WORK • Friday Routine
EMMA BENGTSSON • executive chef • Aquavit
Neighborhood you work in: Midtown East
Neighborhood you live in: Harlem
It’s Friday afternoon. How are you rolling into the weekend?
I’m usually getting ready for a busy weekend at Aquavit. My focus is on making sure the team is prepared and everything runs smoothly, but at the same time, I’m already thinking ahead to the week to come — menus, orders, and new ideas I want to try. Right now, I’m also planning for the holidays. For today, we made cute Halloween Princess Cakes (above), and with Christmas and New Year’s right around the corner, I want to come up with something equally delightful.
Where are you drinking or dining this weekend?
One of my favorite restaurants in the city, Quique Crudo. It’s a Mexican-inspired seafood restaurant in the West Village with bar seating only and no reservations, so be prepared to wait a bit for a spot. But it’s absolutely worth it. The food is to die for, and the margaritas never seem to end. Try one of the scallop dishes, the lobster of course, and the tres leches. It’s the kind of place where you sit shoulder to shoulder with other guests, chat with the chefs behind the bar, and just soak in the energy.
How about a little leisure or culture?
If I get a chance, I like to go see the Rangers play at Madison Square Garden, or maybe a soccer game in the summer. My days off are normally spent walking or running in Central Park. I love being around nature and it’s very calming for me.
Any weekend getaways?
My sister and nephew were just here visiting, and we decided to rent a car and drive up into the Catskills for a little escape. We spent two nights at the cozy Postcard Cabins — small trailer-style cabins tucked right into the forest. Each one has everything you need in a tiny, perfectly designed space, with a campfire outside for roasting s’mores and relaxing under the stars.
What was your last great vacation?
For the past few years, my vacations have always been about going home to Sweden to visit my family. I usually spend the first half of the trip in the countryside at my parents’ house. It’s where I can completely unwind — quiet mornings with coffee on the deck, going for a run in the forest, and taking a dip in the cold-water lake. The other half I spend in Stockholm with my sister and nephew. I love taking a boat out to the nearby islands, stopping at small seaside restaurants for lunch — often simple, perfectly cooked fish and new potatoes, eaten while watching the water sparkle in the sun.
Stockholm’s food scene keeps getting better, and my latest favorite is Babette, a cozy neighborhood spot that captures everything I love about Swedish dining: unpretentious, seasonal, and full of heart.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I always recommend MTC Kitchen in Midtown East. It’s one of my favorite stores in New York, a go-to for professional chefs and anyone who loves Japanese knives, tableware, and kitchen tools. It’s one of those places where I always find something new and inspiring for the kitchen.
Where are you donating your time or money?
City Harvest. I began working with them when I first came to New York 15 years ago, and their mission has always resonated deeply with me. I believe that food should never be a privilege — it is a basic human right. I hope that by next year, I am ready to run the New York City Marathon for City Harvest, raising funds and awareness for them. In addition to City Harvest, I also support Citymeals on Wheels and No Kid Hungry, all of which share a common goal: to provide nutritious food to those in need.