Noma is returning to Copenhagen

LOS ANGELES. The top-rated Danish restaurant Noma has announced far-reaching changes ahead of its return to Copenhagen this coming August. Following a pop-up in Los Angeles lasting several months, the former three-Michelin-starred restaurant is moving away from its previous seasonal cycle and introducing a completely new management team as well as a significantly revised culinary concept.

A fresh start in Copenhagen with new structures

Following the conclusion of its guest appearance in California, Noma will reopen in the Danish capital in August. According to a statement from the restaurant, the return marks the beginning of a new chapter characterised by far-reaching personnel and structural changes. René Redzepi is stepping back further from operational management and handing over responsibility to a new generation of leaders within his own team.

• Annika de las Heras is taking on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• Pablo Soto will serve as Executive Head Chef of the kitchen.
• Mette Brink Søberg will be responsible as Head of Research & Development (R&D).

Concept change: “Twelve Seasons of Noma”

Until now, Noma’s culinary year has been strictly divided into three major seasons (such as the seafood season or the game and forest season). This system is being replaced by the new “Twelve Seasons of Noma” format. The menu is set to change monthly in future, allowing for a more flexible and immediate response to seasonal produce, landscapes and creative inspiration. The restaurant is thus set to evolve more strongly into a platform for culinary research, exploration and creativity.

Redzepi’s team hinted that the strategic reorientation was also a response to the “real challenges” of recent months, which had led to intense reflection on the future direction of the pioneering establishment. René Redzepi himself also explained in an Instagram video that he intends to work with a small team in the long term on developing elements for Noma’s kitchen.

The personnel and structural changes follow a period of intense public debate regarding working conditions at Noma. Just a few months ago, serious allegations made by former staff members, which came to light during a media investigation, led to René Redzepi stepping back from day-to-day operations. The allegations, which primarily concerned management practices between 2009 and 2017, ranged from verbal humiliation to physical assaults. René Redzepi subsequently took public responsibility and apologised for past misconduct.