C H E F ’ S
S P E C I A L
a week. They only agreed because it was under the leadership of
some of our staff. But in principle,
Herman den Blijker. But that one day was not enough for me. I
everyone can and may go, but if Ian
couldn't be held back, and one day I drove to school in my chef
goes... that just won't work".
uniform, handed in my books, and immediately started as a full-
Ian: “Nick sees the good in people, while
time apprentice at Las Palmas. It was a hard learning experience.
I'm more abrupt, harder and much
I worked in the back of the kitchen for a while, but when the
more impatient. We are very different
smell of cigar smoke mixed with expensive perfume came by, you knew that 'cheffie' (Herman den Blijker) was approaching. Then everything and everyone began to tremble. Nick also once dealt with me very harshly because I didn't have things in order. When I could run my own mini kitchen with two hobs in Las Palmas, I thought it fantastic and could further develop my own creativity
NICK: “IN PRINCIPLE, EVERYONE CAN AND MAY GO, BUT IF IAN GOES... THAT JUST WON'T WORK".
and passion. We had learnt entrepreneurship at home anyway, somewhere, and I think that actually
and giving up is no option for us."
works really well. Nick and Herman Nick: “It's really our combination that's so special. I mean, I can't
are almost opposites too, and that also
work a half hour with my father or sister, but I can with Ian. We
works really well.”
are very loyal and go all out for the business. We communicate without words. We see what the other is doing and complement
Nick: “When the restaurants had to
each other. A good team is very important too, it's give and take
close, we soon realised that we had to
and that bond must grow. And we do have a special bond with
do something otherwise we would have
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