One of Sweden’s rising stars in gastronomy is part of Restaurant Eld and The Viking Museum. Iryna Kucher, Head Chef at Restaurant Eld, has advanced to the semi-finals of Årets Kock 2026, one of Sweden’s most prestigious culinary competitions, taking place on 15–16 June.
Since 2023, Iryna Kucher has served as Head Chef at Restaurant Eld, leading her kitchen with passion and dedication. She knows the value of hard work and perseverance, and how far those qualities have taken her.
Iryna originally comes from Ukraine, where she learned the craft of cooking from the ground up from her grandparents. She started cooking at the age of five, and it sparked something within her that remains alive to this day. It was the beginning of a lifelong craft, shaped by a deep respect for ingredients and a strong sense of creativity in the kitchen.
Growing up, making the most of available resources was essential, as challenges and hardships were part of everyday life. Nothing was ever allowed to go to waste.
At the age of 16, Iryna began working at one of Ukraine’s leading restaurants. Just a few years later, she became Head Chef, leading a team of 20 chefs. Her passion for food and remarkable culinary creativity quickly set her apart, and by the age of 22 she had already become a well-known name on Ukraine’s gastronomic scene.
After becoming a recognised figure in Ukraine’s culinary industry, Iryna had the opportunity to meet renowned chefs Niklas Ekstedt, Jacob Holmström, and René Redzepi. It was then that the idea of Sweden and the Nordic region began to take shape. Increasingly drawn to Nordic flavours and culinary traditions, she decided to take a chance on Stockholm and pursue the next chapter of her career there.
Starting over in a new country and learning a new language was far from easy. But Iryna never gave up. She was determined to find a job and continue doing what she loved most.
After several weeks of sending out applications without receiving any replies, she turned to Texas Longhorn in Sollentuna, just outside Stockholm. There, she was offered a position, and the foundations of her Swedish culinary career began to take shape.
Over the following years, she worked at several restaurants before finding her home at Restaurant Eld. Today, she has been Head Chef at Restaurant Eld for three years and continues to thrive in the role.
Since moving to Sweden, Iryna has immersed herself in Swedish food culture and its history. Working with Nordic ingredients, strong craftsmanship, and contemporary influences, she creates gastronomic experiences that bring together tradition and innovation.
We wish her the very best of luck in the semi-finals of Chef of the Year 2026!