As a partner of Järvaveckan – the annual Swedish open event that promotes democracy and inclusion – the Electrolux Food Foundation’s outreach work in the local community and Like a Chef employment training program were in conversation at the event last week.
“Järvaveckan is a significant forum to show how we engage in communities where employment is a key issue, as well as bring attention to the work of the foundation both in Sweden and globally,” says Ingrid Mellstig, Head of Electrolux Food Foundation.
The widely anticipated event, which hosts debate and discussion on social, cultural and political topics was broadcast from June 2-6 live from Rinkeby, a Stockholm suburb with many immigrants. In the heart of Rinkeby, the Yalla café is well-known for its multi-cultured menu, which is inspired by the women who form part of the co-operative. Here, they can experience work-life in a professional kitchen with the aim of gaining employment.
The café has a long-standing relationship with the Electrolux Food Foundation, which assisted in equipping the kitchen with professional appliances and runs the Like a Chef culinary training program, a practical course in sustainable cooking that gives unemployed women practical skills to seek work.
For the duration of Järvaveckan, Electrolux kitted out a pop-up kitchen to cater for the event where participants of the Like a Chef program were on site, preparing and cooking up daily dishes for guests and attendees.
The foundation also featured with partner Red Cross to highlight how companies can better support local communities and showcased their initiative – together with Yalla – that provided hot meals to visitors to the Red Cross center in Stockholm.
Järvaveckan was also an opportunity for Electrolux experts to talk about sustainability and connectivity in relation to food and product innovation in the kitchen.
David Treijs, Smart Kitchen Category Manager, gave his take on how smart technology is and will continue to shape the kitchens of the future: “It’s all about creating the best possible experience and assisting consumers in the kitchen to act sustainably. For instance we are looking into how cameras installed in ovens can identify the food and cook it optimally”.
“We have another function for steam ovens called Steamify where you select the temperature and the oven automatically chooses the correct amount of steam,” he added.
He explained that the growing use of voice control is an area we can expect to be explored further in kitchen appliances. “When we’re cooking our hands are often busied up so to be able to lower the ovens’ temperature just by telling it to isn’t a bad idea at all.”
Meanwhile, on the topic of food waste Electrolux Food Scientist Hanna Nykänen gave advice on how we can all use our fridges to preserve food better. She also shared the science around frozen food and the fact that it can be more nutritional than its reputation leads consumers to believe.
