Owner of restaurants Nästgårds and Bua in the Jämtland region of Sweden, chef Johan Rudsby will be a member of the jury of the 6th European Young Chef Award, to be held in Trondheim (Norway) on 10-13 November 2022.
Johan’s career as a chef started 11 years ago alongside his studies to become a social scientist in Uppsala. His interest in cooking grew more and more, together with his fascination for what food is and what it could be. After a couple of years working in different restaurants and cooking on yachts in the Mediterranean, he was ready to move back home.
In 2017, he started to build Nästgårds restaurant on his parents’ farm and opened its doors in 2019. Nästgårds (a pun that roughly translates to short distance or neighboring farm) offers a set 10-course menu based on seasonal produce and meat grown on the spot and on the farms close by. Many of the dishes incorporate different weeds and wild plants foraged in the area as a way of expressing the flavour of Jämtland.
The main reason why Johan felt urged to start his own place was to fully express the way he felt about the food industry: “My aim is to be able to give ingredients the respect and reverence they deserve, and to prove that it is possible to cook in a sophisticated way that is familiar, yet surprising to our guests. I wish to provide an inclusive place of work where everyone is heard, respected, happy and inspired to experiment and evolve. In short, a rather holistic approach. Respect for humans, livestock and produce.”
Johan has recently opened Bua, a small bistro in Östersund with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. With a special focus on organic wines, the restaurant also offers local produce and meat.
Johan expressed his support to the European Young Chef Award stating that: “Our cultural heritage is a huge part of what we are, both as a person and as a chef. The European Young Chef Award is giving young chefs the chance to showcase and express the unique spirit of their region with a sustainable focus.”
About IGCAT’s European Young Chef Award
The European Young Chef Award is an annual competition organised by IGCAT that gathers young culinary talents from the awarded and candidate European Regions of Gastronomy. Selected each year through local contests, finalists to the European Young Chef Award compete by innovating traditional recipes from their regions using local ingredients.
The 6th edition of the European Young Chef Award is organised and promoted by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism (IGCAT) and hosted by the Trondheim-Trøndelag, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2022. The competition will be held at Strinda High School in Trondheim on 11-12 November 2022, with the support of Trondheim Municipality, Trøndelag County Authority, and Innovation Norway.
About the World Regions of Gastronomy
Candidate and awarded World/European Regions of Gastronomy, guided by IGCAT, are working together to strengthen food security through the celebration of distinctive food cultures; create employment by stimulating creativity and gastronomic innovation; nourish children and adults through culinary and cultural education; driving environmental sustainability in tourism, hospitality and agricultural sectors; supporting balance and sustainable tourism practices; highlighting and supporting expertise from within rural and urban communities, creating connections and sharing good practices; and contributing to community health and well-being.
About IGCAT
IGCAT aims to empower local communities by raising awareness of the importance of protecting and promoting distinct regional food, culture, arts and natural assets as part of sustainable and balanced tourism and development strategies. This is essential to safeguarding our planet, health, wellness and local economies.
IGCAT is a non-profit institute established in 2012, working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts and tourism. It counts on the expertise of a worldwide network of experts and works in partnership with specialised intergovernmental organisations.
IGCAT founded the World/European Region of Gastronomy Award and is the official secretariat for the World/European Regions of Gastronomy Platforms. Furthermore, the Institute has developed the European Young Chef Award, the World Food Gift Challenge, the Top Websites for Foodie Travelers Award and the international Food Film Menu.