Dutch star chef 'in shock' after hitting his own intern: 'His team is sacred to him'

According to the Public Prosecution Service, the chef was under the influence of alcohol. The victim underwent emergency surgery on Monday morning. His condition is critical. “It is crucial for the client that the boy does better and gets back on track,” says counselor Omar Souidi. Bril is in shock and not yet able to make an explanation. “His team is sacred to him. If something happens to his people, it is both a personal and a collective tragedy for him.”

According to Souidi, there is no question of intent. The police also assume this and have therefore decided not to arrest Bril. Bril did take a positive alcohol test after the collision. This means that he had drunk too much to drive the car. “This does not mean that there is a causal link between this collision and the amount of alcohol in his blood,” says Souidi.

Bril had to surrender his driver's license and has lost his car for the time being.

The collision took place between 6:00 and 7:00 am on Monday morning. While leaving the parking lot – which is used exclusively by restaurant staff – the intern was hit by a car. That happened after a company party in the restaurant. According to Bril's lawyer, the victim was already on the ground at the time. The Public Prosecution Service cannot yet confirm this.

The trainee suffered life-threatening injuries after the collision and was rushed to hospital. It is not clear how he is doing now and what injuries he has sustained. Bril immediately called the emergency services, the Public Prosecution Service confirms.

The victim is a man from the United Kingdom who had only been working at the restaurant for a few weeks. Bril worked with him. The Public Prosecution Service has not yet been able to speak to him. “He is still unapproachable.”

Bril also has yet to be interrogated by the police. According to his lawyer, this will happen at a later date because Bril is in shock and is unable to do so. “He is 100 percent concerned with the victim in his mind and hopes incredibly that the man will make it.” The Public Prosecution Service cannot say whether other employees of the restaurant saw the collision.

The Jane is a well-known restaurant in Antwerp and has had two Michelin stars for years, scored 18 out of 20 with Gault&Millau and is a member of the organization Les Grandes Tables du Mondewhich promotes the world's greatest chefs.

The award-winning restaurant is extremely popular among Dutch people. You have to book months in advance, especially on weekends. A set menu of twelve to fourteen courses will cost you approximately 265 euros per person. If you choose suitable wines, you are in luck full package quickly to 450 euros per person.

The Jane was opened in 2014 by chefs Nick Bril and Sergio Herman, who had known each other since their teenage years from Herman's restaurant Oud Sluis in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Herman was the youngest chef in Dutch history with three stars.

In 2021, Herman left The Jane and Bril became full owner. The two separated without an argument. “Sergio has not been present at The Jane for a while, the two chefs were only business partners. It has now been decided that this will also be stopped,” a spokesperson said at the time. Herman said he looked back on his time in Antwerp with pride. He has also been caught driving under the influence.

Last year, Bril was named the best Dutch chef across the border by Gault&Millau, the restaurant guide for Dutch gastronomy. The Dutchman previously became Chef of the Year in 2022 in Belgium.