Master chefs hired to develop school meals in Hafnarfjörður

Mbl.is reports that master chefs Bjarni Gunnar Kristinsson and Paolo Brian Guingon have joined Matarstund ehf. as consultants to help develop meals for schools in Hafnarfjörður.

Matarstund produces home-style meals from fresh ingredients and serves thousands of children and staff in the town every day. The company will use the chefs’ experience from the hotel and restaurant industry in its work.

Bjarni Gunnar was previously executive chef at Hilton Reykjavík Nordica and has extensive experience in cooking, operations and kitchen management. He was also a key member of Iceland’s national chefs’ team for many years.

Guingon has likewise had a long career in the industry. He was most recently executive chef at VOX and in the catering division of Hilton Reykjavík Nordica. He has more than 15 years of experience in international hotel and restaurant operations.

“Taking care of meals for children and staff in preschools and primary schools is a project that strongly appeals to me. What we give children to eat matters greatly,” Bjarni Gunnar said.

Pétur Viðarsson, Matarstund’s managing director, said both chefs brought experience and expertise to the company. He said Bjarni Gunnar had strong leadership skills and understood how to combine quality, nutrition and good flavour, while Guingon added international experience and knowledge of large-scale kitchen operations.

Viđarsson said the two chefs would strengthen the strong team already working at Matarstund.