How often does it happen that so many 3 star Michelin chefs with a team of 90 people cook a dinner for you in the same evening? I had one of the most memorable dinners ever during this dinner that was a tribute to the fantastic Carme Ruscalleda during Gastronomika in San Sebastián, Spain when I visited the big food congress in the autumn. The dinner was one of many where they invited press, chefs and other people related to the food business. The evening started with some bubbles, Sorlut oysters, caviar, and a lot of Spanish De Covap ham and cheese at the Basque Culinary Centre. And was followed by this fantastic dinner that they had prepared. Each chef had their own tribute to Carme. Elena Arzak said the following.
-We love being with her. It is incredible the affection that the whole sector has for her, the respect they have for what she has created without expecting anything in return. Thank you for being a good person, for being like a family, for being you. Cheers Carmen! 
The dinner started with Ángel León’s remarkable sea bacon, and I have to say that I never had anything like it. I hope that some Swedish chef will create the same!
All the food were more than amazing as you can see. And a thing I noticed between the Spanish chefs is that they really care and love each other in a fantastic way. They are all eager to share their knowledge with everyone. Even little me;) I really appreciate it. And I think I want to sign up to learn Spanish so that I fully can take in everything they talk about during my next visit to Spain. 
Doesn’t it look like a piece of art?
Prawns with a vegetable gel and and ripe tomato emulsion by Eneko Atxa. Nearly didn’t want to eat it, it looked magical!
Jordi Cruz prepared a Squid nigiri wrapped with cooked tuna skin!
Truffle macaroons filled with confit quail eggs by Joan Roca, just wow!!
Lemon with a basil sauce, green beans and almonds made us all go totally quiet for a while. And Martin Berasategu had one more dessert, a ”Corazón Berry.
The dinner stopped late, and we all left with a big smile and a happy tummy. It was one sensational evening with some of the worlds best chefs. They sure are worth every star they have. And I am very impressed of the chefs that have the creativity and tastebuds to create all those magical dishes with the local produce from Spain. The country sure have so much to offer, but it was not really the same when I lived there in the beginning of the 90’s. The food scene sure have changed since then, and I would say that if you haven’t been to Spain, give it a try! It will be something you never forget!
Text and photo Malin Nordblom
Fab Foodie Swede
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By Malin Nordblom
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A magical dreamy evening, enjoying a very different Christmas buffet at restaurant Artipelag outside Stockholm. 
Me and Dani Garcia, one of the most exciting chefs in the world!
2 of the chefs from the Swedish Culinary Team, Jimmi Eriksson and Anders Isaksson has opened up a Pop-Up restaurant up on a rooftop at Södermalm. 
Visiting Flow Festival is as something you do as much for the food and art as the music. But there is more to it than that, this year they are really concentrating to create a sustainable festival. It is actually one of the first festivals in the world to compensate its carbon footprint!
For every bottle or glas you ordered you had to deposit 1 euro, that you could get back or deposit. And for every deposit that was made Reaktor planted a tree that is removing one ton of C02 from the atmosphere!!! 
I ordered champagne, and I had some delicious high quality tap water in my glas every now and then. By drinking tap water, everyone reduce plastic waste and their carbon footprint. And the tap water in Helsinki is really good!
I am not vegetarian, but I eat a lot of vegetarian food always. I don’t really think about the fact that it is vegetarian or not. I just want good food! The FLOW festival had chosen vendors that favoured organic and local food. There were a competition among all the food vendors at the festival who could make the best sustainable and delicious meal, and my pick actually won! 
It was restaurant Kuurna that won and I had some locally produced chicken and a Caramel Popcorn Oatmilk from them. That meal was really amazing! So I will certainly visit their restaurant next time in Helsinki! Congratulations!!
The Finns are really hands on! Here are the facts, let’s do it! Now I just hope everyone else will follow! Both at Festivals, but in all choices you do!
Apparently the festival had about 30.000 visitors each day, jet it didn’t feel crowded. And all the visitors had to commute by train, bus or bike. There were no parking! 
The light installations at the festival really impressed me. Everywhere you looked there were something to look at, either art, some performance or fab light installations!
Neneh Cherry really owned the stage. There were artists like Solange, Nitzer Ebb, Robyn.. My personal favorite were Neneh Cherry!
This is my reflection of the festival, would I go again! I certainly would! And especially with Hjarle that was with me until the end! He was great fun! Thanks for taking photos of me!