially those in Flanders. As he himself indicates, he still sees plenty of challenges in Le Pristine and Blueness in Antwerp. According to him, those restaurants have only just got started, meaning he can still apply his ‘hospitality vision’ to them in a big way. So we do not necessarily have to travel to Asia to enjoy Herman’s creative culinary mind—although a trip to his restaurants in Tokyo and Singapore is definitely on the bucket list.
Michelin stars
In April 2023, Herman lost 2 Michelin stars for Pure C following Syrco Bakker’s departure. When Pure C opened in 2010, Sergio Herman entrusted the running of the kitchen to Syrco, who was only 25 years old (!) at the time. He too is busy with Asian adventures, starting with a restaurant in Bali.
Would you still like to visit Pure C or AIRrepublic in their current forms? Pure C’s final service will take place on Saturday evening, September 23, 2023. AIRrepublic’s will be a little further ahead in the schedule, namely on Saturday evening, March 30, 2024.
Of course, we will continue to follow Sergio and Syrco closely.
Also read:
- Chef discovers the secret behind Sergio Herman’s fries
- Why you should make Sergio Herman’s chili oil right away
- These are all the Michelin-starred restaurants in the Netherlands in 2023
Source: Pure C website – Sergio Herman press release
