{"id":1501,"date":"2022-11-05T10:41:17","date_gmt":"2022-11-05T08:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peterdeclercq.be\/?p=1501"},"modified":"2022-11-05T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-11-05T10:00:00","slug":"indian-summer-met-peter-de-clercq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peterdeclercq.be\/en\/indian-summer-met-peter-de-clercq\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian summer with Peter De Clercq"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bien cuit.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I wasn't quite sure how I was going to get Peter De Clercq on my plate: Saignant? A point? Bien cuit? Turns out he is all three. A rough diamond with a very straight face. Straightforward and very engaging at the same time. Pure meat on the plate. A true-blooded man with a record of achievements to his credit. Why the man still does not have a Wikipedia page, nobody knows. One thing is certain, Peter knows what he wants: to make people happy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What struck me immensely is the tranquillity he exudes while there is also a tropical volcano inside him. We met among wooden boards and surfboards at Lakeside Paradise in Knokke: a lovely piece of paradise with a central lake for wakeboarding. Outside, in other words, where real life takes place. Make no mistake, we didn't come to play sports. The cackling water was ready and soon souls were exchanged. A beautiful afternoon with a beautiful man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Peter on the grill.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your children are quietly taking over the torch. Is it hard to let go?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My children are purebred entrepreneurs. So my DNA does reside in them. In early July, I sold my part of the restaurant (Elckerlijc) to my ex-wife and the kids. Everything started in between lockdowns. Living constantly next to the grill and being face to face with fire day in and day out made me live twice as hard. My daughter said: 'Daddy, this is not for you anymore.' And she was right. It dawned on me that my daughter is the scepter in the hall and my son has been taking over my job for more than five years. Yet it never gets hot under their feet. I am as proud as a kite when I see them busy, so taking a step back was a logical consequence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So do you have other ambitions besides the restaurant?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is still a lot of TV work, both in Belgium and the Netherlands. But that doesn't make a person rich. I really enjoy giving BBQ workshops. That makes people happy and it makes me happy too. I will mainly focus on BBQ at people's homes. Not so much full-scale catering, but rather as a BBQ chef or guest chef.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your team is your strength. Do you have a personal connection with your employees? How do you keep the hierarchy in place?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My team is my family, but for me it only comes full circle when everyone works hard and matches well. The fact that the team is very young and dynamic ensures that we understand each other without words. Each of us is passionate about the business and that is necessary to keep such a big bo\u00eete straight. Our ma\u00eetre also has shares in our business. That helps, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is your fame mainly due to the 2003 victory in Jamaica?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Roasted, grilled leeks. Heaven!<\/div>