Frederik Bille Brahe is a chef and restaurateur. He’s the creative mind behind some of the most popular cafés and restaurants in Copenhagen—Atelier September, Apollo Bar, Kafeteria, as well as Berlin’s Sofi Bakery.
Extra Ordinary Objects are the small tools that play a significant role in our day-to-day lives at work, at home, or in the kitchen. We asked Frederik Bille Brahe to share stories about the objects he likes to have around at his home in Copenhagen.
Japanese Ring Cutter
»The japanese ring cutter is a funny little fellow. It cuts the shape of a Sakura (cherry blossom). My whole kitchen is filled with these small tools that you don’t normally find in Denmark and I love them – they inspire me. They make me dream. I rarely use them but they keep me happy and remind me of other worlds and other times.«
Mortar and Pestle
»The mortar and pestle is a very important object for me – I received it as a gift from my grandmother. Originally it belonged to my grandfather and was a gift from his grandfather. It’s made from granite and I think it easily weighs 5 kg. The mortar is such a unique object for me. First of all, it belongs to my family, but it also represents the cooking, which has been done in my family for generations. Ever since I was a child, handling this pestle and mortar has reminded me of who I am and where I belong.«
Cookbook
»The cookbook in the top is my own cookbook. I love it. It’s not that I want to celebrate myself, but it represents something very precious for me because it was made during covid as a collaboration between me and my family – my wife, Caroline, and Sonya, my biggest child. Axel was still in the belly of his mother, and the time we spent in our bubble trying to find a new way is very precious.«
Iron
»The iron is a small and important tool. I love running my knives over it. It’s meditative and it keeps them sharp, the knives. Sharp knives make it more fun to cook.«
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