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Sodexo Sweden's Executive Chef Jessie Sommarström to compose the menu for the Nobel Prize Banquet
Jessie Sommarström, Executive Chef at Sodexo Sweden, has been appointed to compose the menu for the Noble Prize celebrations 2024. The Nobel Banquet, taking place on December 10, is one of the world's most prestigious dinners, attended by 1250 Nobel Prize laureates, decision-makers and royalty from across the globe. Each year, a new chef is responsible for creating the menu. This year, Jessie Sommarström is planning an extraordinary culinary experience, with a focus on sustainability and health.
“This is one of the most challenging and honorable assignment I have worked with as a chef. It feels incredibly fun and exciting to lead the culinary experience at this year’s Nobel Banquet. After months of planning, preparations, and secrecy, I’m looking forward to serving an exciting menu that will surely surprise”
The appointment was announced during the Nobel Foundation's press conference to kick start of this year's Nobel Prize Week in Stockholm. Jessie Sommarström has long career and experience from renowned fine-dining establishments such as Esperanto in Stockholm. In 2022 she won Chef of the Year in Sweden and in 2023 she was awarded the Gastronomic Academy's gold medal and the Chef's Chef award. In 2024, she was appointed honorary doctor for her work in sustainable gastronomy. She has also written a recipe book about climate-smart food for children and worked in several collaborative projects for sustainable food. Now she works as Executive Chef at Sodexo in Sweden. The assignment to create the menu for the Nobel prize celebration has been given to her outside of her work at Sodexo.
The menu is kept secret until the Nobel Banquet on December 10th, when people around the world will finally get to follow the event and discover the culinary creations that have been carefully planned for months. However, Sommarström promises that this year’s dining experience will stand out from previous years, offering great culinary joy while drawing inspiration from Swedish ingredients and traditions highlighting the possibilities of sustainable and responsible cooking.
“With this year's menu, I aim to convey joy and creativity through food and showcase the incredible variety of ingredients and flavors that our culinary traditions have to offer. As a chef, I have the privilege of inspiring others, and this year I want to demonstrate that it's possible to create a spectacular festive banquet dinner with a focus on health and sustainability.”
Preparations are now in full swing. During the dinner, Jessie Sommarström will collaborate with Frida Bäcke, who is responsible for the dessert, and around 50 chefs and 200 servers. Together they will create a memorable celebration for both Nobel laureates and invited guests from politics, business, and royalty as the Nobel Banquet menu will be unveiled during the festivities in Stockholm City Hall. Read more about the Nobel Prize on www.nobelprize.org
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