Pontus Frithiof and Nordrest will establish themselves in northern Sweden for the first time, opening two restaurants at SkiStar's new resort. SkiStar Lodge Hundfjället in Sälen. The two restaurants will have different concepts and focuses but offer something for everyone with a focus on sustainability – good and well-prepared food based on locally grown Norrland ingredients with North American elements. The restaurants will open for the upcoming winter season in December 2021.
In December, restaurateur and entrepreneur Pontus Frithiof, together with Thomas Dahlstedt and his restaurant group Nordrest, will enter the mountain world with two new restaurants and a large accompanying bar area at SkiStar's new resort in Sälen. The restaurants will have different focuses and offerings, but what they have in common is the Pontus DNA with a relaxed and cozy atmosphere, generous and inclusive - a feeling of 'Sälen goes Colorado'.
The concept and names of the restaurants are not official yet, but one will have Pontus' more traditional brasserie concept, where the focus is on local produce and a lodge feel in the interior. The menu will offer a wide range of varied dishes, where the grill will be the dominant feature with its accessories. A wide wine and champagne selection will also be available here, signed by Pontus Group's head sommelier Mario E Moroni. The brasserie-like restaurant will also have a large bar, which will distinguish itself from traditional bars in the mountain world with elements and from the international entertainment scene.
The second concept is built around an exciting "family-style concept", which works well for simpler meals or a full-scale dinner where the menu draws inspiration from all the world's cuisines. Fun, exciting and unexpected, but above all delicious. Here, the drinks will be served by the glass and the bar will feature, just like the menu, countries from around the world.
Both restaurants will serve breakfast and lunch with brunch-like elements. A major focus is on digitalizing both concepts to avoid queues and make the guest's overall experience even better. Pontus together with Marcus Ekman, business and concept developer Pontus Group, are now working full time on the project and the two concepts.
– It feels very exciting and inspiring to launch our new mountain concept. We see ourselves as food creators and create our concepts based on the local conditions and ingredients, always with our DNA. Our brand will add value to the destination and give guests a holistic experience that they appreciate and long to return to., says Pontus Frithiof.
SkiStar Lodge Hundfjället will be a brand new lodge in the Sälenfjällen mountains with the best possible ski-in-ski-out location. The development of SkiStar Sälen into an international mountain resort is in full swing with state-of-the-art accommodation and Pontus Frithiof's and Nordrest's two fantastic restaurants with a high cosiness factor, Scandinavia's most modern 8-chair express lift, new slopes and expanded snowmaking systems as well as proximity to Sälen-Trysil airport, Scandinavian Mountains Airport. SkiStar Lodge Hundfjället will consist of, among other things, 153 rooms, 786 beds, conference facilities, SPA, gym, SkiStarShop and several restaurants.
– We are very happy and proud of the collaboration with Pontus Frithiof and Thomas Dahlstedt, who always deliver high quality and service. In our joint major investment, we can offer the hotel's guests and visitors the best in accommodation, food and drink as well as memorable mountain experiences all year round. With this investment, we take another step towards making SkiStar Sälen an international high-class mountain resort, says Stefan Sjöstrand, CEO and President of Skistar.
Pontus Frithiof, owner and founder of Pontus Group, and Thomas Dahlstedt, main owner of Nordrest, have had a close collaboration since 2015. The forms of the collaboration have varied over the years, but in recent years a franchise-like arrangement has been formed, where Nordrest is the contracting party and is responsible for the daily operations while Pontus sets its signature and DNA by designing concepts and menus with quality, creating visibility and a friendly feel towards guests.
– We continue our journey together and have now taken on a new challenge for our successful collaboration. The successful launch of La Girafe gave us the drive to create something completely new again. Now we look forward to creating new values with the restaurants at SkiStar Lodge Hundfjället, which will be a good complement and build a long-term commitment to Sälen, concludes Thomas Dahlstedt.
