A LEADING light of the neo Nordic food scene came to Sussex to cook with an acclaimed young chef in a showcase of Scandinavian cuisine.

Young Swedish chef Christofer Johansson joined chef Jimmy Gray of Jeremy’s Restaurant in Borde Hill, Haywards Heath for the show-stopping five-course supper.

It was the return leg of the International Chef Exchange which saw Jimmy prepare a Sussex-themed meal in the lakeside fishing village of Spiken earlier in the summer.

Chef Christofer’s menu featured elk with fermented garlic, raw beef with fish roe, spruce and forest herbs, and reindeer with lichens and lingonberries.

Wines came from Ridgeview Wine Estate, in Ditchling and distributor Enotria, with a cocktail made with Blackdown Sussex gin.

Jimmy said: “It’s been interesting to work alongside Christofer.

“Here at Jeremy’s we have a Scandinavian influence to our dishes but using authentic ingredients from the region has been a great experience.”

Christofer said: “Many of the ingredients I used aren’t found here so we’ve really given our guests a true taste of Sweden with produce from the north such as reindeer, salmon from lake Vänern, and lichens from Gotland island.”

The exchange, part of the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival, aims to promote Sussex produce abroad and was filmed for Latest TV.