EU Affairs Minister cooks and talks about Baltic cooperation

The flavours of the Baltic Sea and European cooperation were in focus when the Presidency, together with Kulturhuset in Stockholm, kicked off the Live Food series. Chef Rune Kalf-Hansen chatted with Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström and Renata Chlumska, one of the world's most talented adventurers.

The theme of the evening was the importance of cooperation, and that was what the Minister for EU Affairs chose to mention when Rune Kalf-Hansen asked her to name three good things that the EU had done.

“A common European agreement on the climate, the unification of Europe and the possibility to travel, study and work in other countries without a lot of hassle are all a result of EU cooperation.”

Eco-labelling

Johan Ceijne from KRAV named eco-labelling as an example of what the EU has succeeded in agreeing on. It is an area of cooperation that is not always easy, but as Johan Ceijne said: “difficult isn’t bad, difficult is difficult”.

Visitors to Kulturhuset were treated to herring with pickled gherkins and homemade cream cheese as a taster of the Baltic Sea countries shared food culture. Rune Kalf-Hansen gave tips on how to use seasonal produce.

Organic Baltic dish in ten minutes

The heat was turned up on stage when Cecilia Malmström and Renata Chlumska each had to prepare an organic Baltic dish in ten minutes. The result was herring and fried vegetables, topped with plum. They both received top marks from Rune Kalf-Hansen’s assistant chef – his son Fabian.
“I chose to give it height, I am used to mountains”, commented Renata Chlumska on her dish.

Live Food is a cooperation between the Swedish Presidency and Kulturhuset in Stockholm, and features chef Rune Kalf-Hansen preparing food and talking about the Presidency’s priorities with invited guests.

The next evening will be held on 1 September with Mats-Eric Nilsson, food debater and author of the books ‘Den hemliga kocken’ (The Secret Chef) and ‘Äkta vara’ (The Real Thing).
On 10 September, the guest will be meteorologist Pär Holmgren and
on 17 September the series will conclude with television presenter Nassim Al Fakir.