SOUS Stories: Terry Priem

Chef Terry:
"From my passion for art, my love for cooking eventually emerged, although it wasn't love at first sight!"

In the culinary search for what drives chefs, we join ‘SOUS Stories’ at their table and discuss their path to success. This time, we sit down with Restaurant STER in Rotterdam. With Terry Priem, we talk about his passion for cooking, his love for Tuscany, but also: which kitchen gadget he considers indispensable.

The name STER comes from Terry's graffiti period. “STER was my tag name on my graffiti pieces. In addition, our daughter is named Nova, which stands for new star, and the letters STER can also be found in my first name and in Esther's,” says Terry.

Terry continues: “In the past, I made graffiti pieces along the highways and all around Rotterdam and Kralingen. From my passion for art, my love for cooking eventually emerged, although it wasn't love at first sight!” Terry once started as a dishwasher in the kitchen and from there gradually swapped the dishwashing area for a chef's jacket. “The colors I used in my graffiti pieces and their contrasts can be seen in the dishes we serve at STER. Just like graffiti, my signature is bringing together harmonious flavors and colors on the plate, as well as the bold and playful accents.”

In March 2019, Terry and Esther opened Gastrobar STER. It was soon time to celebrate, as the restaurant received the coveted Bib Gourmand from the critical Michelin Guide. This distinction recognizes the restaurant's excellent value for money.

Last year they opened their second restaurant, also in Rotterdam. Restaurant STER accommodates 55 guests and raises the culinary standard compared to Gastrobar STER. "We have kept the bold atmosphere, but our fine-dining restaurant serves more refined dishes and richer ingredients," Terry explains. "We also have a beautiful cheese cart, made especially for us, and a special wine list with Super Tuscans from Bolgheri. This was a long-cherished dream come true."

Upon entering, the special corner for Terry and Esther's favorite wine region immediately stands out. “In our wine cabinet, you'll find big names like Sassicaia and Ornellaia and about 60 other wine producers from that small but oh so beautiful area, which we love to highlight in our restaurant. There are countless wonderful wines to be found in the wine cabinet!” says Terry. A striking artwork in the restaurant is a painting of an upside-down tree, originating from Ornellaia, a real eye-catcher.

The interior of the restaurant is infused with cobalt blue color accents, Esther's favorite color. "Striking elements are the blue columns and epoxy tabletops, and colorful flower bouquets," says Terry. "Graffiti forms a common thread in my life and is incorporated both in the dishes we serve and the various elements we have applied in the restaurant."

As for kitchen utensils, Terry's favorite is the blowtorch. "I love working with the blowtorch, especially for cooking ingredients," he says. "For example, if you briefly torch a piece of marinated fish, it gets such a delicious roasted flavor."

Culinarily, Terry shares his love for Spanish tapas. "The Spanish tapas culture is the most beautiful for me, especially from a gastronomic point of view," says Terry. "My most memorable experience was at Quique Dacosta, where we had a 34-course menu in 7 stages. With so many different flavors and textures, it was a fantastic experience!"

Terry's culinary upbringing looked quite different. "I grew up with spaghetti and pea soup from my mother, but my parents have closely followed my development in the culinary world," says Terry. "They now also come to eat at STER and have become more self-taught in their culinary experiences."

About the collaboration with SOUS, Terry says: "During the corona crisis we started with to go, which brought a lot of name recognition. As entrepreneurs, we enjoy making our dishes accessible to a wider audience. Hopefully, people who have tasted our menu at home will also come to dine with us at the restaurant!"

Did you miss SOUS Stories part 3? Then read it here back!

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