Rasmus Kofoed

Chef Name: Rasmus Kofoed

Age: 45

Title: Head Chef & Co-Owner Geranium

Awards: 

3 Michelin stars

Voted 5th in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, 2019, and 19th in 2018. 

Winner of the Art of Hospitality Award, 2018

Gold medal, Bocuse d’Or, 2011

Gold medal, Bocuse d’Or Europe, 2010

Silver medal, Bocuse d’Or, 2007

Bronze medal, Bocuse d’Or, 2005

How old were you when you started cooking professionally? 

I was educated as a chef at Hotel D’Angleterre, Denmark, in 1997 – at the age of 23. Afterwards, I went on to work at Scholteshof, Belgium.

What’s your earliest and fondest first memory of food? 

I remember my stepfather smoking eel beneath the cherry tree in our backyard. I would climb the tree to eat cherries and watch him while the scent of the juniper wood burning and grilled eel would waft up into the limbs of the tree, it smelled like heaven.

Which chefs inspire you most and why? 

There are so many great chefs in the world – this one is difficult to answer.

I am very inspired by Victor Arguinzoniz from Asador Etxebarri. I like his energy and focus on bringing out the best flavours in ingredients, and I admire that he cares so much for his craft.

I also admire Thomas Keller – he’s a great ambassador for our industry and a great chef. He started as a dish washer and worked his way up to be one of the best chefs in the world. He carries himself with kindness, respect and humbleness. He’s also competitive and extremely focused, otherwise he would not be where he is today.

What are your two favourite cookbooks and why? 

What Does Memory Taste Like? by Bo Bech. It reminds me of a forgotten time in Denmark when Paustian was one of the best restaurants in Europe. I don’t really have a 2nd one as I don’t have much time to read cookbooks at the moment.

Which two ingredients could you not live without?

Fresh herbs and seasonal vegetables

What is your favourite comfort food to cook at home?

Falafels 

If you could eat at any Michelin star restaurant in the world today, where would it be and why?  

I would eat at Atelier Crenn. I will be cooking with Dominique in October and I’m really looking forward to it.

And who would you take as your guest?

My wife Maja and our son Karl Johan.

What do you look for in a good chef?

After the basic cooking skills, I look for a good attitude, willingness to learn, humbleness, organisation and loyalty.

What advice would you give to chefs starting their career paths now? 

Love your craft, don’t rush it, have respect for people, ingredients and the earth, learn every day and find a healthy balance between work and home life through exercise, meditation, hobbies or walking in nature.

Chef Rasmus Kofoed is Co-Owner and Head Chef at Geranium, Copenhagen 

Website: www.geranium.dk

Address: Per Henrik Lings Allé 4, 8 Sal, Copenhagen, Denmark

Telephone: +45 69960020

Instagram: @restaurant_geranium and @rkgeranium

mymuybueno Visits: Geranium

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