I was invited as a guest curator by Restaurant Samenloop to create a culinary experience highlighting the exhibition “Publiekslievelingen” at the Museum Mayer Van den Bergh in Antwerp. For this project, I developed a menu that intertwined the rich history of the restaurant’s location—Maagdenhuis, a 16th-century girls’ orphanage—with the museum’s collection. The dishes referenced historical recipes while incorporating flavors familiar to the refugee students working at the restaurant, creating a bridge between past and present, local and global cultures.
I was also asked to select a painting from the museum’s collection and recorded an accompanying audio guide, which is featured in the exhibition for visitors to listen to. In addition, I have delivered talks about the art on special occasions at the museum, engaging audiences with insights on the exhibition’s highlights and historical context.

Samenloop is an initiative from a charity called Gatam, which trains refugees in the kitchen—helping them gain an education and learn the language at the same time. Just before graduating, the students get the opportunity to work at Samenloop restaurant, a restaurant that collaborates with guest curators to develop inventive menus alongside the students.