Brian Mark Hansen

Hailing from Southern Jutland, Brian Mark Hansen has served as head chef at Søllerød Kro for since October 1, 2013. His previous experience includes positions at Ruths Hotel in Skagen, Kong Hans Kælder, and Søllerød Kro, where he worked as sous chef from 2007 to 2011. In February 2011, he became head chef at Christiansholm Castle.

Throughout his tenure as head chef, Brian has successfully maintained Søllerød Kro’s MICHELIN star - an achievement that in 2024 marked its 18th consecutive year. In 2018, the restaurant was named Restaurant of the Year in the Danish Dining Guide and later won the prestigious Nordic Prize for Best Restaurant in the Nordic Countries.

Most recently, in January 2023, Brian made history by winning gold and the title of World’s Best Chef at the renowned Bocuse d’Or competition in Lyon.

 

Christian Ebbe

Christian Ebbe began his career at Søllerød Kro in 2005, working under Jakob de Neergaard—first as a chef, then as sous chef, and later as assistant head chef. When de Neergaard left, Ebbe was the natural choice to take over as head chef after the summer of 2011. He played a key role in maintaining the restaurant’s MICHELIN star in 2012 and 2013 before leaving in September 2013.

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Jakob de Neergaard

After spending six years working at several MICHELIN-starred restaurants in Belgium and France, Jakob de Neergaard returned to Denmark as one of the country’s most classically trained French chefs. His leadership at Søllerød Kro significantly elevated its reputation, earning widespread recognition—including the MICHELIN star in 2007 and the title of Restaurant of the Year in the Danish Dining Guide 2005. He stepped down as head chef in 2011.

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Casper Vedel

Casper Vedel worked at Søllerød Kro under Jan Pedersen, Kristian Østergaard, and Paul Cunningham before assuming the role of head chef himself. He remained in the position until the summer of 2002.

 

Paul Cunningham

The British-born Paul Cunningham had been with Søllerød Kro for several years before taking over as head chef following Kristian Østergaard, under the leadership of Jan Pedersen. When Pedersen departed, Cunningham proved his culinary excellence by retaining the restaurant’s MICHELIN star. He left Søllerød Kro in 1998.

 

Jan "La Cocotte" Pedersen

Having already built a stellar career at La Cocotte at Hotel Richmond in Copenhagen—where he earned a MICHELIN star in 1983, catered Simon Spies’ wedding, and helped develop the menu for the renowned Babette’s Feast—Jan Pedersen continued his journey through Scanticon and Restaurant Mikkelgård before becoming head chef at Søllerød Kro in 1996. Alongside Kristian Østergaard, he regained Søllerød Kro’s MICHELIN star in 1997. Pedersen left the restaurant later that same year.

 

Steen Eis Thomsen

Steen Eis Thomsen was the first Danish head chef at Søllerød Kro in over a decade, serving for nearly three years.

 

Francis Cardenau

Hailing from Southwestern France, Francis Cardenau had honed his craft at several three-MICHELIN-starred restaurants in Paris before heading north. Søllerød Kro’s owner at the time, Jørgen Tønnesen, was also co-owner of Restaurant Copenhague on the Champs-Élysées and was well aware of Cardenau’s talents. He joined Søllerød Kro in late 1989 and played a vital role in preserving its MICHELIN star before departing in 1993.

In 1997, he became head chef at Kommandanten, which became Denmark’s first two-MICHELIN-starred restaurant.