Tore Wretman
{{short description|Swedish chef and restaurateur}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tore Wretman
| image = Tore Wretman, Stallmästargården, 1960-tal.jpg
| caption = Wretman in the early 1960s
| birthname = Tore Fredrik Wretman
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|05|07|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|02|13|1916|05|07|df=y}}
| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden
| death_place = Stockholm, Sweden
| education =
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| alias =
| title =
| family =
| spouse =
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| credits =
}}
Tore Fredrik Wretman (7 May 1916 – 13 February 2003)Sveriges befolkning 1970, CD-ROM, Version 1.04, Sveriges Släktforskarförbund (2002). was a Swedish chef and restaurateur. Wretman is perhaps best known for introducing cooking to men in Sweden, and his work as a restaurateur founding several of Stockholm's most popular restaurants. He is also known for creating Toast Skagen.
Biography
=Early years=
Wretman was born in Stockholm to writer Harald Wretman and Helga Nordström.[http://www.svt.se/dokumentarfilm/tore-wretman-kokspojken/ Dokumentärfilm: Tore Wretman kökspojken] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612120105/https://www.svt.se/dokumentarfilm/tore-wretman-kokspojken/ |date=12 June 2018 }} svt.se Retrieved 20 December 2019 He was the nephew of writer Tora Nordström-Bonnier. His parents divorced when Wretman was very young, and he spent part of his childhood at a children's home. This was revealed in the documentary Tore Wretman – kökspojken broadcast on Sweden's national public television broadcaster SVT in 2015.
=Apprenticeships and Second World War=
Wretman did not succeed in school, and at the age of sixteen he began apprenticing in the kitchen at the Hotel Continental in Stockholm.{{Cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/tore-wretman-dod|title=Tore Wretman död|date=13 February 2003|accessdate=20 December 2019|newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512201807/https://www.svd.se/tore-wretman-dod|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}} A year later he started working as a waiter at Operabaren in Operakällaren.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dn.se/pa-stan/ata-ute/klassikerduellen-teatergrillen-moter-operabaren/|title=Klassikerduellen: Teatergrillen möter Operabaren|date=27 September 2018|website=Dagens Nyheter|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930075427/https://www.dn.se/pa-stan/ata-ute/klassikerduellen-teatergrillen-moter-operabaren/|archive-date=30 September 2018|url-status=live}} There he met wine importer Fredrik König, who subsequently got him a job at Maxim's in Paris, in 1933.{{Cite web|url=https://mitti.se/nyheter/kokspojkens-revansch-lyfte-stans-krogar/|title=Kökspojkens revansch lyfte stans krogar|website=mitti.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131347/https://www.mitti.se/nyheter/kokspojkens-revansch-lyfte-stans-krogar/lmpdB!339682/|url-status=live}} At Maxim's he learned the basics in the kitchen and was an apprentice under chef Louis Barth and restaurant owner Albert Baser.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hd.se/2016-05-07/tore-wretman--en-stor-inspirator-och-laromastare|title=Tore Wretman – en stor inspiratör och läromästare|website=HD.se|date=7 May 2016 |accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131349/https://www.hd.se/2016-05-07/tore-wretman--en-stor-inspirator-och-laromastare|url-status=live}} He worked as commis saucier and poissonnier.
In 1937, Wretman worked as head of the bar at the restaurant Soleil de Minuit in the Swedish pavilion at the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne.{{Cite news|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/tore-wretman-dod/|title=Tore Wretman död|date=13 February 2003|website=Dagens Nyheter|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612113151/https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/tore-wretman-dod/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=live}} There he became acquainted with Sara Reuterskiöld, who was about to open the restaurant Regnbågen; she hired Wretman as head chef. He got the opportunity to introduce French cuisine on the menu.{{Cite web|url=https://strovtagivarlden.com/tore-wretman-lyfte-svensk-mat-ur-brunsastrasket/|title=Tore Wretman – lyfte svensk mat ur brunsåsträsket|date=8 December 2019|website=Strövtåg i Världen|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131343/https://strovtagivarlden.com/tore-wretman-lyfte-svensk-mat-ur-brunsastrasket/|url-status=live}} His position at Regnbågen was short-lived as in 1937 he was drafted into the Svea Life Guards infantry regiment.
After his army duty, Wretman spent a few years in the United States. In 1941, he started working on the Finnish cargo ship SS Winha, so he could return to Sweden via Finland. The ship was boarded north of Iceland by the British navy and was brought to Kirkwall on the Orkney islands. Afterwards Wretman was brought to a camp in London and was ultimately released.{{Cite web|url=https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/10/02/alla-svenska-stjarnkockars-fader|title=Alla svenska stjärnkockars fader|website=svenska.yle.fi|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010154645/https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/10/02/alla-svenska-stjarnkockars-fader|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=live}} Because of the ongoing war in Europe, he was unable to return to Sweden. He obtained a job as a receptionist at a London hotel, where he stayed until 1943 when he finally had the chance to return to Sweden.
=Later life=
In 1943 and 1944, Wretman worked as head waiter at Operakällaren in Stockholm. In 1945, at the age of 29, he bought the restaurant Riche on Birger Jarlsgatan. The restaurant was in bad shape after the war years, so Wretman set about to make several big changes. The pillar sections were halved, and its entrance was built on Nybrogatan, where Wretman opened his second restaurant Teatergrillen, which soon became one of Stockholm's most popular restaurants.
Five years later, Wretman took over the Stallmästaregården restaurant, which became one of the most renowned restaurants in the country after only a short time. In 1955, Wretman took over Operakällaren. After renovations and a complete overhaul, the restaurant was reopened in 1961, with Werner Vögeli as head chef. In 1971, Wretman did the same with Restaurant Victoria in Kungsträdgården.{{Cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/2003-02-14/33|title=Svenska Dagbladets historiska arkiv|accessdate=20 December 2019|newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131351/https://www.svd.se/arkiv/2003-02-14/33|url-status=live}}
Wretman later sold his restaurants and moved to Mougins on the French Riviera.{{Cite web|url=http://levasomeva.se/mougins-en-juvel-pa-franska-rivieran/|title=Mougins – en juvel på franska rivieran|date=18 March 2018 |accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131330/https://levasomeva.se/mougins-en-juvel-pa-franska-rivieran/|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Wretman's first marriage, from 1945-1953, was to actress Lillebil Kjellén. The couple had two daughters—Ann-Sofie (born 1946) and Charlotta (born 1949).{{Cite web|url=https://runeberg.org/vemarvem/sthlm62/1449.html|title=1425 (Vem är Vem? / Stor-Stockholm 1962)|website=runeberg.org|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924134753/http://runeberg.org/vemarvem/sthlm62/1449.html|archive-date=24 September 2016|url-status=live}} His daughter Ann-Sofie is a food writer.{{Cite web|url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1993/0117.html|title=117 (Vem är det: Svensk biografisk handbok / 1993)|website=runeberg.org|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924134809/http://runeberg.org/vemardet/1993/0117.html|archive-date=24 September 2016|url-status=live}}
His second marriage was from 1953-1971 to actress Meg Westergren. They had a son named Fredrik (born 1953) and a daughter named Malin (1956–1997).{{Cite web|url=https://www.land.se/retro/tore-wretman-var-kokets-mastare-skulle-fyllt-100-i-ar/|title=Tore Wretman var kökets mästare – skulle fyllt 100 i år|work=Land|date=27 December 2016|accessdate=13 April 2020|archive-date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705173234/http://www.land.se/retro/tore-wretman-var-kokets-mastare-skulle-fyllt-100-i-ar/|url-status=live}}Sveriges Dödbok 1901–2009, DVD-ROM, Version 5.00, Sveriges Släktforskarförbund (2010).
He married flight attendant Ewa Wikmar in 1971.{{Cite web|url=https://runeberg.org/vemardet/1993/1209.html|title=1209 (Vem är det: Svensk biografisk handbok / 1993)|website=runeberg.org|access-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924135203/http://runeberg.org/vemardet/1993/1209.html|archive-date=24 September 2016|url-status=live}} The couple had two children—Johan (born 1973) and Filip (born 1975). Together they ran a real estate business called Wretman Estate on the French Riviera.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wretmanestate.com/sv/team|title=Team | Wretman Estate|website=www.wretmanestate.com|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220222409/https://www.wretmanestate.com/sv/team|url-status=live}}
Legacy
Wretman played a big role in educating Swedes about the world of cuisine with his radio show Novisen vid spisen on Sveriges Radio.{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmarkivet.se/movies/novisen-vid-spisen-osten-i-kosten/|title=Novisen vid spisen – osten i kosten Filmarkivet.se — Hundra år i rörliga bilder|website=www.filmarkivet.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124185111/http://www.filmarkivet.se/movies/novisen-vid-spisen-osten-i-kosten/|archive-date=24 January 2019|url-status=live}} The radio show began broadcasting in 1950 and was hosted by journalist Folke Olhagen. The duo also presented segments on television meant to educate men about cooking and cuisine, a task that had previously been considered a woman's duty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vlt.se/artikel/historieatarnas-richard-tellstrom-de-som-vill-ha-nyttig-mat-pa-julbordet-ar-fel-ute|title=Historieätarnas Richard Tellström: "De som vill ha nyttig mat på julbordet är fel ute"|date=31 October 2016|website=vlt.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220225411/https://www.vlt.se/artikel/historieatarnas-richard-tellstrom-de-som-vill-ha-nyttig-mat-pa-julbordet-ar-fel-ute|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://kultursmakarna.se/januari-2020/|title=Januari 2020|date=7 December 2019|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131501/https://kultursmakarna.se/januari-2020/|url-status=live}}
He is known to have introduced avocado and green pepper to the Swedish public,{{Cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/70-talets-storsta-matratter--och-vilka-av-dem-haller-i-dag|title=70-talets största maträtter – vilka av dem håller i dag? (SvD Perfect Guide)|first=Oskar|last=Hammarkrantz|date=23 March 2017|accessdate=20 December 2019|newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903030012/https://www.svd.se/70-talets-storsta-matratter--och-vilka-av-dem-haller-i-dag|archive-date=3 September 2019|url-status=live}} as well as prawns on toast, a dish which is better known as Toast Skagen.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20150311/how-to-make-swedish-prawns-on-toast|title=Introducing Sweden's easiest and tastiest fish dish|date=11 March 2015|website=The Local|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920211355/https://www.thelocal.se/20150311/how-to-make-swedish-prawns-on-toast|archive-date=20 September 2019|url-status=live}}
He received an honorary PhD from Umeå University, as well as an honorary doctorate in gastronomy from the same university.Om den ärbara vällusten:mera mat & minnen, Tore Wretman, Page 253.{{Cite web|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/734406?programid=503|title=Tore Wretman 100 år – OBS|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|website=sverigesradio.se|date=19 May 2016 |language=sv|access-date=29 December 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131330/https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/734406?programid=503|url-status=live}}
In 2002, Wretman was featured on a stamp in the series "Svensk Gastronomi".{{Cite web|url=https://colnect.com/sv/stamps/stamp/161586-Tore_Wretman-Swedish_Gastronomy-Sverige|title=Frimärke: Tore Wretman (Sverige) (Swedish Gastronomy) Mi:SE 2306,Sn:SE 2444c,Yt:SE 2288,Sg:SE 2234,AFA:SE 2234,Fac:SE 2325|website=Colnect|accessdate=20 December 2019}}
Bibliography
- Ur främmande grytor (1953){{Cite web|url=https://www.bokborsen.se/|title=Ur främmande grytor | Bokbörsen|website=www.bokborsen.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015125842/https://www.bokborsen.se/|archive-date=15 October 2019|url-status=live}}
- Menu (1958){{Cite web|url=https://www.bokborsen.se/|title=MENU | Tore Wretman | Bokbörsen|website=www.bokborsen.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015125842/https://www.bokborsen.se/|archive-date=15 October 2019|url-status=live}}
- Svensk husmanskost (1966){{Cite web|url=https://www.bokus.com/bok/9789174246490/svensk-husmanskost/|title=Svensk husmanskost av Tore Wretman (Bok)|website=Bokus.com|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131359/https://www.bokus.com/bok/9789174246490/svensk-husmanskost/|url-status=live}}
- På tal om mat (1970){{Cite web|url=https://www.bokborsen.se/view/Tore-Wretman/P%C3%A5-Tal-Om-Mat/8176025|title=På tal om mat | Tore Wretman | 90 SEK|website=www.bokborsen.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107131403/https://www.bokborsen.se/?_p=1&f=1&qa=Tore+Wretman&qt=P%C3%A5+Tal+Om+Mat|url-status=live}}
- Bjudningsboken I (1973){{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aflCMwAACAAJ|title=Bjudningsboken med Tore Wretman som värd: menyförslag med recept för hela året från nyår till jul|first=Tore|last=Wretman|date=20 December 1970|publisher=Åhlén & Åkerlund|accessdate=20 December 2019|via=Google Books|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191014/https://books.google.com/books?id=aflCMwAACAAJ|url-status=live}}
- Bjudningsboken II (1974)
- Smörgåsbordet (1976){{Cite web|url=https://digitaltmuseum.se/021017268711/smorgardsbord-med-isobelisk-tore-wretman-pa-operakallaren-stockholm|title=Smörgårdsbord med isobelisk. Tore Wretman på Operakällaren, Stockholm.|website=digitaltmuseum.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220231049/https://digitaltmuseum.se/021017268711/smorgardsbord-med-isobelisk-tore-wretman-pa-operakallaren-stockholm|url-status=live}}
- The Swedish Smörgåsbord (1970){{Cite web|url=https://www.bokborsen.se/index.php/view/Tore-Wretman/The-Swedish-Sm%C3%B6rg%C3%A5sbord/1911219|title=The Swedish Smörgåsbord | Tore Wretman | 375 SEK|website=www.bokborsen.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220224429/https://www.bokborsen.se/index.php/view/Tore-Wretman/The-Swedish-Sm%25C3%25B6rg%25C3%25A5sbord/1911219|url-status=live}}
- Festmeny (1980){{Cite book|url=https://libris.kb.se/bib/7644208|title=Tore Wretmans festmeny|first=Tore|last=Wretman|date=20 December 1980|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924215710/http://libris.kb.se/bib/7644208|archive-date=24 September 2016|url-status=live|isbn=9789174860115|publisher=Atlantis}}
- Mat & minnen (1987){{Cite web|url=http://www.bokstugan.se/bok.php?id=16328|title=Mat & minnen - Wretman, Tore|website=www.bokstugan.se|accessdate=20 December 2019}}
- Om den ärbara vällusten (1988){{Cite web|url=https://www.bokborsen.se/view/Tore-Wretman/Om-Den-%C3%84rbara-V%C3%A4llusten/7737411|title=Om den ärbara vällusten | Tore Wretman | 250 SEK|website=www.bokborsen.se|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220224505/https://www.bokborsen.se/view/Tore-Wretman/Om-Den-%25C3%2584rbara-V%25C3%25A4llusten/7737411|url-status=live}}
- Kökspojken (1996){{Cite web|url=https://www.bokus.com/bok/9789151830520/kokspojken-tankar-och-minnen-fran-min-provencalska-terrass/|title=Kökspojken: tankar och minnen från min provençalska terrass av Mats Ekdahl, Tore Wretman (Bok)|website=Bokus|accessdate=20 December 2019|archive-date=20 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220224426/https://www.bokus.com/bok/9789151830520/kokspojken-tankar-och-minnen-fran-min-provencalska-terrass/|url-status=live}}
References
External links
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