Meet Bjerke Frandsen | Business owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bjerke Frandsen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bjerke, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk, challenges and dreams those three words, I learned from a very young age will always be connected and should serve as a motivator.

I have spend the majority of my time in Denmark a small Scandinavian country and in many ways a fantastic place to live well known for its social safety net and hygge just to name a few.

So how did I end up becoming a business owner in America putting everything on the line.

First of all I will admit it’s was a huge risk and a tremendous sacrifice leaving family, friends and a financial stable life behind and set off to a foreign country with a stubborn self believe that I would succeed.
I been an entrepreneur most of my adult life, so putting myself out there to prove a point, well aware that the bigger the dreams I dare dream the more and the bigger the challenges I will have to overcome to achieve my goals is not new to me.
America has always played somewhat a role in my life. My father worked for a Fortune 500 company so he would tell stories about America. Music, television and later computer and internet was also a huge source of information, inspiration and fascination all part of forming the dream, one day I could go see for myself and spend some time, if it really was all I pictured it to be.
I was never a straight A student and no big college degree to back me up, which actually is not that on common for business owners.
Education is important and is a security in many ways, but running a successful business is not always text book study. Sometimes one needs to take a risk even tho all textbooks advice against it.
I was well in my 30’s before I felt I had enough experience, a process of many trial and errors in diffrent industries that I felt comfortable to go after my long lasting dream and at the same time didn’t feel like I was gambling. It was a calculated risk.
Opening a restaurant with a Danish theme was again a risky move on my journey and a real challenge yet very rewarding.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I never went to culinary school it’s a hobby I turned into a successful business of course with the help of others. We are one of very few authentic Danish restaurants outside of Denmark serving classic comfort food without any short cuts.
The hospitality industry is ever changing and it’s definitely not easy to master and the pandemic was quite a challenge for us also.
What keeps us going is that we always know people come back for great service and unique quality products which are the two key ingredients in the recipe for our success. Beside what is better then seeing people having a good time smiling and laughing and that is perhaps the main reason why for me it’s so hard not to be a hands on involved in daily operation kind of business owner for me, risking a few hours of sleep everyday.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There are so many fantastic places to go in Southern California. I been here now for 5 years and I have barely scratched the surface still exploring mainly San Diego area whenever I have time. Chicano park was one of the first places I visited. The murals under the Coronado bridge and the story they portray is absolutely fascinating and a place I would definitely bring anybody visiting. Balboa park in downtown is a great place to spent some time one could visit the hall of nations a multi cultural gathering of people from many parts of the world, showcasing their country from each little house on saturdays and sundays, I think that’s very unique and a great change to speak and learn about diffrent countries, furthermore a short distance in same park you will find the Japanese garden so incredibly beautiful when it’s blooming.

So many spectacular sights along the coast line it’s hard to just pick one however La Jolla cove is a place I enjoy taking in some fresh air from time to time. Maybe a last stop at Legoland in Carlsbad, it might be a bit of a surprise for some but LEGO is from Denmark. Where to eat hmm. I think you know a place I have in mind!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
All the Americans for the love and support whether it’s online or daily visits in our restaurant that is essential. Family, friends and partner for the selfless sacrifices, the psychical separation, my busy days and nights with the computer etc. something they all accepted just to see my happiness.
All my business partners that all helps me with top of the line service and products to further excel my business.

Last but not least
In general all the people that share their positive energy with me and others. It’s encouraging.

Website: TrueTasteOfDenmark.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasteofdenmarksd/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/taste-of-denmark-san-diego