The Supermarket Products Top Chefs Really Hate
It’s always fun to get a glimpse into the lives of top chefs. Which restaurants do they like to eat at? What are their favorite kitchen tools? What do (star) chefs absolutely refuse to eat? This time, we asked our chef friends which supermarket products they really can’t stand.
Curious about what chefs never buy at the supermarket and why? Then read on.
Fish from the supermarket: chefs walk right past it
Fish, in particular, turns out to be an absolute no-go. They really go to the fishmonger for that. What else do they leave on the shelf?
Yornie van Dijk (Basiliek*)
“Fish and fish products. Go to a local fishmonger and get properly informed.”
Guido Braeken (restaurant Julemont at Château Wittem, from Jan. 2025 Van Oys)
“Shellfish and crustaceans lying uncovered in the freezer. And I would never buy beef at the supermarket either.”
Niven Kunz (Triptyque*)
“The cheap meat deals. Absolutely awful and they shouldn’t be allowed. My suggestion would be to price vegetables and other healthy products more favorably and make them more accessible. And I never buy fish at the supermarket either. I find the quality at the fishmonger many times better than what’s available at the supermarket.”
Marleen Brouwer (Noor*)
“Canned fruit.”
Yuri Wattimena (YANO)
“Vegetables from a jar or can. And I always buy beef (such as rib-eye and entrecôte) from the butcher; it’s 100 times better. Especially in terms of value for money.”
Jord Althuizen (Black Smoke)
“Surimi—oh, I find it so disgusting. In terms of taste, but also because of how it’s made. Fish really has to be absolutely fresh for me; that’s why I would never buy a whole trout at the supermarket either.”
Tim Golsteijn (Restaurant Bougainville*)
“All those so-called “light” products that still contain unhealthy fats and chemical sweeteners.”
Casimir Evens (Odile*)
“Oat milk and stevia (not natural products, produced in a factory).”
Thomas Val (Wils*)
“Pancake mix—it really makes no sense. And meat substitutes. They’re ultra-processed and never really match real meat. My motto is: eat more fresh vegetables, legumes and nuts, and less meat. And when you do eat meat, make sure it comes from a good source.”
Leonardo Pacenti (Toscanini)
“Croissants, because they’re factory-made junk.”
Arie Visscher (Café Visscher)
“Microwave film; it never works the way you want it to and sticks to everything except what it’s supposed to stick to.”
Michiel Deenik (Visaandeschelde)
“Ready-made salads and ready meals.”
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Images: Albert Heijn & Jumbo
