Danish chef Rasmus Munk is bold, original, and socially engaging. A culinary entrepreneur and chef at his Two MICHELIN-Starred and Green Star-rated restaurant "Alchemist," he transforms food into a means of communication. In addition to his professional career, Munk is a highly regarded speaker at international gastronomic events and the author of the "Holistic Cuisine" manifesto.
Rasmus Munk was born in 1991 in Randers, Jutland, Denmark, where he spent his childhood and adolescence without showing particular interest in gastronomy. After completing his compulsory education, convinced by a friend, he attended culinary art courses at the Danish association Silkeborg, immersing himself in the world of competitive cooking.
Rasmus took part in various student competitions for young chefs. In 2011, he was also selected to join the Junior Culinary Team of Denmark, a prelude to his brilliant career.
By 2012, Rasmus was already a sous chef in the kitchen of the "North Road" restaurant in London, and the following year, he served as head chef at the "Treetop" restaurant in the "Munkebjerg Hotel" in Vejle, Denmark, where he remained until 2015.
At only 24 years old, he founded "Alchemist," a restaurant located in the center of Copenhagen.
The establishment achieved remarkable success thanks to its extraordinarily innovative and daring dishes, filled with hidden messages behind each bite. For instance, the famous lamb tartare's presentation led numerous Danes to join the national organ donation campaign. In 2016, Rasmus was awarded the Innovator of the Year title by the White Guide.
Despite his success, Munk closed his restaurant in 2017 to develop an even more audacious version. After two years, "Alchemist" reopened in its new location, an old shipyard in the former industrial district of Refshaleøen in Copenhagen. The realization of Rasmus's vision became possible through a partnership with investor and co-owner Lars Seier Christensen.
The experience offered by "Alchemist" embodies Munk's culinary philosophy, the "Holistic Cuisine," for which he also wrote a manifesto. It is a multi-layered gastronomy that draws inspiration from various forms of artistic expression, aiming to create a "fully immersive and dramaturgically guided sensory experience," as the chef describes it. The menu consists of "edible impressions" accompanied by artworks and various installations. The innovative and eccentric cuisine transforms food into a vehicle to address contemporary social issues. The combination of extraordinary food and stimulating visual experience has made Rasmus one of the most ambitious and talked-about chefs in the world.
Just seven months after its opening, "Alchemist" received Two MICHELIN Stars, followed by a Green Star, confirming its status as a culinary excellence.
"When it comes to minimizing food waste, the industry has come a long way. I consider it my mission to take the discussion one step further and highlight the bigger picture. If we can make people pause and reflect, we are on the right track towards change."
In 2021, Rasmus received the title of Best Restaurant in Denmark for the second consecutive year, according to the White Guide.
Alongside his career, Rasmus Munk manages the non-profit organization "Junk Food," which has been providing meals for those living on the margins of society in Copenhagen since 2018, including numerous homeless individuals. His multifocal professionalism has led to him being sought after as a speaker at conferences and gastronomic summits worldwide.
