i. Biography
The restaurant’s brief is clear: a relaxed, friendly, fun bistro with a luxurious touch, where the menu arrives as a surprise and the cooking sits at a high fine-dining level. That combination gives Coco & Carmen its working rhythm — informal in mood, exacting in execution, with service and plate work carrying the same discipline as any serious kitchen.
The Path
At Coco & Carmen, Stockholm, Sweden, the role of Executive Chef places Joakim Almquist at the point where concept, pacing, and standards meet. The dining room is meant to welcome rather than press, and the menu is built to keep guests on their toes without losing control of the room. That is the operating logic attached to Almquist: a kitchen language that uses surprise as structure, not as spectacle.
The Work Today
“It's always best when we decide what the guests are having.” That line from Almquist describes a service model built on trust in the kitchen rather than deference to the menu card. The meal is directed from the pass outward, with the team shaping the order of play and carrying the table through it. What looks easy on the floor is held together by decisions made upstream. The format depends on informed informality: a room that reads light, but is underwritten by technical precision. Coco & Carmen, with Joakim Almquist as chef and co-owner, works as a bistro with intent — friendly in tone, luxurious in finish, and pitched firmly at a high fine-dining level.
Acclaim
The result is a house style built on controlled generosity: the surprises are planned, the welcome stays warm, and the finish remains precise. With Joakim Almquist guiding it, Coco & Carmen sharpens the bistro idea rather than softening it, keeping the friendliness and fun intact while pushing the execution into fine-dining territory.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Joakim
What is Joakim Almquist's current role?
As of 2026, Joakim Almquist is Chef and Co-owner.
What is Joakim Almquist known for?
Luxurious surprise tasting menus with caviar, truffles, and Japanese-influenced European cooking.
