Season 9 - Episode 11 - Forget Everything You Know About Fine Dining! Bjorn Frantzen & Torsten Vildgaard !

05/15/25 • 91 min

What happens when two visionaries join forces ?

In this extraordinary episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco welcomes Chef Torsten Vildgaard (formerly of Noma) and iconic Chef Björn Frantzén, both globally acclaimed for redefining modern gastronomy.

Now leading the charge at FZN at Atlantis, The Palm, they’re reshaping fine dining in the Middle East.

The conversation takes us through their personal stories, culinary philosophies, and the intense discipline of Michelin kitchens - as well as the unique opportunity and challenge of bringing Scandinavian excellence to the Gulf.

This episode is a masterclass in what it takes to operate at the highest level in hospitality.

Tune in to learn:

👩‍🍳 How Torsten transitioned from Noma to opening his own Michelin-starred restaurant

👩‍🍳 What it really takes to build and maintain a Michelin-level restaurant

👩‍🍳 What three elements are the heart of elite kitchens

👩‍🍳 How FZN is redefining luxury dining in the Middle East

00:00 Opening Remarks and Personal Reflections

02:00 Meet Torsten Vildgaard & Björn Frantzén

04:40 Childhood Food Memories & Early Influences

12:50 First Steps into Professional Kitchens

25:42 Opening & Running Michelin-Starred Restaurants

41:31 Expanding to Dubai: The FZN Vision

46:12 Training, Guest Experience & Team Culture

51:53 Menu Development & Local Ingredients

54:13 Operating with Excellence in the Middle East

01:13:12 Quick Fire Round

01:20:45 Advice for Young Chefs

You can follow Bjorn on HERE

You can follow Torsten on HERE

A huge thank you to our partner Luvv Fits – luvvfits.com

Stay sharp and hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos bottle - available at chefjkp.com or via DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast/

Please leave us a review us on all podcast hosting sites - it’s the best way to support the show!

Food is Memories !🍽️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when two visionaries join forces ?

Now leading the charge at FZN at Atlantis, The Palm, they’re reshaping fine dining in the Middle East.

This episode is a masterclass in what it takes to operate at the highest level in hospitality.

Tune in to learn:

👩‍🍳 How Torsten transitioned from Noma to opening his own Michelin-starred restaurant

👩‍🍳 What it really takes to build and maintain a Michelin-level restaurant

👩‍🍳 What three elements are the heart of elite kitchens

👩‍🍳 How FZN is redefining luxury dining in the Middle East

00:00 Opening Remarks and Personal Reflections

02:00 Meet Torsten Vildgaard & Björn Frantzén

04:40 Childhood Food Memories & Early Influences

12:50 First Steps into Professional Kitchens

25:42 Opening & Running Michelin-Starred Restaurants

41:31 Expanding to Dubai: The FZN Vision

46:12 Training, Guest Experience & Team Culture

51:53 Menu Development & Local Ingredients

54:13 Operating with Excellence in the Middle East

01:13:12 Quick Fire Round

01:20:45 Advice for Young Chefs

You can follow Bjorn on HERE

You can follow Torsten on HERE

A huge thank you to our partner Luvv Fits – luvvfits.com

Stay sharp and hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos bottle - available at chefjkp.com or via DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast/

Please leave us a review us on all podcast hosting sites - it’s the best way to support the show!

Food is Memories !🍽️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

Season 9 -Episode 10 - Jack Jarrott - Screaming Guests, Openings, Live Fire Cooking!

What does it take to lead a world-class kitchen rooted in fire and flavour? In this episode of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco sits down with Chef Jack Jarrott, the driving force behind Sand and Koal at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Jack takes us on a raw and honest journey through his career - from growing up in Australia to mastering open-fire cooking in London under the Gordon Ramsay empire, and eventually becoming a rising star in the UAE culinary world. The conversation explores everything from leadership and kitchen culture to navigating cultural shifts, earning accolades, and Jack’s mission to make Sand and Koal a globally recognized destination.

Tune In To Learn:

👩‍🍳 What it really takes to lead a modern open-fire kitchen

👩‍🍳 How Jack adapted from Australia to London to the UAE

👩‍🍳 The power of mentorship, discipline, and legacy

👩‍🍳 Real talk about hotel kitchens vs. standalone restaurants

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Announcement

02:26 Meet Today’s Guest: Chef Jack Jarrott

03:46 From Aussie Kitchens to Culinary Dreams

13:49 London Life & The Gordon Ramsay Era

34:48 Relocating to the UAE

45:30 Lessons from The Guild & High-Volume Service

54:19 Accolades, Recognition & Next Steps

56:46 Building Sand and Koal at Emirates Palace

01:02:35 Mastering the Art of Open Fire Cooking

01:08:16 The Westholme Partnership

01:13:02 Hotel Life: Expectations vs. Reality

01:20:07 Jack’s Vision for the UAE Culinary Scene

01:25:20 Quick Fire Round & Final Thoughts

Follow Jack on HERE

A huge thank you to our partner Luvv Fits – luvvfits.com, as well as as Westholme Australian Wagyu - Westholme.com

Stay sharp and hydrated with the Chef JKP thermos bottle - available at chefjkp.com or via DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjkppodcast/

Please leave us a review on Spotify - it’s the best way to support the show!

Food is Memories !

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

Season 9 - Episode 12 - Regan Hillyer - From Burnout to Global Icon !

What if success isn’t something you chase, but something you prepare from within?

Before the coaching empire, wellness retreats, and becoming a global speaker, Regan Hillyer was stuck in a cycle of burnout, fear, debt, and disconnection.

In this powerful season finale of the Chef JKP Podcast, host James Knight-Paccheco explores Regan’s extraordinary journey from breakdown to breakthrough.

From humble beginnings in New Zealand to becoming a global force in personal development. Regan shares the raw and real story of how she turned fear into fuel and built a worldwide empire rooted in inner work, mindset, frequency tuning, and practical techniques for manifesting abundance.

This episode is more than just a conversation, it’s a masterclass in living a purpose-driven life, tuning into your highest frequency, and creating success from the inside out.

Tune in to learn:

👩‍🍳 How frequency affects leadership, food, and performance

👩‍🍳 The mindset tools top performers use to stay aligned and on purpose

👩‍🍳 How to move through fear and failure without losing momentum

👩‍🍳 Why inner work is the foundation of lasting success

👩‍🍳 How leaders can protect their energy in high-pressure environments

00:00 Opening Remarks and Season Reflections

02:46 Meet Regan Hillyer: Energy Coach, Speaker & Entrepreneur

04:36 Early Life, Food Memories & Formative Influences

07:31 The Turning Point: Discovering Purpose

10:01 The 80/20 Rule: Mindset, Energy & Focus

19:21 Overcoming Fear, Resistance & Burnout