Smakbyn & Co

Mikael Erkas is our Vice CEO, which in practice means he takes care of all the things no one else really does. He keeps things running behind the scenes and makes sure both the staff and the business have the best possible conditions every day. He makes sure we have the right people in place and that the team has the best possible conditions to do their jobs exceptionally well.

In addition to that, Mikael is also Smakbyn’s sommelier and is responsible for spirit production in the distillery, where craftsmanship, flavor, and quality are always at the center of attention.

When the workday is over, he enjoys spending time with his family in Ostrobothnia — a place that gives him both energy and inspiration.

Jenna leads the front-of-house team with a warm touch and a keen eye for detail. She’s passionate about great food, drinks, and making every guest feel truly welcome.

Anton is home for the summer and working with us with a great passion for Nordic cuisine. His favorite on the menu is the ox cheek – and in his free time, you’ll most likely find him in the beach sauna in Tjudö.

With broad international experience, Felix leads our kitchen team. With a passion for sustainable cooking and the best seasonal ingredients, he creates dishes where flavor, craftsmanship, and care come together on every plate. .

If you find someone who knows more than this man, we’ll treat you to ice cream! Tom is a star in construction and mechanics. With his positive mindset and joy for creating, he motivates the entire staff. His greatest strength is logical thinking. In his free time, he likes hunting and fishing. Without food, he goes crazy, lucky for him he works in a restaurant!

Rebecca, is responsible for communication within all our companies, together with Wille. No one is better at organization and planning than she is! She is the spider in the web, keeping track of 1000 things at once. Efficiency is her middle name. In her free time, she loves going to the cottage and drinking sparkling wine in wool socks.

Our head chef Ted is an old new favorite at Smakbyn. In recent years, he has developed a great interest in fishing. If you hear someone singing (rather than well) when you step into the restaurant, it’s pretty sure that Ted is at work. He digs dance band music and fancy ballads. Ted has a hot temper and likes it when things move quickly!

William, together with Rebecca, is responsible for communication within all our companies. He is a very skilled graphic designer and photographer. Informally, he is also Micke’s personal stylist and Finnish teacher; he both trims the beard and helps Micke with Finnish. In his free time, you’ll surely find him somewhere along the shoreline fishing. William usually works remotely from Vaasa, but he likes to visit us now and then when the longing for colleagues and the paradise island becomes too great.

Anni is like a whole rainbow palette both in style and spirit, at work but also in private life. She is the glittery work friend you turn to for discussing new ideas, but also if you want new perspectives on things. She is great at administrative tasks and planning and organizing things. She spends her free time in a sweaty workout, with friends on a schlager cruise, or on an outing with her family.

Gabriela is a true multi-talent; she can do anything! She is small and feisty, keeping track of both big and small things. Gabriela knows everything about social media, events, and recruitment, and she is the queen of Åland Distillery’s restaurant. She can drive a van full of Christmas food through a wintry Finland, climb ladders, organize Murder mystery events, and keep both our pastry chef and sometimes even Micke in check! Gabriela is currently on maternity leave.