In late January, Copenhagen is set to become the world's most important dining room. Not because of a single chef, dish, or debut, but because of an idea. Between January 29 and February 2, the Danish capital hosts CONVERGENCE, a five-day global culinary gathering that brings together more than 60 of the world’s most influential chefs and restaurants from 26 countries and six continents. At its heart is Alchemist, Rasmus Munk’s immersive, almost mythic restaurant that has redefined what dining can mean in the 21st century.
CONVERGENCE is not a festival in the conventional sense. Instead, the event is built on something far more enduring: the belief that a shared culinary language can connect cultures across borders. Initiated by Munk, currently ranked number one at the 2024 and 2025 Best Chef Awards, CONVERGENCE positions gastronomy not just as craft, but as culture, conversation, and collective responsibility.
For five nights, Alchemist will become a breathing universe of ideas. Known for its 50 “impressions” that combine food, art, science, theatre and technology, the restaurant is already a destination that demands time, curiosity, and complete presence. A single evening here lasts between four and six hours, guiding guests through sculptural spaces and deeply considered narratives that stretch far beyond the plate. CONVERGENCE amplifies this philosophy by inviting the world’s culinary minds to cook inside this immersive framework, each bringing their own histories, techniques, and philosophies into dialogue.
Among them is Chef Varun Totlani, the sole representative from India at this inaugural edition. Head chef at Masque and Paradox in Mumbai, Totlani’s presence feels both significant and timely. His cooking, rooted in Indian ingredients but sharpened by global training at the Culinary Academy of India and the Culinary Institute of America, reflects a modern Indian voice that is confident, precise, and quietly progressive. “That kind of experiential dining is something we also strive for at Masque,” he says, adding that it is “really an honour to represent India and Masque in the inaugural edition of Convergence.”
This is what makes CONVERGENCE compelling. It is not about showcasing cuisines in isolation, but about what happens when they collide thoughtfully. What does an Indian ingredient mean inside a Scandinavian narrative? How does a chef from Sydney’s Saint Peter or Hong Kong’s WING reinterpret their philosophies within Alchemist’s holistic universe?
Beyond the dinners, CONVERGENCE expands into the city through a public-facing symposium on January 30 at DR Koncerthuset. Priced accessibly at DKK 200 (INR 3000), the programme opens conversations between chefs, students, producers, artisans, and the wider public. Discussions explore the intersection of gastronomy, art, and culture, reinforcing the idea that food does not exist in a vacuum; it reflects society, values, and the times we live in. Totlani will also be part of the symposium, where he will speak about vegetarianism in India, “in terms of how culture, climate, and daily life shaped our plate and how vegetarian food here has always been about balance rather than substitution,” a perspective he is “excited to share while cooking alongside chefs I deeply respect.”
For a few days, Copenhagen will become a true gastronomic hub defined by intention. In a world increasingly fragmented, this gathering offers a rare moment of unity, where chefs speak to one another in the universal language of food, and diners are invited to listen, taste and reflect.
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