25th August, 2025, Gothenburg – In spring 2025, lively debates filled the media: What is actually Gothenburg’s most typical dish, and why do we need a new signature dish? Classic local favourites like the halv special and shrimp sandwich will of course live on, but the aim is to highlight an exciting and sustainable new addition to the city’s food culture.
On 28 August it’s finally time to announce the winner of Göteborgsmåltiden, a new signature
dish for Gothenburg. The ceremony will take place at 16:00 on the main stage at Kungstorget
during Göteborgs Kulturkalas. The three finalists will present their dishes to the audience, and the jury will then reveal the winning entry. The first 75 people in the audience will also get the chance to taste all three finalist dishes.
Earlier in the day, at 12:10, the jury will meet publicly at Frihamnsdagarna for a final evaluation of the finalists. This is an opportunity to learn more about the project’s background and to taste the dishes. A total of 40 audience members will be able to sample and vote for their favourite.
For media:
Would you like to attend and interview the finalists, jury and/or the winner? Or perhaps try the dishes yourself? Please contact Sofie Mantzaris via email or phone (see contact details
below).
Time and place:
The award ceremony at Kungstorget runs from 16:00–16:25. Directly afterwards, the winner
and project manager will be available on site for photos and interviews.
Read more: Prisutdelning Göteborgsmåltiden | Göteborgs Kulturkalas
The jury meets at Frihamnsdagarna 12:10–13:00.
Read more: Göteborgsmåltiden – Frihamnsdagarna
Background:
In January 2025, a unique competition was launched to put Gothenburg’s food culture on the
map. Together with SWITCH Food Hub, Turistrådet Västsverige. the City of Gothenburg, and
Göteborg & Co, we initiated the Gothenburg meal (translated from Göteborgsmåltiden), a
project to build pride in local food, inspire healthier eating habits and contribute to a more
sustainable future.
Everyone with a love for Gothenburg was encouraged to participate and submit ideas for the
city’s new signature dish. Over 40 entries were submitted. Six advanced to the semi-finals,
and three of them have now reached the final.
A knowledgeable jury, including chefs, researchers, food influencers, food journalists and producers has evaluated, test-cooked and tasted their way to now finally crown the new Göteborgsmåltiden during Göteborgs Kulturkalas 2025.
A tribute to sustainable and local food
The winner will earn the honour of having created Gothenburg’s new signature dish, which
may come to represent the city’s food culture in various contexts, for example during Sweden’s National Public Meals Day.
“We look forward to putting Gothenburg’s food culture even more in the spotlight with this
new signature dish, for both locals and visitors. Food is a major reason to travel, and we
want to inspire guests to explore the local cuisine during their stay with us,” says Sofie
Mantzaris, PR & Gastronomy, Göteborg & Co.
“Switch Food Hub sees Göteborgsmåltiden as an opportunity to highlight the local food
culture and the region’s fantastic produce – with a focus on whole grains, vegetables and
seafood. It’s about health, sustainability and creating food experiences that inspire better
eating habits,” says Maria Biörklund Helgesson, project manager at RISE and Switch Food
Hub.
Each competition entry had to meet at least one of the following three health and
sustainability criteria:
- More plant-based: Use of local plant-based ingredients.
- Whole grains in focus: Inclusion of wholegrain products, preferably locally produced.
- Sustainable seafood: Sustainably produced fish, shellfish or other marine ingredients
such as algae and seaweed available locally or regionally.
Read more about these criteria here: https://www.switchfoodhub.com/
More information: Göteborgsmåltiden – Göteborg & Co