Owner of Façon by Frida and renowned pastry chef, Frida Jensen will serve as a jury member for the 9th European Young Chef Award, taking place in Catalonia (Spain) from 24–28 November 2025.
An IGCAT Regional Chef Ambassador for Central Denmark, Awarded 2017, Frida Jensen represents a new generation of Nordic chefs dedicated to sustainability, creativity, and craftsmanship. With a career defined by originality and environmental awareness, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for responsible gastronomy to the EYCA jury panel.
Frida’s culinary journey began when she enrolled in Århus Tech at the age of 18. She completed her chef degree in 2022 with a gold medal and went on to win the Danish Ecological Chefs Competition 2021, together with a colleague. Currently, she is planning the opening of her micro-bakery and pastry shop, Façon by Frida, in Aarhus, which is set to open in early December this year. Alongside this, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in innovation and entrepreneurship, focusing on business development and leadership.
Frida’s approach to cooking is deeply influenced by her childhood experiences growing plants and vegetables with her mother, instilling in her an appreciation for every ingredient’s potential. Her philosophy emphasizes reducing waste, maximizing ingredient use, and working closely with local producers to honour both environmental and culinary sustainability.
Her culinary résumé is marked by meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to quality. Known for her perfectionism, Frida often questions her own practices: “How can I reduce my waste to a minimum? How do I adjust my processes to be more sustainable? Is the cloth I’m using free of microplastics?” This focus on sustainability is also central to her role as a mentor, where she inspires young chefs to explore their culinary identities while respecting the resources they use.
Frida is honored to join the EYCA 2025 jury, stating:
“For the European Young Chef Award 2025, I’ll be focusing on how the young chefs explore creativity through textures, flavour combinations, and their ability to minimise waste without compromising on quality. I’m curious about their motivation and the stories behind their dishes, and I’m truly looking forward to being part of this year’s jury. Wishing the very brave finalists the best of luck!”.
About IGCAT’s European Young Chef Award
The European Young Chef Award is an annual competition organised by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism (IGCAT) that gathers young culinary talents from the awarded and candidate European Regions of Gastronomy. Selected each year through local contests, finalists to the European Young Chef Award compete by innovating traditional recipes from their regions using local ingredients.
About the World & European Regions of Gastronomy
The World Regions of Gastronomy and the European Regions of Gastronomy, guided by IGCAT, are working together to strengthen food security through the celebration of distinctive food cultures; create employment by stimulating creativity and gastronomic innovation; nourish children and adults through culinary and cultural education; driving environmental sustainability in tourism, hospitality and agricultural sectors; supporting balance and sustainable tourism practices; highlighting and supporting expertise from within rural and urban communities, creating connections and sharing good practices; and contributing to community health and well-being.
About IGCAT
IGCAT aims to empower local communities by raising awareness of the importance of protecting and promoting distinct regional food, culture, arts and natural assets as part of sustainable and balanced tourism and development strategies. This is essential to safeguarding our planet, health, wellness and local economies.
IGCAT is a non-profit institute established in 2012, working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts and tourism. It counts on the expertise of a worldwide network of experts and works in partnership with specialised intergovernmental organisations.
IGCAT is the official secretariat for the World Region of Gastronomy and the European Regions of Gastronomy Platforms. Furthermore, the Institute has developed the European Young Chef Award, the World Food Gift Challenge, the Top Foodie Websites Award and the international Food Film Menu.
