Episode 19: Trine Hahnemann: Food, Feminism & Cooking with Conscience

Written By Arlene Stein

Trine Hahnemann © Columbus Leth

Chef, author, entrepreneur, and food activist Trine Hahnemann has long been a leading voice for integrity and inclusivity in the culinary world.

From her base in Copenhagen, arguably the most food-forward city in the world, Trine built a career rooted in sustainability, feminism, and social justice. Raised in a leftist communal household in Denmark, she grew up with a deep appreciation for traditional food culture, collective responsibility, and progressive politics, values that continue to shape her work today.

Whether cooking on tour for the Rolling Stones, writing bestselling cookbooks, or running a highly successful catering company, Trine has always led with purpose. She’s been a vocal critic of the toxic, hierarchical kitchen culture inherited from Escoffier, advocating instead for collaboration, care, and mentorship. Especially for women in the industry.

In this episode, Trine shares stories from her remarkable journey and reflects on the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated space, where support from the food community wasn’t always a given. She speaks candidly about building a kitchen culture based on respect, dismantling patriarchy, and how we can create more humane and inclusive spaces for future generations.

Now living in a quiet village in Piedmont, Italy, Trine is entering a new chapter: One focused on reflection, writing, and continuing the fight for a better food system.

You can follow Trine on Instagram here and sign up for her newsletter here. You can find a recipie for her yummy cardamon buns here.

 
Arlene Stein
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Episode 19: Karin Desveaux - Pioneering Palates and Shaping the Culinary Future