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Chef of the Year 2009

Johnny Trasti is one of the more high-profile Northern Norwegian chefs, and the 2009 award was recognition of his work to raise the profile of Northern Norwegian cuisine and its ingredients.

Date

02.06.2026

Written by

Ebba

Categories

A boost for Northern Norwegian gastronomy

Johnny was named Chef of the Year 2009 by Norske Kokkers Landsforening (NKL) — the Norwegian Chefs' Association — an award given to head chefs who distinguish themselves through high professional quality and an overall contribution to Norwegian gastronomy. The prize evaluates not only creative cooking but also the ability to lead a kitchen in a steady and professional manner, where operations, teamwork, ingredient use and consistent quality over time are central.

Johnny stood out for his strong commitment to a Northern Norwegian culinary profile. He works actively to highlight local and Arctic ingredients from Finnmark, long before this became a clear trend in the Norwegian food scene. Through his work he helped demonstrate that Northern Norway is not just a travel destination, but also a region with its own valuable gastronomic identity.

This work, combined with solid kitchen leadership and the ability to develop compelling food concepts, led to him being regarded as an important contributor to the development of Norwegian gastronomy.

Here you can find the Chef of the Year through the years

What is NKL

Norske Kokkers Landsforening (NKL) — the Norwegian Chefs' Association — is the trade association for professional chefs in Norway. The association works to promote the culinary profession, strengthen professional competence and contribute to the development of Norwegian food culture. NKL also stands behind several national competitions and is an important actor in recruitment and professional development within the restaurant and food sector.