Wonsuk Jeong
Emma Bengtsson
Aquavit
Cooking at:
New York City Gala Dinner
Emma Bengtsson, known as an innovative and reputable mentor chef, has vibrantly taken hold of New York diners with elegant Nordic dishes that push the boundaries of simple flavors and favorite dishes of the region. Under her tutelage, the restaurant Aquavit in NYC was awarded two Michelin stars within the same year of her promotion to Executive Chef. This award made her the first Swedish woman to continuously hold two Michelin stars, an honor she carries to this day, along with the recently granted Mentor Chef Award by Michelin in 2023.
Emma’s inspiration for dishes of her region stems from growing up in the small Swedish fishing village of Falkenberg, where her grandmother was an avid home cook and inspired her to study at the International Restaurant School in Stockholm at the age of 16. Though she originally wished to be a fighter pilot and would spend days at the shooting range with her father in preparation for a military career, after her schooling, she found herself on stage as a pastry chef at Edsbacka Krog -- the only Swedish restaurant to hold two Michelin stars at the time. Here, she discovered she enjoyed working as a pastry chef, and after graduating, she eventually went to work at Operakällaren within the Royal Swedish Opera.
After vacationing in Mexico with a quick stop in Manhattan, Emma knew she wanted to move to New York City. In 2010, at 29-years-old, she got her chance when then Aquavit Executive Chef Marcus Jernmark recruited her to join the team as pastry chef. Her interpretation of classic Scandinavian desserts quickly garnered critical acclaim with Aquavit winning a Michelin star. Emma caught the attention of owner Hakan Swahn, who offered her the Executive Chef position in 2014 when Jernmark resigned. Although Emma was initially hesitant and refused, she took her delicate approach to pastry and adapted it to savory dishes which led to the restaurant being awarded two Michelin stars the same year. This award made her the first Swedish woman to hold two Michelin stars and only the second in the United States after Dominique Crenn.
At Aquavit, Emma is serving the kind of food she likes to eat. The fare is true to Scandinavia offering light and bright dishes with a focus on fresh ingredients, seafood, and traditional methods like pickling and preserving.
Now, Emma has revamped the menu at Aquavit, adding a fresh new take and expanded menu in the Bar Room. The menu now allows diners to enjoy a full meal made up of dishes that she loved to make growing up, cooking with her grandmother and the other women in her life.
