Meals on wheels: On the road with Copenhagen’s ‘Cycling Chef’

Category: (Self-Study) Lifestyle/Entertainment

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For more than 20 years, a self-proclaimed “Cycling Chef” has been giving two-wheeled gastronomic tours of the Danish capital, Copenhagen. He even cooks on the go, leading guests on a foodie adventure with his kitchen-bike.

Pedaling through the streets of Copenhagen on his custom-built bicycle-turned-portable kitchen, chef Morten Kryger Wulff flips prawns in a frying pan while leading guests on a culinary tour with a twist.

In a city famous for fine dining—including Michelin-starred restaurants Noma, Geranium and Alchemist—Kryger Wulff’s five-course tour may be the most unique dining experience of all. “We have, over the last 20 years, been working on this concept, bringing people on gastronomic rides, cooking for them along the way. And that is what it’s all about,” smiles Kryger Wulff.

The Danish chef, who’s worked in prestigious kitchens, including London’s Savoy, first became the “Cycling Chef” back in 2002, cooking outdoors at private events, such as garden parties, corporate functions and picnics.

The idea was born when he and his friends were turfed out of a Copenhagen royal park by a park officer for illegally barbecuing. With no other option, they placed the cast-iron grill onto his old vintage cargo bike and kept cooking. “Right there, while I was biking, and my friend was running alongside turning the steaks, we were looking at each other. You need that, you need a bicycle kitchen,” he recalls.

Kryger Wulff now gives several “Gastronomic Rides” each year, pedaling through city streets and parks, then stopping at hidden spots to prepare and share food. That wouldn’t be possible without his custom-built portable kitchen: an adapted cargo bike fitted with a stove, foldable work surface, fridges, cupboards, plus space for glasses, cutlery and more.

Each tour includes five courses consumed at five different city stops. The experience lasts about four and a half hours, with guests cycling between three and five kilometers. It costs 1,695 Danish kroner (approximately $265) per person. Guests bring their own bikes or rent one if needed. Rain ponchos are even provided, though not always required.

This article and video were provided by The Associated Press.

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[“Cycling Chef” Morten Kryger Wulff leading gastronomic cycling tour through Danish capital Copenhagen]

[Morten Kryger Wulff setting off on his mobile kitchen]

[Morten Kryger Wulff setting off on his mobile kitchen]

[Morten Kryger Wulff and guests gathering by a canal side]

[Morten Kryger Wulff preparing the first snack]

[Guests drinking a cocktail]

[Morten Kryger Wulff speaking to guests]

Morten Kryger Wulff (interview): “The combination between a gastronomic capital in Scandinavia and everyday use of bikes and cargo bikes in a very flat, the perfect sized bicycle city, stuff like this comes up. So yes, we have by the last 20 years been working on this concept, bringing people on gastronomic rides, cooking for them along the way. And that is what it’s all about.”

[People walking past a line of bikes]

[Bike wheel]

[Morten Kryger Wulff setting off on his mobile kitchen]

[Morten Kryger Wulff leading gastronomic cycling tour]

[Morten Kryger Wulff preparing a seafood course of prawns, dill cream, and fried seaweed at a harbor side]

[A guest taking a dish]

[Guests eating the seafood course]

Morten Kryger Wulff (interview): “While I was biking it out, and he said, you are not allowed to bike it out, by the way. And I said, oh, but then throw us out. He was no, no, but all this is fun. It was all in a good mood. But right there, while I was biking, and my friend was running alongside turning the steaks, we were looking at each other. You need that, you need a bicycle kitchen.”

[Morten Kryger Wulff’s mobile kitchen]

[Morten Kryger Wulff preparing his mobile kitchen for a gastronomic cycling tour]

[Morten Kryger Wulff departing for a gastronomic cycling tour]

[Morten Kryger Wulff cycling by a canal side]

Morten Kryger Wulff (interview): “I’m a chef, as background. And I wanted to feel comfortable on my bicycle kitchen. So, it was simple. So, (as) much of a professional kitchen as possible. So, there’s a stove, there’s fridges, there’s cupboards for plates, there’s wines, there’s room for hygiene equipment, first aid, it’s all there.”

[Morten Kryger Wulff leading gastronomic cycling tour]

[Guests gathering by a canal side]

[Guests being served kombucha]

[Morten Kryger Wulff preparing the main course of tomato tart with confit onions, wild garlic capers, and steamed white fish]

[Guests drinking kombucha]

[Morten Kryger Wulff and guests departing on bikes to the next stop]

Morten Kryger Wulff (interview): “We have the welcome. We have the entrée, we have the main – like the peak on the tour. That would be nice if it was something, a spectacular place. So, we have these themes that will work. And then going back to the start location, to finish off. On the way back, we get the cheese, and when we hit the start location or the finish line, then we celebrate with coffee, dessert, a small rum. So, that’s the tour.”

[Guests gathering by a canal side]

[Morten Kryger Wulff preparing the main course]

[Guests eating the main course]

Malene Pedersen (interview): “When you see the bike, you’re also thinking, well, we cook all the meals on this bike? But he will and it tastes so good, I can promise that. It’s an experience, both the food, but I would also say, everything around you, biking around, seeing the city from another perspective.”

Jacob Kristiansen (interview): “It is quite unique, but I like it because you get to see other places of the town and enjoying them and experience them in another way, then, of course, I’m Danish so I feel comfortable on a bike.”

[Sun setting behind buildings]

[Guests preparing to depart for the next stop]

[Morten Kryger Wulff setting off on mobile kitchen followed by guests]

[Morten Kryger Wulff and guests cycling away]

This script was provided by The Associated Press.