Torsta Farm Restaurant in Ås has put Jämtland Härjedalen on the international gastronomy map. When Petra and Ulrika represented the region in Macao, the trip was both intense and educational – and the food was a success.

The trip became intense right from the start. A typhoon swept over the area, shortening their stay. The schedule was rearranged, and the cooking, originally planned over several days, had to be carried out consecutively.

“Instead of cooking our dishes on two separate days, we had to cook everything in one go. It was very intense,” says Ulrika.

For both Petra and Ulrika, it was their first time cooking in front of an audience. Standing on stage and presenting their culinary craftsmanship to international visitors was nerve-wracking, but the experience turned out to be positive.

“It was scary, but also incredibly developing,” says Petra.

Photo: Torsta AB

The dishes served were clearly rooted in Jämtland Härjedalen. Among other things, they offered rye sourdough pancakes with thyme and spruce shoot crème, butter-fried mushrooms and smoked reindeer, as well as rosemary-glazed rutabaga with garlic-filled pearl onions and cumin-fried lamb fillet.

“It was primarily the reindeer meat that sparked interest. Many asked for more and wanted to know where it came from,” says Ulrika.

Despite the tight schedule, Petra and Ulrika describe the trip as both fun and rewarding.

“If you get the chance to go, you should take it. It's an experience for life,” says Petra.

The next festival is planned for March, when weather conditions are more stable, and the hope is to represent the region again.