On this episode, Ragnar speaks with Young Chef Andreas Enger Fjellheim, who took home gold for the Norwegian Junior Culinary Team in the 2024 Global Chefs Challenge Finals. A rising culinary star, Andreas has impressed at global culinary competitions, including the Culinary Olympics and World Cup. In addition to his win in the Global Young Chefs Challenge, he earned Best Veal and the Green Spatula Award from Nestlé Professional.
Head Chef at Arakataka, a restaurant in Oslo, he has an impressive resumé and a bright future ahead. Tune in to hear about Andreas’ journey from a small farm in Norway to international culinary stages, his rigorous preparation for competitions, and the importance of sustainability in his approach to food. World on a Plate is supported by Nestlé Professional and Electrolux Food Foundation.
Tune in and LEARN:
- Power of Community: Hear how the Nordic culinary community prioritizes collaboration and camaraderie. Supporting one another, sharing wisdom from past competitors, and welcoming fresh talent into the fold, the Nordic chefs create a powerful network that enhances their competitive success.
- Sustainability at the Core: Learn how Andreas puts sustainability at the heart of his work, whether he’s crafting dishes as Head Chef at Arakataka in Oslo or competing at the Global Young Chefs Challenge Finals 2024 in Singapore.
- Keys to Competitive Success: Gain insights on the importance of competitions for chefs of all levels and listen to Andreas’ advice for young chefs looking to compete.
Resources
At Arakataka, we work with produce that comes from farms around Oslo. And we also exclusively work with whole animals. We always use the byproducts as the stars in every dish we make here. I really wanted to take that philosophy back to the competition and try to make, of course, as little off cuts and byproducts as possible.
At the 2024 Global Young Chefs Challenge Finals in Singapore, Chef Andreas presented a series of eco-friendly dishes, reflecting his deep commitment to sustainable culinary practices. In addition to being named the overall champion of the Global Young Chefs Challenge, Andreas earned the award for Best Veal as well as Nestlé Professional’s Green Spatula award, a prestigious new award that celebrates the fusion of culinary excellence and commitment to sustainability.
It was an extra good feeling getting that award because it’s very great to get the recognition – that you know that people actually see what you are doing and what you’re trying to do. So, I really appreciated them seeing every small detail that I’ve done with the food and the way I was cooking to try to keep the sustainability as as good as I could.
– Andreas Enger Fjellheim
The award recognizes chefs who excel in both creating world-class dishes and adopting environmentally responsible practices in their kitchens. To learn more about Nestlé Professional’s Green Spatula award, click here.
CONNECT WITH YOUR NATIONAL CHEFS ASSOCIATION
As a federation of 97 national chefs associations, Worldchefs is built on the strength of community. Like the Nordic Chefs Association, our members in countries across the globe provide rich culinary communities and opportunities for mentorship and professional growth. Discover our members and join your national chefs association today.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Chef Andreas for joining us.
World on a Plate is supported by Nestlé Professional and our podcast sponsors.
