The Roux Scholars to tour Sweden
The Roux Scholarship’s educational trips resume this October with an exciting all-access trip to some of Stockholm and Malmo’s most acclaimed restaurants, bars and food producers. The trip will provide ten Roux Scholars, accompanied by Alain Roux, with the chance to learn about Swedish cuisine, ingredients and techniques through the country’s best chefs, bakers, mixologists and food producers. This will inspire their own cuisine and expand their knowledge of this great gastronomic nation.
Alain Roux said: “Stockholm and Malmö offer a fascinating contrast, in terms of cuisine but also style and culture. There’s such a strong community of forward-thinking chefs and producers there who inspire us with their creative, sustainability focused and eco-friendly ways of working. They work together to shine a light on each other.”
The trip, from 2nd to 10th October, is the first since the Scholars visited California in 2016 and has been in the pipeline since 2020. It builds on the existing strong relationship with Swedish chef Björn Frantzén whose three-star Michelin restaurant Frantzén welcomed Spencer Metzger for his stage in early 2020, and who took the role of Honorary President of Judges for the 2021 competition. The 2021 winner, Oli Williamson, recently completed his stage at his three-star Michelin restaurant Zén in Singapore. Chef Frantzén and his Swedish colleagues have assisted in creating an incredible itinerary for the Scholars. He said: “I can’t wait to welcome Alain Roux and the Roux Scholars to Stockholm for their trip. Not only will it be a joy to have them dine at Frantzén, but they will also discover the incredible produce available in Sweden and discover some other great places to eat across the country.”
As well as dining at Frantzén, the Scholars will dine at Aira, Chef Patron Tommy Myllmäki’s second Michelin star restaurant. Chef Tommy is Chairman of Swedish Bocuse d’Or team. The Scholars will also take part in a fishing trip with Per Vidlund, a freshwater fisherman and supplier to top restaurants in Sweden, who is the only fisherman in Sweden to use the Japanese Ike-Jime method to kill fish. There will also be distillery and vineyard tours, visits to cheesemakers and saffron grower and a salmon smokery.
In addition to these exceptional experiences, the Roux Scholarship’s educational trips also provide the Scholars with the chance to exchange knowledge, make friends and forge alliances. Simon Hulstone, judge and Roux Scholar 2003, has attended almost all the previous trips. He said: “The Roux Scholarship has allowed me not just to access of Britain’s greatest chefs but to take part in educational trips all around the world to learn and dine with the best and see producers and suppliers I would never have had access to otherwise. The trip to Sweden this year is another highlight of what the Scholarship continues to give the Scholars years after winning. It is an access-all-areas pass that money can’t buy.”
In addition, the Scholarship has had the help and advice of Chef Niklas Ekstedt, who will host the group at his one-star Michelin Restaurant Ekstedt. He said: “As a young chef, I had all the Roux brothers’ cookery books. They were a pillar of gastronomy to me whilst I was learning my trade. To host and share time with Chef Alain and the scholars is the least I can do. It’s an honour to be able to give back to this amazing family just a little in return for the benefit and inspiration I have learned from them”.
The Scholarship has also had the expert insight of Sanna Lindberg, a journalist, author and sommelier based in Stockholm and her husband, Chef Klas Lindberg whose restaurant Portal will also host the group. Sanna said: “As a gastronomic destination, Sweden is developing rapidly at the moment. Restaurants, bars and cafés, together with growers and producers in beverages and food, make an exciting journey together – both in terms of quality and sustainability. During your days in Sweden, the chefs will meet some of the world’s right now most exciting producers in beer, spirits, cider and wine.” Thanks must also go to Bridor’s Niklas Bergstedt, Sales Director Nordics and Baltics and his colleague Johan Pugner, Area Sales Manager Scandinavia and Iceland, who are based in Malmö.
Scholars attending the trip: April Lily Partridge (2023), Jonathan Ferguson (2022), Oli Williamson (2020/21), Martin Carabott (2018), Adam Smith (2012), Kenneth Culhane (2010), Hrishikesh Desai (2009), Simon Hulstone (2003), Steve Love (1997), James Carberry (1992). The Scholars and Alain Roux will be accompanied by Swedish colleague Kristen Magnusson, photographer Jodi Hinds and PR and Communications Manager Carolyn Boyd. Readers can follow their trip via social media on Instagram, Threads and Twitter/X.
Main photo: Ana Bórquez on Unsplash
