Richard van Oostenbrugge learns the trade in Switzerland; Thomas Groot in Amsterdam, Paris and Hong Kong. They meet in 2008 at restaurant Envy a.k.a. Amsterdam's factory of culinary talent. In 2010, the chef and sous-chef start working at Bord'Eau. Within three years, they are awarded with two Michelin stars.

The duo summarises their careers as ‘it happened, we saw opportunities and worked hard'. While doing that, these colleagues became business partners. And friends. In September 2017, on their 10-year anniversary of working together, the chefs announce leaving Bord'Eau to make their culinary dream come true. That dream is 212.