Peter Goossens (born in 1964 in Zottegem), is a Belgian chef, Michelin-starred for his restaurant Hof van Cleve. He is known as the "Godfather of Belgian Gastronomy".
Peter Goossens was born in Zottegem, Flanders, Belgium in 1964. His parents were engaged in trade. He studied at the culinary school of Ter Duinen (nl. Hotelschool Ter Duinen) in Koksijde. Goossens moved to France and did his first internship in the restaurant Le Pré Catelan in Paris. In 1982âÂÂ1986, he took training at Lenôtre, Pré Catelan, Pavillon d'Elysée, Blanc in Thoissey and at Byblos in Saint-Tropez.
In 1987, he became the owner of the restaurant in Kruisem and turned it into a gastronomic restaurant Hof van Cleve in 1992. It specialized in Belgian-French cuisine with Asian flavours. In 1994, the restaurant got a Michelin star. The second Michelin star was given in 1998. In 2005, he became the youngest Belgian chef to get three stars in Michelin. Since 2000, he has been a Member of Mastercooks of Belgium. Since 2004, Hof van Cleve has had 19.5\20 on Gault&Millau. In 2006âÂÂ2008, he was an advisor for the "Museum Brasserie" in Brussels. Also, since 2008 Goossens has been a culinary advisoràâÂÂUnileverâÂÂ.
In 2008, he launched his culinary TV-shows on VTM "Mijn Restaurant" and in 2009 "De Beste Hobbykok van Vlaanderen". Later, he started two more TV-programmes "Meesterlijke Klassiekers" in 2010 and "De keuken van de Meester" in 2011. In 2010, he founded the culinary TV-channel Njam! together with Studio 100.
In 2011-2019 he was the President of the Bocuse dâÂÂOr Team Belgium. In 2014, Goossens founded the Flanders Food Academy and became the head of the Flanders Food Faculty.
In 2023, Goossens announced his decision to leave Hof van Cleve at the end of the year. In a press release, he explained that Floris Van Der VekenâÂÂthe current kitchen chef at Hof van CleveâÂÂwill take over the restaurant starting from January 1, 2024. Goossens noted that "he had already been thinking of heading in a new professional direction for years."
Peter Goossens has a wife Lieve Fermans and three children. The couple operates the restaurant together.
Peter Goossens published the cookbooks âÂÂKoken en Wijnâ and âÂÂBelgië â WereldkeukenâÂÂ. Also, he co-authored several books: MNU and MNU 2 with Sergio Herman and Roger van Damme, âÂÂMeesterlijke KlassiekersâÂÂ, âÂÂPassie voor Productâ with Njam!, âÂÂThe Seasonsâ with âÂÂHet Laatste NieuwsâÂÂ. Goossens contributed to âÂÂWhere Chefs Eat â A Guide to Chefsâ Favourite RestaurantsâÂÂ, âÂÂKoken-Het Handboekâ (Hotel School âÂÂTer DuinenâÂÂ), âÂÂM.E.P.âÂÂ, âÂÂDe Essentieâ (Unilever), âÂÂChefs van BelgiëâÂÂ, âÂÂDe Alchemie van Liefde en Lustenâ (Bo Coolsaet), âÂÂFood & WineâÂÂ, âÂÂEen Belgisch kookboekâÂÂ, âÂÂTruffels â âÂÂs werelds zwarte goudâÂÂ, âÂÂSterrenchefs van bij onsâ (Caudelier), âÂÂHavanna's â grand cru uit CubaâÂÂ, âÂÂKaas en WijnâÂÂ.
Goossens favourite dishes are Young pigeon 'Anjouâ with crispy bacon, potato mousseline and black truffle and Grilled turbot with spinach, lobster béarnaise and bouillabaisse puree.