Sønderborg is set to become the home of a new, ambitious, and annual gastronomic festival: "SMACH – A Taste of Southern Jutland."
With a donation from parties including the Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation, the festival will, from October 2026, gather some of Denmark's most talented chefs, local food producers, and food enthusiasts for a celebration of Southern Jutland's food culture, innovation, and first-class ingredients.
Per Egebæk Have, Chairman of the Board of the Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation, explains:
The investment in SMACH is a natural extension of the commitment to gastronomy, which we have already seen bear fruit at Alsik and the Michelin-starred restaurant Syttende. SMACH builds on that foundation, cementing Southern Jutland's position on the gastronomic map. The project is anchored by a strong team that manages to combine a focus on unique Southern Jutland ingredients with the attraction of gastronomic talents from all over the country. It is a visionary project that creates value for our region.
Per Egebæk Have, Chairman, Bitten & Mads Clausens Fond
Behind the initiative is a strong local working group with prominent figures such as Jesper Koch and Jes Johansen (Kultur i Syd). Their vision is to create a nationally recognized gastronomic hub in Sønderborg that will strengthen awareness of the region's culinary heritage and position the area as a leading food destination.
A strategic focus for the Region
The ambition for SMACH is to create an event with significant appeal for locals, tourists, the press, and industry professionals. The event is also expected to generate increased turnover for hotels, restaurants, and retail, and to attract national media coverage. The first edition of SMACH is planned to be held on the Sunday of the first weekend of October 2026.
Chef Competition and Public Festival at the Core
The festival's central event will be a chef competition where invited top chefs will compete to reinterpret classic regional dishes from Southern Jutland. The competition will be judged by a renowned panel led by Jesper Koch.
Simultaneously with the competition, a large public food market will be established. This will all take place at "Sergenten," where the public will have free access to meet local producers, taste Southern Jutland specialties, and experience the unique food culture up close.
Broad Local Support
The project has already secured strong local backing and is supported by Linak A/S and AL Sydbank A/S. Sønderborg Municipality is also supporting as a co-organizer for the public part of the "A Taste of Southern Jutland 2026-2028" event.
The Bitten & Mads Clausen Foundation is supporting the project with a donation for 2026, as well as by co-financing the use of the facilities at Sergenten and Alsik.
The broad support from multiple parties testifies to a shared ambition to elevate Sønderborg's gastronomic potential and strengthen tourism in the region.
