Claudia Allemeersch won the Best Amateur Chef of Flanders award and is known for her pure dishes. We've personally experienced her busy schedule! She's bursting with ideas and has a whole host of new projects on the horizon. These include a beautiful line of dishes, handmade in the Tamegroute village in Morocco, bearing her signature style. And a high-end food box, which will be available at premium butchers. She's also constantly working on new recipes for her cookbooks and is constantly reinventing herself.
A busy schedule, therefore, means she wants to live as simply and purely as possible outside of her home. We mentioned it above, but the word "pure" perfectly describes Claudia. Her clothing style is simple and chic, with great attention to fabric, quality, and cut. She loves beautiful, comfortable, and high-quality things. Her clothes, bedding, and towels must "squeak," as she puts it. Simplicity in its most beautiful form, and a perfect match for Marie Méro.
Claudia, you won "Best Amateur Chef in Flanders." At the time of your victory, what role did clothing play in your life?
Clothing has always played an important role in my life. I actually inherited this from my family. My mother thought it was important that I was well-dressed. For example, a nice coat in the winter sometimes cost a bit more. Quality was always the priority, and I still do. Even during the filming of "Best Amateur Chef in Flanders," I always made sure to look my best. I did wear an apron, but still ;-)
Has the role of clothing changed? Are you more conscious of your outfit choices now than you used to be?
I'm more in the spotlight than I used to be, and that automatically means I pay even more attention to my appearance. I also enjoy getting up early in the morning and taking the time to make myself beautiful. That makes me feel good.
Can you describe Marie Méro in a few words?
The first word that comes to mind is elegance. For me, this is the Marie Méro keyword.
One thing that really stuck with me from the previous winter collection was the red and beige ensemble. I thought it was super chic. I also find the collection very feminine.
What does your ideal outfit look like?
My clothing style is characterized as casual chic. Sometimes I find myself reaching for the same colors over and over again. When I open my closet, I see predominantly white, blue, camel, and black. By choosing a print and brighter colors this time, I'm stepping out of my comfort zone a bit.
I have my own style, but I do think about accents for special occasions. I wear something different every day, depending on my mood. I love skirts. I can wear them basic with flats and a T-shirt, but also dress them up a bit. I haven't been wearing skirts for very long, but I feel really good in them. I haven't been wearing sneakers for very long either, so my clothing style has definitely evolved.
What's important to you when it comes to clothes? What do you pay attention to when window shopping and trying on clothes?
Fabric and quality are very important to me. I like it to creak. I even put my sheets on. I'm a fan of sturdy and structured fabrics like tweed, etc. I really appreciate the different textures in the plain fabrics in your collection. The soft coat with a herringbone print, the faux leather skirt, or the chunky knit turtleneck top are my favorites.
What things are important to you in terms of clothing, fit, comfort and trendiness?
Less is more. I'm absolutely not a fan of anything too flashy. Frills and flashiness are not my thing. A nice cut is also important to me. I love volume. Personally, I prefer a coat with set-in sleeves over one with raglan sleeves.
Do you pay a lot of attention to accessories?
I never wear big earrings. And if I did try, my husband's look would say it all (laughs). This just doesn't suit me. I have a collection of timeless jewelry that I can wear with anything. I can spend a lot of money on handbags and shoes. They complete an outfit. That's why I often buy them in black so I can pair them with everything.
As a true amateur chef and bon vivant, what are your favorite places to eat in Roeselare?
Roeselare could certainly use a few more addresses for more variety.
Two that stand out for me are 't Verschil in Gits and Le Nord in Roeselare. They have an extensive menu that offers delicious cuisine in a cozy setting.
And then Boury, but that's only for very special occasions. This is the pinnacle, of course.
Which dishes do you most identify with? Is this Flemish cuisine?
I love Flemish cuisine, especially for home cooking. I often cook everyday dishes, but I add my own touch, making existing things new. I draw a lot of inspiration from my travels. I experiment with herbs or add an extra ingredient to the sauce. My absolute favorites are Mediterranean and French cuisine. Fish à la plancha, prepared en croute de sel, with a virgin sauce with capers. Pure cuisine and so delicious.
You are actually pure in everything you do, Claudia, we also see that in your clothing style!
I never really thought about this when it came to my clothing choices, but now that you mention it… (laughs)
You're currently busy with several projects, including your Tamegroute bowl line, which will be released soon. Tell us, what's the inspiration behind this?
This beautiful Moroccan pottery is made in the village of Tamegroute. Tamegroute literally means "the last village before the desert." The pottery is handcrafted by the same family, from generation to generation. They use a specific type of clay, the ingredients of which remain a closely guarded family secret. The bowls are glazed. The characteristic green color is achieved by adding copper to the clay. To achieve the yellow color, the copper is replaced with another substance. The beauty is that each piece is unique. You never have two identical pieces. Sometimes you see a black edge, from the spattering in the kiln, which gives it a special touch. It is truly handmade. The bowls are all signed "To Claudia" (proudly showing a photo). A first pallet is currently on its way to Belgium. We are busy developing a platform for ordering the plates online.
This will coincide with the launch of my new book.
So publishing a new book is the second project you're currently working on?
Indeed. Thermomix Mediterranean will be released this fall. It's a book full of Mediterranean-inspired dishes that I've created in collaboration with chefs from Spain, Morocco, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Croatia. Thermomix use has been on the rise in recent years. The book provides detailed descriptions of each Thermomix function and cooking time. The fact that I was able to add some delicious desserts to the cookbook, together with Michelin-starred chef Roger van Damme, is literally and figuratively the icing on the cake for me. I consider it a great honor to collaborate with such a top chef.
You have a lot planned, as you are also working on a third project?
We are busy developing a new concept for food boxes.
Our market research showed that there is demand for tapas and aperitif boxes.
We're also working on festive menu boxes with top-quality ingredients and premium meat. They should offer that little bit extra while still being easy to prepare. The average preparation time is 20 to 30 minutes for a menu. We're currently still in the testing phase. We're looking at whether it tastes good, if it's enough, and so on. If all goes well, they'll be available from mid-October, including at butchers.
What do you think of the "I buy local" narrative? Is it important to you?
I can definitely call myself a Roeselare local. I truly love the city and its atmosphere. Roeselare takes many initiatives and makes a huge effort to attract customers and support local shops. I have my go-to places for my shopping. Partly to support local businesses, but also to chat, because I'm a real chatterbox.
I already knew you're super social! Is networking important to you?
A flair for commerce and socializing comes naturally. You can't teach it. But the older I get, the more I realize that expanding my network requires an extra push. So when I have the time, I sometimes join an after-work event.
Do you often participate in local initiatives of the city of Roeselare?
Roeselare is a vibrant city. I have enormous respect for all the people who dedicate so much time and energy to organizing all kinds of events and initiatives. If I have the time, I'll happily participate or lend a hand myself if it fits into my schedule.
Our fall campaign is all about powerful women. Who do you consider a true power woman?
I immediately think of Martha Stewart! She's 80-plus, but she still looks incredibly good. Considering her age, she's still very energetic. She exudes pure power.
Jane Fonda is also a woman I look up to. It's incredible how energetic she still is.
What does the word 'power' mean to you?
Have energy. Always keep going. "Door doen" (to do the door), as they say in West Flemish.
Do you consider yourself a proud woman? What does it mean to you to be "proud"?
For me it means having that energy to get up early in the morning, make myself beautiful and have the strength to make something of it every single day!
Claudia's outfits are available online , in Marie Méro concept stores and the better multi-brand stores near you.
