Denmark wins ’World Cup’ for chefs

Kenneth Toft-Hansen leads Danes to first Bocuse d’Or since 2011

Despite Denmark being handed a feeble score in the food category in the recent US-produced 2019 Best Countries Rankings, the small country sure knows how to produce some excellent chefs.

And you can add the name Kenneth Toft-Hansen to the list, as he has just led Denmark to the unofficial ‘World Cup’ title for chefs at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or championship in Lyon.

“I feel absolutely fabulous. This is a massive climax and a personal goal that has been reached,” Toft-Hansen told TV2 News yesterday.

Aided by his assistant Christian Wellendorf Kleinertt – who won the prize for ‘Best Commis Chef’ for his work as an assistant – and coach Rasmus Kofoed, the chef at the award-winning restaurant Geranium, Toft-Hansen and the rest of the competition were given 5 hours and 35 minutes to prepare two courses served to the judges 10 minutes apart.

READ MORE: Denmark gets two new Michelin-star restaurants

Kofoed’s double
It was an all Nordic affair at the top this year, with the Swedes coming in second and Norway third. Finland came fourth followed by the Swiss, France, Japan, Belgium, the US and the UK. A total of 24 nations participated.

Along with his wife, Toft-Hansen runs Svinkløv Badehotel, which is being rebuilt following a fire in 2016 and is expected to reopen this May.

The Bocuse d’Or competition, which has been held every other year since 1987, is named after the legendary French chef Paul Bocuse, who passed away a year ago and was known for his innovative approach to cuisine.

The last time a Dane won the Bocuse d’Or was in 2011, when it was none other than Kofoed, while Jeppe Foldager won bronze and silver in 2012 and 2013.

Check out the winning culinary masterpieces below (all photos: Bocuse d’Or).

TOP STORIES

  • An international living in Denmark is the world’s best teacher

    An international living in Denmark is the world’s best teacher

    The British Peter Tunna, an international working as a teacher at the North Zealand International School, won the ICA Teacher Awards. He is the first person from Denmark to achieve this. “You need to make an effort to integrate into Danish society and culture—you can’t just expect it to come to you or happen automatically,” he says.

  • How is Denmark addressing violence against women

    How is Denmark addressing violence against women

    According to a report from the Ministry of Justice, partner killing is the second most common type of murder, and women are victims in 83% of the cases, all of them killed by men. Regarding the gender gap, women earn, on average, 12.4% less than men. While Denmark is one of the safest places for women in the world, the issues are far from being solved.

  • Danish climate minister disappointed with new global climate agreement

    Danish climate minister disappointed with new global climate agreement

    The UN climate summit COP29 ended with a new target for climate financing. However, the world’s countries could not agree on an agreement on fossil fuels. Denmark’s climate minister and NGOs criticize the outcome of the climate summit

  • The intuition trap: leading Danes in cross-cultural teams

    The intuition trap: leading Danes in cross-cultural teams

    Signe Biering, an executive coach trained in psychology with a background in diplomacy, explains how over-reliance on intuition in decision-making can hinder cross-cultural collaboration. She highlights Denmark’s cultural tendency to trust gut feelings and authenticity but warns of its risks in diverse teams. Biering advocates for leaders to challenge instincts, embrace differences, and balance intuition with analytical thinking to foster trust, collaboration, and growth.

  • Swedish households receiving brochure on crisis and war preparedness these weeks

    Swedish households receiving brochure on crisis and war preparedness these weeks

    The brochure offers advice on how to prepare for crises or war and respond to serious incidents, and its aim is to “remind people of the importance of considering and strengthening their preparedness.”

  • “Talents, start using AI tools now,” says Siri and Change.org founder

    “Talents, start using AI tools now,” says Siri and Change.org founder

    In an exclusive interview with The Copenhagen Post, the founder of Siri and Change.org, and currently VP of AI Experience at Airbnb, gives young talents advice on how to deal with the job market changed by artificial intelligence.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • The intuition trap: leading Danes in cross-cultural teams

    The intuition trap: leading Danes in cross-cultural teams

    Signe Biering, an executive coach trained in psychology with a background in diplomacy, explains how over-reliance on intuition in decision-making can hinder cross-cultural collaboration. She highlights Denmark’s cultural tendency to trust gut feelings and authenticity but warns of its risks in diverse teams. Biering advocates for leaders to challenge instincts, embrace differences, and balance intuition with analytical thinking to foster trust, collaboration, and growth.

  • “Talents, start using AI tools now,” says Siri and Change.org founder

    “Talents, start using AI tools now,” says Siri and Change.org founder

    In an exclusive interview with The Copenhagen Post, the founder of Siri and Change.org, and currently VP of AI Experience at Airbnb, gives young talents advice on how to deal with the job market changed by artificial intelligence.

  • “Without internationals, we wouldn’t have the people we need,” says Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies

    “Without internationals, we wouldn’t have the people we need,” says Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies

    Fujifilm’s Hillerød facility thrives with a diverse workforce, employing over 1,800 people from more than 65 nationalities. Morten Munk, Director of Global Alliance Management, highlights how the company’s rapid growth relies on attracting international talent due to Denmark’s limited pool of scientific professionals.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs