Top chefs prepare for Nordic Organic Chef Competitions
Top chefs from across Europe are preparing to put their skills to the test in the Nordic Organic Chef Competitions taking place next week. Sweden’s Organic Chef, Sweden’s Young Organic Chefs and Nordic Organic Chef of the Year will be hosted at Nordic Organic Food Fair in MalmöMässan on 16-17 November.
Organised by Föreningen Ekokockar, the competitions help to promote and celebrate the valuable contributions chefs make to the organic market every day.
Anne Seeberg, Nordic organic Food Fair’s event director, says: “We’re very excited to once again host the Nordic’s only organic chef competition, including two new Swedish finals, in connection with Sweden’s biggest organic chef association Ekokockar. The incredible standard in the semi-finals reflect a thriving industry, and is a testament to exceptional chefs – and young chefs – working hard to promote organic food and sustainability in kitchens across Sweden and beyond.”
Sweden’s Young Organic Chefs of the Year
The largest competition for aspiring young chefs of the year will feature the six teams (grade three restaurant students) who made it through the regional finals in the spring. Taking place on the show’s opening day, Wednesday 16 November at 10am, the finalists will have four hours to create culinary masterpieces, made entirely from certified organic products.
The finalists (competing in teams of three) are:
- Team 1: Stockholms Internationella Restaurangskola – Louise, Elin & Hanna
- Team 2: Fridhemsgymnasiet, Umeå – Elina, Linnea & Malin
- Team 3: Tannbergskolan, Lycksele – Johanna, Moa & Ebba
- Team 4: Ester Mosessons Gymnasium, Göteborg – William, Marcus & Edwin
- Team 5: Ryssbygymnasiet – Anton, Jenny & Patrik
- Team 6: Lyckseles – Johan, Kristoffer & Natalie
Sweden’s Organic Chef of the Year
Open to professional chefs working in KRAV-certified organic restaurants across Sweden, the following finalists will be competing for the title of Sweden’s Organic Chef of the Year at the show on Wednesday 16 November at 1.30pm.
- Patrik Sewerin, Gunnebo Kaffehus & Krog, Mölndal
- Jonas Alvin, Stångs Magasin, Linköping
- Mats-Peter Kristiansen, Spira Foods, Göteborg
- Viktor Arabzadeh, Upper House, Göteborg
- Rasmus Johansen, Clarion Live, Malmö
- Jonas Heimbrand, Gunnebo Kaffehus & Krog, Mölndal
The Swedish winner will then go through to compete in the Nordic Organic Chef of the Year on the second day of the show.
Nordic Organic Chef of the Year
Last year’s Nordic Organic Chef of the Year winner Fabian Olli Johansson, a chef at Lilla Bjers in Gotland, impressed the judges with his ‘simple and tasty’ chicken dishes.
The 2016 judging panel will include delegates from the competing countries, representatives from competition sponsors, and professional consultants from the restaurant trade. Competitors will be judged using regulations set by WACS (World Association of Chefs’ Societies), with extra importance given to the handling, preparing and end result from an organic and sustainable point of view.
Competing for the title this year, finalists from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Estonia will be creating dishes using a ‘black box’ (or a secret cart) of organic products, provided by Menigo Foodservice, in a live cooking challenge. With the semi-finals currently taking place across the region, the countries competing have support from their national organic associations, along with chef associations.
Håvard Klempe, a sous chef at Credo in Trondheim, will be representing Norway, and Estonia’s finalist will be announced at the show.
On the 12 November, Finland’s semi-finals will take place at ELMA Fair in Helsinki. Based on a recipe competition, made up of a three course organic menu, the finalist will be chosen from the following chefs: Benjamin Frostell, Gastrobar Emo, Helsinki; Marcos Gois, Fat Ramen ja Ruoto catering, Helsinki; Mika Niiniranta, Contentissimo Catering, Helsinki; and Alexandra Spens, Lähellä Deli, Kauniainen.
Full timings of the competitions in running order are:
Wednesday 16 November
10:00-13:00 – Sweden’s Young Organic Chefs of the Year
13:30-16:00 – Sweden’s Organic Chef of the Year
16:30-17:00 – award ceremony for Swedish Young Organic Chef & Swedish Organic Chef of the Year
Thursday 17 November
10:00-11:00 – Introduction to Nordic Organic Chef of the Year competition
11:00 -15:00 – Nordic Organic Chef of the Year
15:30 -16:00 – award ceremony for Nordic Organic Chef of the Year
Register for a free trade ticket
Nordic Organic Food Fair, co-located with Natural Products Scandinavia, will return to Malmö, Sweden, on 16-17 November (new mid-week dates).
For more information and to register, please visit www.nordicorganicexpo.com and quote priority code NFUK115 (direct link: https://registration.n200.com/survey/2owh6szsp5ab6?actioncode=NFUK115).
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Media enquiries & press pass requests to:
Emma-Louise Jones, Head of PR
Editorial representatives of relevant trade and consumer media (including freelancers) are invited to apply for press passes to Nordic Organic Food Fair via email to ejones@divcom.co.uk (please note, additional details may be requested to verify journalistic activity and all press passes are issued at the management’s discretion).
t: +44 (0)1273 645134
e: ejones@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK
Sharna Waid, PR Executive
t: +44 (0)1273 645144
e: swaid@divcom.co.uk
Exhibitor enquiries to:
Anne Seeberg, Event Director
t: +44 (0)1273 645124
e: aseeberg@divcom.co.uk
Website: www.nordicorganicexpo.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/NordicOrganic
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nordicorganic
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups/Nordic-Organic-Food-Fair-5071082
Scandinavia office:
Lars Larsson, Nordic Manager
Nordenskiöldsgatan 13, S – 211 19 Malmö, Sweden
t: +46 702 661170
e: LLarsson@divcom.co.uk
Notes:
In 2014, Nordic Organic Food Fair was shortlisted for Best Tradeshow Exhibition (UK & International) under 2,000sq.m at the UK’s Association of Event Organisers’ annual Excellence Awards. It was also a finalist in the Best International Launch category at the UK’s Exhibition News Awards.
In 2013, Natural Products Scandinavia won Best International Launch at the UK’s Exhibition News Awards. It was also finalist in the Best Trade Launch Show category at the UK’s Association of Event Organisers’ annual Excellence Awards.
High resolution photographs are available upon request.
Diversified Communications UK (Diversified UK) is a fast growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton, Peterborough, and Nailsworth. Diversified UK’s portfolio includes Nordic Organic Food Fair in Malmö, Sweden (co-located with Natural Products Scandinavia); Natural Food Show at Natural & Organic Products Europe (London); Natural & Organic Awards; Natural Products News; lunch!; Casual Dining; Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards; and Commercial Kitchen. For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk.
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company providing market access, education and information through global, national and regional face-to-face events, digital and print publications and television stations. Diversified serves a number of industries including: seafood, food service, natural and organic, healthcare, commercial marine, and business management. Based in Portland, Maine, USA, Diversified employs over 850 staff, across eight divisions in seven countries. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.
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