All The Details On Elena Reygadas' Takeover At Brutalisten

Forbes

4 days ago

Reygadas created an exclusive tasting menu that highlighted the intersection of Mexican gastronomy ... More and minimalism
Carsten Höller is known for his ability to captivate audiences through his art. Since the 1990s, Höller has evoked emotion through interactive installations. His restaurant, Brutalisten, is no different. Known as one of the best restaurants in the Nordics, the dining institution pushes the limit when it comes to cuisine, creating literal works of art that emphasize the purity of ingredients and simple techniques. Each dish is meant to transport diners through a culinary experience that brings up a bevy of emotions, similar to how art makes the viewer feel.
'The Brutalist Kitchen Manifesto is about stripping things back to their essence,' explains Höller in an interview with Forbes. "We cook each product on its own, adding only water and salt—nothing to mask or dress it up. It's about presenting ingredients in their purest form and challenging ourselves to rethink what can be done with this approach. It opens up a surprising amount of creativity."
Since opening its doors in 2022, Brutalisten has quickly garnered itself a reputation as a Swedish ... More culinary hotspot.
Since opening its doors in 2022, Brutalisten has quickly garnered itself a reputation as a Swedish culinary hotspot. The space is as enchanting as the plates placed before you, so it only makes sense that the restaurant would draw a crowd. Tastemakers across art, fashion and culture, including Miuccia Prada and Lily Collins, have been spotted in the restaurant. It was also recently given an award as one of the best restaurants in Sweden and Denmark in Falstaff Nordics 2025 list and garnered itself a spot on the World's 50 Best Discovery.
For his latest act, Höller brought in Elena Reygadas, the founder of Restaurante Rosetta in Mexico and the World's 50 Best Chef of 2023, to take over the kitchen and bring her unique perspective to the dining hotspot. 'I've always liked Elena's cooking and have enjoyed seeing it evolve, so it really is a great honor to have her here,' says Höller. "
Interestingly enough, Mexican cuisine, which typically utilizes many sauces, spices and flavors is practically the opposite of Höller's Brutalist cuisine. 'Other dishes, such as corn-based ones, are actually quite Brutalist in spirit, so I always thought it would be fascinating to combine the manifesto with Mexican cooking styles—and who better to do that then Elena," he says.
Carson Höller brought in Elena Reygadas to take over the kitchen and bring her unique perspective to ... More Brutalisten.
'I've come to appreciate simplicity: making the most of a single ingredient without adding too much,'
'I love the way the manifesto pushes you to be simpler, but also more creative,' says Reygadas. 'There's always a surprise, something revealed about the ingredient itself, which is what really attracted me to this project.'
In collaboration, Reygadas worked together with Coen Dieleman (head chef at Brutalisten) to create an exclusive tasting menu that highlighted the intersection of Mexican gastronomy and minimalism. It also marked Reygadas first time cooking in Stockholm.
Reygadas mentions that most of the food she cooks—and the dishes she finds herself drawn to—are very ingredient-led, which is where she and Höller connect. 'I've come to appreciate simplicity: making the most of a single ingredient without adding too much,' she says. "For example, the dish using ant eggs—it's completely different from how we prepare them in Mexico, but I really liked it. It's the kind of idea I'd love to bring back home and explore further."