Viktor Eriksson, the head chef at the Åss Sailing Pavilion in the Åland Islands decided early that he wanted a career as chef.

He started as a young assistant with Michael Björklund and found out instantly that this was what he wanted to for the rest of his life.

Åss Sailing Pavilion is famous for it’s local fish dishes and is located in the western harbor at Mariehamn the capital of the islands which is one of the most lively sailing boat harbor and destination in the increasing popularity of sailing sports and activity in both Finland and Sweden. The beautiful Åland Islands which are located in the middle – between Sweden and Finland, is geographically a part of Finland but the inhabitants are Swedish speaking so the island is often considered the crossover of those two sister countries. Today the islands govern themselves. Viktor Eriksson started in the kitchen at Åss Sailing Pavilion at a young age and worked himself up to being in the charge of the kitchen at the restaurant. He went in culinary school in the Ålands 2005 – 2008. While in restaurant school and right after graduating he spent some practicing time at prestigious Chez Dominique, Michelin star restaurant in Helsinki, until he went to ever popular konditori and bakery La Societe du Cochon in Helsinki to take a position as a pastry chef. In 2009 he went back to his home island to take a position as the head chef in his loving Åss Sailing Pavilion.

In the kitchen at Åss you also find the owner and patron – Åland Islands own Master Chef Michael Björklund, who has been elected Chef of the Year in both Sweden and Finland. Michael Björklund is considered one of the Nordic Countries top chefs and is appointed ambassador for the New Nordic Kitchen among other master chefs and personalities from the other Nordic countries.