Mads Schmidt is the writer and editor behind Pickup Table 4, where he profiles the chefs and culinary personalities who shape how the world eats.

Mads has spent his entire working life in the food industry. He trained and worked as a chef, spent years on the floor as a waiter, and went on to own and run his own restaurant. Today he works as an investor in restaurants and food projects, backing the operators and concepts he believes in.

That first-hand experience – in the kitchen, in the dining room and on the ownership side of the pass – informs everything he writes. A dedicated foodie with a genuine love of chefs and culinary culture, he researches each profile carefully and sources it from reputable references so readers get accurate, well-rounded stories about the people behind the food.

Areas of focus

Chef biographies and career histories
Michelin-starred and fine-dining restaurants
Food television, cookbooks and culinary personalities
The business of restaurants and hospitality