Namita Nayyar:
Emma what’s your favorite food?
Emma Bengtsson:
My favorite food isn’t really a specific dish, it’s my mother’s home cooking. It’s less about what’s on the plate and more about everything that comes with it.
Whenever I’m back in Sweden, some of my favorite moments are spending time in the kitchen with my mom. We cook together, laugh, and simply enjoy being together. Those meals remind me where my love of food began. It’s about slowing down and coming together to spend time together and those memories are what I cherish the most.
Namita Nayyar:
You have championed a calm, respectful kitchen culture over the traditional high-pressure model. What kind of legacy do you hope to create as a leader and mentor?
Emma Bengtsson:
The best kitchens are built on respect, trust, and accountability, and I’m proud that we have achieved that at Aquavit.
I hope people remember how they felt working with me that I’ve shown them something that carries through their career and lives, even more than the dishes we create together. If someone leaves my kitchen a stronger chef, a better leader, and more confident in themselves, to me, that’s the ultimate success.
“If someone leaves my kitchen a stronger chef, a better leader, and more confident in themselves – that’s the ultimate success.”
Namita Nayyar:
Under your leadership, Aquavit earned its second Michelin star. What key values drive excellence in your kitchen every day?
Emma Bengtsson:
Every guest who walks through our doors has chosen to spend their time with us, often to celebrate a special occasion or to share a meal with someone they care about. For us, it’s an honor to be able to share in this moment with our guests and to do everything we can to make that experience memorable for them.
Awards are an incredible accomplishment and they certainly give our team something to celebrate, but they are also the finish line and my motivation comes from the daily wins. It starts with genuine curiosity about what we can do better, what we can learn, keep asking questions, keep tasting, keep challenging ourselves. That’s what keeps us growing, evolving, and striving for a baseline of excellence that is genuinely practiced, earned, and strong.
Namita Nayyar:
Looking ahead, what are your personal and professional goals, and what exciting new chapters can we expect from you in the future?
Emma Bengtsson:
I’m still curious, and I hope I never lose that.
Aquavit is in its 39th year and we are always pushing ourselves to keep things evolving, while maintaining the Nordic cuisine and experience that our customers have been coming back to for decades. I love to continue the creative process by pushing myself and also working with the next generation to see what they can bring to our restaurant.
Personally, I’m always finding a way to push myself outside of my comfort zone. This year, it’s training for my first marathon – the New York marathon this fall.
Emma Bengtsson’s journey reminds us that true greatness is not defined solely by Michelin stars but by resilience, discipline, and the ability to uplift others. Through grace, grit, and compassionate leadership, she continues to prove that strength is at its most powerful when paired with purpose.
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President of womenfitness.net, and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or in full anywhere without express permission.
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