ESBEN HOLMBOE BANG - MAAEMO, OSLO, NORWAY
Esben Holmboe Bang Norway’s and Chef Esben Holmboe Bang’s Mother Earth: “Maaemo” Text Oilda Barreto
The Oslo restaurant that Esben Holmboe Bang is both co-owner and head chef is “Maaemo”- a trailblazing three Michelin-starred Restaurant. Translated in old Finnish, it means “Mother Earth” and the Danish chef couldn’t have picked a better name. You see, it’s his ideal. Chef Esben grew up in a family where sustainability and agriculture was of great importance, thus, much of the chef’s inspiration comes from the Earth, Mother Nature. His culinary focus is on accentuating the natural flavor and quality of the fresh, raw ingredients. He not only develops inspiration from nature for his creations but he also makes the unaffectedness of the ingredients the main factor in his dishes. He feels it is the right way to let Norwegian nature shine through on the plate. Born in Copenhagen, the 33-year-old spent most of his young career in Oslo. He has always been influenced by his roots: being in a selfsustaining via farming/agriculture family, he has always been inspired by nature. So in 2009, he began working on his plan of opening a progressive Norwegian restaurant founded on the principals of the raw, natural produce of Norway. Along with his partner, sommelier Pontus Dahlstrøm, the now legendary “Maaemo” was born a year later.
102 - WG August 2016