Emil Örn Valgarðsson has been appointed as Head Chef at Hotel Ranga
Hotel Ranga, an iconic destination in Iceland for seeing the Northern Lights, welcomes Emil Örn Valgarðsson as Head Chef of the property's acclaimed Rangá Restaurant. Overlooking one of Iceland's finest salmon rivers, the restaurant is known for featuring fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients and a menu showcasing the country's most notable Nordic delicacies with a modern twist.
Hailing from the town of Hveragerði, Iceland, Emil started cooking at the age of 14 and completed his chef training at Lækjarbrekka, a historic Icelandic restaurant in Reykjavík. He also gained valuable experience abroad, cooking in Michelin-starred restaurants in both France and Norway. By the age of 22, Emil opened his first restaurant, and later served as a private chef for the Finnish, French and Norwegian embassies in Reykjavík. His work as a private chef allowed him the opportunity to cook for many presidents and visiting dignitaries and he now applies that same level of distinguished service at Rangá Restaurant.