Chefs and staff
Sigrid
Rafaelsen
Sigrid attended culinary school in Kvæfjord and completed her apprenticeship at Statholdergaarden in Oslo. After three wonderful years there, she moved back north. She co-founded Umami with her best friend Kim-Håvard in 2011 and has a deep passion for the sweet side of cooking. Sigrid thrives both as a server and as a chef, though she’s often seen with a tasting spoon in hand. She’s committed to ensuring every guest has the best Umami experience possible—and she also works to make sure everyone on staff enjoys being there too. Raised on a farm, she’s passionate about authentic and high-quality ingredients.
Telefon: 950 90 911
Kim-Håvard
Larsen
Kim-Håvard has loved life in the kitchen ever since he was a child, preferring pots and pans on the kitchen counter to toys. His culinary education began at Rå Upper Secondary School in Kvæfjord, and he did his apprenticeship at the renowned Feinschmecker in Oslo. From 2009 to 2012, he was the captain of Norway’s Junior Culinary Team. Although the food at Umami is on the refined side, his personal favorite is crispy pancakes with sugar. Kim-Håvard co-founded Umami with his best friend Sigrid in January 2011, and they still own and run it together. He’s often seen in the dining area, and he loves giving guests unforgettable food and drink experiences.
Telefon: 950 90 911
Frida
Nilsen
Frida began her career as a chef at Umami in 2016. She spent two years as an apprentice, and after completing her apprenticeship, she became a permanent member of the team. Frida is a passionate chef with a deep love for the culinary arts. She’s always in a good mood and brings plenty of laughter and joy to the kitchen. Her heart lies in the sweet side of cooking—she’s the mastermind behind most of the desserts, chocolates, and cakes at Umami. Frida has a talent for combining flavors and never lets a dish leave her hands unless it tastes heavenly. Some days, you’ll also meet Frida as a server at Umami.
Lal Nun
Tluang Ngun
Ante
Imeri
Ante joined Umami in February 2025. Originally from Croatia, he has worked at several quality restaurants and hotels before moving to Norway in 2023. He earned his craft certificate in 2017. Ante brings great energy, a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic. He starts every workday with a handshake, a reflection of his inclusive and social nature. Ante has a deep passion for cooking and believes the best part of being a chef is the creativity—and making guests happy.
Nora
Chitula
Nora Chitula, from Harstad, is our wonderful apprentice chef. She joined Umami in January 2025 and will be apprenticing with us for two years before taking her craft certification. With two years of training from the fantastic culinary school in Kvæfjord, we were more than happy to welcome Nora as an apprentice. She’s curious and eager to learn as much as possible each day. Nora is hardworking and always has a gentle smile on her face. She’s social and a fantastic colleague for everyone on the team. Nora especially enjoys creating flavorful little snacks and loves working at the station where she prepares starters.
August
Lind-Hanssen
August is our amazing waiter, who joined Umami in August 2023. He’s easy to describe—just a genuinely great guy. Always approachable and ready to take on any challenge. Guests love August, and so does the whole team. He presents food and drinks with enthusiasm and a warm smile. With a strong interest in flavor combinations, he’s passionate about the full experience of a gourmet meal. Previously, he worked at various eateries and hotels outside Harstad.
Mats
Vasshaug
Mats has always had a strong passion and enthusiasm for cooking. He started his apprenticeship at Umami in August 2024. Mats is a fantastic apprentice, someone who really takes responsibility in the kitchen. He enjoys working with fish and meat, but also loves baking bread and preparing small dishes. Even in his free time, Mats explores flavors and combinations, and he’s full of great ideas when it’s time to develop a new menu. Everyone enjoys being around Mats—he has a calm and charming sense of humor. Guests often get to experience his thoughtful and engaging way of presenting dishes.
Harriet M.
Olsen
The one behind the camera—the photographer who captures the beautiful images we share. Harriet has many years of photography experience, and since January 2025, we’ve been lucky to have her as Umami’s photographer. She’s incredibly dedicated to her work, making people shine and food sparkle. Everyone enjoys working with Harriet, and she’s absolutely a big part of everyday life at Umami. We feel fortunate to have such a talented photographer on our team. Harriet loves photographing food, but she also enjoys capturing portraits and landscapes. With her extensive background in the photography world, it’s truly special to have her with us.
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