Paul Toorop

Hey, I'm Paul — a chef, visual storyteller, and concept creator based in the Netherlands. My work lives at the intersection of food, culture, and design.

I grew up surrounded by the flavours and stories of my Indo-Dutch heritage, and some of my earliest memories are of cooking with my grandmother. Those moments shaped the way I see food — not just as something to eat, but as a language for storytelling, connection, and heritage.

Through Toko Toorop in Rotterdam, I explored new ways to interpret Indonesian cuisine — blending tradition with creative experimentation. The space became more than a restaurant; it was a studio where food, visuals, and ideas came together to create experiences that spoke to both memory and imagination.

Today, my work continues to explore how kitchens can be places of storytelling, community, and innovation. I want to feed people — not only through flavour, but through meaning, culture, and design.