Michael Björklund is an Åland-born Finnish chef, author and television personality, best known as the owner of Smakbyn, the restaurant and food destination beside Kastelholm Castle on the Åland islands. A former Chef of the Year in both Finland and Sweden and a Bocuse d’Or finalist, he has become one of the most recognisable ambassadors for Nordic food.
His cooking is grounded in Åland and Nordic produce, and his profile spans fine cooking, cookbooks and popular Nordic television.
TL;DR
- Åland-born Finnish chef, born 15 May 1975 in Saltvik, Åland
- Owner of Smakbyn beside Kastelholm Castle in Sund, Åland; part-owner of Restaurant Hejm in Vaasa
- Chef of the Year in Finland (1997) and in Sweden (2000)
- Placed fifth at the Bocuse d’Or
- Won the Swedish reality series Robinson in 2020; a Finnish Food Ambassador for New Nordic Food
Michael Björklund key facts
| Born | 15 May 1975, Saltvik, Åland |
| Nationality | Finnish (Åland) |
| Restaurant | Smakbyn, Kastelholm, Åland; part-owner of Hejm, Vaasa |
| Honours | Chef of the Year Finland 1997, Sweden 2000; Bocuse d’Or 5th |
| Style | Nordic, produce-led, “simple, robust and thoughtful” |
Career
Michael Björklund grew up on Åland and trained as a chef before spending around ten years in Gothenburg, working at various restaurants and building his technique. He was named Chef of the Year in Finland in 1997 and in Sweden in 2000, and placed fifth in the Bocuse d’Or, the world’s most prestigious cooking competition. He later returned to Åland to build his own food project.
Smakbyn
Björklund owns and runs Smakbyn, a restaurant, distillery and food destination beside the medieval Kastelholm Castle in Sund on Åland. Built around local island produce, Smakbyn has become one of the best-known food addresses in the region. He is also part-owner of Restaurant Hejm in Vaasa, on the Finnish mainland.
Television and Nordic food
Beyond the kitchen, Björklund is a familiar face on Nordic television. He has appeared on the Swedish TV4 show Skärgårdstugg and the Finnish-Swedish cooking programme Strömsö, and in 2020 he won the Swedish reality series Robinson (the Swedish Survivor). He works actively to promote Nordic food, ingredients and producers, and is a Finnish Food Ambassador for New Nordic Food.
Signature style
Björklund describes his cooking as simple, robust and thoughtful. It is rooted in the produce of Åland and the wider Nordic region – seafood, game, vegetables and island ingredients – handled with strong technique but without unnecessary complication, and tied closely to the landscape and producers around him.
Awards and recognition
- Chef of the Year, Finland (1997)
- Chef of the Year, Sweden (2000)
- Fifth place, Bocuse d’Or
- Winner, Robinson (Sweden), 2020
Michael Björklund in context
Björklund is one of the leading ambassadors of Nordic island cooking, part of the wider Nordic scene alongside Danish chefs such as Jesper Koch and Soren Selin, and the New Nordic movement led from Copenhagen by Rasmus Kofoed.
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Michael Björklund FAQ
Where is Michael Björklund from?
He was born in Saltvik on the Åland islands in 1975 and is an Åland-born Finnish chef.
What is Smakbyn?
His restaurant, distillery and food destination beside Kastelholm Castle in Sund on Åland, built around local produce.
What has he won?
Chef of the Year in Finland (1997) and Sweden (2000), fifth at the Bocuse d’Or, and the Swedish reality series Robinson in 2020.
Is he on television?
Yes – he has appeared on Skärgårdstugg and Strömsö and won Robinson, and is a well-known Nordic TV chef.
What kind of food does he cook?
Nordic, produce-led cooking that he describes as simple, robust and thoughtful, rooted in Åland and its ingredients.
