Workshop with Nikolaj Kirk helps open Food Festival 2026

Nikolaj Kirk has always preferred to work with organic raw materials, and he believes that everyone should be able to afford organic products. "If you expect shellfish and fish every day, it might be a bit difficult to cook proper meals on a student budget," says the popular chef and culinary communicator, who is looking forward to leading the workshop "Organic on a Student Budget with Nikolaj Kirk." It will be held on the opening day of Food Festival 2026, which takes place at Tangkrogen in Aarhus from September 4-6. Friday's workshop is organized by the Organic Association and gives participants the opportunity to chop cabbage and stir in pots as they prepare inexpensive organic everyday meals with vegetables as the main ingredient. "Although meat consumption is being reduced, it doesn't mean you can't make delicious, organic food without breaking the bank," explains Nikolaj Kirk, who is known from many seasons of the TV show Nak & Æd. "You actually get a more interesting meal by cutting back on meat. That's because vegetables have such a vast and colorful flavor universe that eating becomes more fun. At the same time, dried peas, beans, and other legumes are incredibly good at absorbing flavors. Food is about taste and dishes that burst with crispy, fried cabbage leaves. It's much more fun than just serving a plain steak, and ..." It's hard to stop this culinary speed talker once he gets going, but you can hear the rest of his tips for affordable organic everyday food in the Community Kitchen at Tangkrogen, which during the food festival offers a large self-serve buffet with inspiration and tastings for food enthusiasts of all ages. Nikolaj Kirk will participate in several of these. This year, Food Festival has a record number of activities spread across about 10 festival areas. Among the biggest new features is a stage dedicated to organic products, and the festival also focuses every day on current issues such as the crisis in Danish fruit and vegetables and the future of food. "Historically, Danish production of fruit and vegetables is doing very poorly, and this year we are hosting a huge Green Market with local produce. Among others, chef Nikolaj Kirk will be there to talk about how important and tasty it is to eat Danish seasonal produce—and how it benefits food culture, the climate, and supply security," says festival director Anna Lund in a press release. New Organic Stage The director looks forward to inaugurating the new Organic Stage, which the Organic Association has built with support from the Organic Farming Foundation. The same goes for Josephine Kofod, project manager at the Organic Association, who has put together a program that over the three days appeals to both adults and children. "Earlier this year, we participated in the Food People's Congress with our own tent, but in Aarhus, we will have space for a much larger tent, providing plenty of room for debates and conversations about organic and sustainable food. There will also be various activities for children outside the tent, where scouts will be cooking over open fires," says Josephine Kofod. She also highlights Saturday's eco-bingo, where chef and food personality Louisa Lorang will invite the audience to an entertaining, green, and generous bingo show. The goal of the Organic Stage is to challenge people a bit: "We want to give people useful tools and also try to make organic food more down-to-earth. We want to show guests that they can make significant sustainability improvements with a small effort if they just think a little about it in everyday life," says Josephine Kofod. At the organic stage, guests can experience a debate with three gold-certified Aarhus kitchens from a hotel, a restaurant, and a canteen. They will talk about what they have gained from making the Organic Food Label in gold (at least 90% organic) a central part of their identity. A panel debate on Saturday will focus on why some consumers choose organic repeatedly, while others are uncertain. You can also see Trine Krebs in dialogue with young gardeners, who will explain why working with organic vegetables is so exciting and how they view the future of a pressured industry. See the program for the Organic Stage See the full program for Food Festival 2026 Kickoff for Professionals On the morning of September 4, Friday, Food Festival always begins with "Industry Friday," where food professionals can meet new and familiar faces, get inspired through a series of talks, and explore the site before it opens to the public, according to the festival. The organic stage runs from 10 am to 12 pm up to a "chicken event," which offers tastings, market insights, and discussions on how to give organic chicken a larger place on Danish plates. See the full program for Industry Friday here