Grill chef and former world barbecue champion Peter De Clercq from Maldegem has passed away: "Leaves a big void behind"

Peter De Clercq, a renowned Flemish grill chef and former world barbecue champion, has passed away at the age of 56. His death was announced by Restaurant Elckerlijc, where he was a co-founder. The cause of death remains unclear, as he was reportedly found lifeless at home. De Clercq won the world barbecue title in 2003 with the Belgian team in Jamaica and authored several books on grilling. Although he had stepped back from the restaurant in recent years, his legacy remains significant to Elckerlijc, which expressed deep sorrow over his unexpected passing.