The voices of the new Nordic cuisine

Winners of international competitions like Bocuse d’Or have different methods. As different as they approach their art, they have nevertheless one thing in common: they keep themselves extremely busy in order to create that unforgettable yet perfectly balanced dish that is meant to be a highlight of your stay. Nothing else matters. That’s why it’s so rewarding to get them to talk.

Mikael Svensson, chef at Kontrast *, Mathallen, Oslo.
“I love the natural, fresh taste of Skrei [editor’s note: the type of cod that is born in the Barents Sea and later come to the Norwegian coast to spawn. Fresh from January to March]. Wild elderberry gives the fish a hint of Nordic springtime. Then I like to explore the applicable, ecological pork of the Mangalitsa breed from Gården i Svartskog, just minutes south of Oslo. The meat is accompanied by white asparagus. I whip herbs into the grease and serve with bread.”

Even Ramsvik, former chef at Ylajali * (closed 2015), currently co-owner in the restaurant group Lava
“I’m fond of the taste of in-between-season. Freshly cut Coppa ham from Ask, when cut very thinly, gives a fantastic rich and complex taste when you are longing for summer. In-between seasonal cuisine gives us the opportunity to create simple surprises.”