Judging Årets Kock 2026

Also this year I'm on the tasting panel for Årets Kock, Sweden's national championship in professional cooking. It's a competition I've followed for years, both as a fan and as a colleague of many people who have stood on that stage, so getting to help judge some of Sweden's most promising and talented chefs feels both exciting and a little surreal.

The level is high. Genuinely high. Watching how much technique, nerve and personal voice goes into the competitors' dishes is a good reminder of how strong Swedish gastronomy is right now, and how much is happening in kitchens around the country that most of us never get to see.

Sitting on the other side of the table, as a judge instead of a competitor, gives you a different perspective. You notice fast which dishes take a real risk and which ones are just technically correct. That difference is exactly what makes Årets Kock one of my favorite competitions to follow.

The final takes place on October 1, 2026. I'm looking forward to following the competitors there.

/ Frida