Jesper Koch is one of Denmark’s best-known chefs: the Sønderjylland-born cook who earned a Michelin star at Restaurant Syttende on the 17th floor of Hotel Alsik in Sønderborg, and who has been a judge on MasterChef Danmark since 2014. Born in Aabenraa in 1974 and trained in the kitchens of Austria, France and Denmark, he has built a career that runs from three-Michelin-star restaurants abroad to a family of restaurants in southern Denmark run with his brothers.
Koch’s cooking is rooted in classical technique and South Jutland produce, and his public profile — television, cookbooks and a Lavazza ambassadorship — has made him one of the most recognisable faces in modern Danish gastronomy.
TL;DR
- Danish chef, born 23 June 1974 in Aabenraa, Sønderjylland
- Trained as a chef at Sorø Storkro (1995); later worked at two-star Obauer (Austria) and three-star Auberge de l’Ill (Alsace, France)
- Head chef of Restaurant Syttende at Hotel Alsik, Sønderborg, from 2019; the restaurant earned its first Michelin star in 2021
- Judge on MasterChef Danmark since 2014
- Stepped down from Hotel Alsik and Syttende in 2025 after six years
Jesper Koch key facts
| Born | 23 June 1974, Aabenraa, Sønderjylland, Denmark |
| Nationality | Danish |
| Defining restaurant | Restaurant Syttende, Hotel Alsik, Sønderborg (head chef 2019–2025) |
| Michelin star | One star for Syttende (2021) |
| Television | MasterChef Danmark judge since 2014; Kochen på Toppen |
| Training | Sorø Storkro; Obauer (Austria); Auberge de l’Ill (France) |
Early life and training
Jesper Koch was born on 23 June 1974 in Aabenraa, in the Sønderjylland region of southern Denmark. He completed his chef’s training at Sorø Storkro in 1995 and then went abroad to work in some of Europe’s most demanding kitchens, including the two-Michelin-star Obauer outside Salzburg in Austria and the three-Michelin-star Auberge de l’Ill in Alsace, France, as well as restaurants in Norway. Back in Denmark he also worked at Molskroen, one of the country’s classic destination restaurants.
Restaurants with the Koch brothers
Over the years Koch has opened a series of restaurants and food businesses in southern Denmark together with his brothers, trading on the family name. These have included Restaurant Koch, Frøken Koch, Kocherier, the wine venture Vin og Vin brødrene Koch, and Det Glade Vanvid. The cluster of restaurants made the Koch brothers a defining presence in the Sønderjylland dining scene.
Restaurant Syttende and the Michelin star
In 2019 Koch became head chef of Restaurant Syttende, the fine-dining restaurant on the 17th floor of the Steigenberger Hotel Alsik in Sønderborg — the name “Syttende” means “seventeenth,” and the concept paired 17 courses with the 17th-floor setting and its views over the Flensburg Fjord. In 2021 Syttende was awarded its first Michelin star, a significant recognition for a restaurant outside Denmark’s main cities and a milestone for gastronomy in the Sønderjylland region.
Television and MasterChef Danmark
Koch has been a judge on MasterChef Danmark since 2014, which made him a household name far beyond the restaurant world, and he has also fronted the television series Kochen på Toppen, built around the kitchen at Hotel Alsik. The combination of a Michelin kitchen and a national television profile placed him among the most visible Danish chefs of his generation.
Awards and recognition
- Årets Kok (Chef of the Year), 1999 and 2000
- Årets Forret (Starter of the Year)
- Honorary diploma from the Danish Gastronomic Academy (Dansk Gastronomisk Akademi), 2004
- “Kokkenes Kok” at the Sol over Gudhjem competition, 2020
- First Michelin star for Restaurant Syttende, 2021
Cookbooks
Alongside his restaurant and television work, Koch has written several cookbooks, including Koch og Krone, Sunde kocherier and Appetit på livet, bringing his South Jutland approach to home cooks across Denmark.
What Jesper Koch is doing now
On 3 April 2025 Hotel Alsik and Koch announced that, after six years, he would step down from his roles as operations director and head chef, with his last day on 1 May 2025; Restaurant Syttende has continued under head chef Peter Rødsgaard. Koch said the joy for him lay in building something new from scratch, and that with the operation now established it was time to step back and spend more time with his family. He has been clear that it is not a goodbye to gastronomy, and remains an ambassador for Lavazza in Denmark.
Related chefs
- Rasmus Kofoed — Geranium, Copenhagen
- Rasmus Munk — Alchemist, Copenhagen
- Søren Selin — AOC, Copenhagen
- Eric Vildgaard — Jordnær, Copenhagen
- René Redzepi — Noma, Copenhagen
Follow Jesper Koch
Follow @jesper__koch on Instagram →
Jesper Koch FAQ
Where is Jesper Koch from?
He was born in Aabenraa in Sønderjylland, southern Denmark, on 23 June 1974, and much of his career has been based in the region.
Does Jesper Koch have a Michelin star?
Yes. Restaurant Syttende at Hotel Alsik in Sønderborg, where he was head chef from 2019, was awarded its first Michelin star in 2021.
What is Restaurant Syttende?
A fine-dining restaurant on the 17th floor of Hotel Alsik in Sønderborg, built around a 17-course concept with views over the fjord. Koch led the kitchen there from 2019 until 2025.
Why is Jesper Koch on television?
He has been a judge on MasterChef Danmark since 2014 and has fronted Kochen på Toppen, which made him one of Denmark’s most recognisable chefs.
What is Jesper Koch doing now?
He stepped down from Hotel Alsik and Syttende in 2025 to spend more time with his family, while staying active in gastronomy and as a Lavazza ambassador. His Instagram (@jesper__koch) is the best place to follow his projects.
