Hello from Copenhagen! Three days in to my brief visit here and I am blown away by this place. Honestly it’s the city of beautiful people, all so well-dressed and whizzing around on cool bikes. And then there’s the incredible architecture, royal palaces, canals and landmark sights such as the pretty Little Mermaid. On arrival I was met by the lovely Heather Nissen from Visit Denmark and the editor of Russia’s edition of Jamie Magazine for a ‘Segway‘ tour of the city. These funny little contraptions are half bike half scooter and loads of fun. Then for dinner we were taken to Grønbech & Churchill. Recently awarded its first Michelin star (and deservedly so), it’s a beautiful and very minimalist restaurant. We started with a brioche-style bread glazed with liquorice and then the menu proceeded through six courses of very ‘new-Nordic’ dishes, including this amazing roasted lamb (below), with a dark cherry jus, black olives & liquorice (lots of liquorice over here). The restaurant also happened to be right opposite St Albans (below), Copenhagen’s English church where my grandparents were married in 1939.
Yesterday was the launch of Copenhagen Cooking 2012. I met up with the rest of our press group, which includes food writers from the States, Norway, Holland, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom and we were all taken to the Royal Library for the official opening of by HRH Princess Marie and Rene Redzepi. After about an hour of speeches (in Danish) there was the most wonderful ‘Nordic Tasting’.
The above little jars contained roe with lemon aioli and rye ‘sticks’ then there were plenty of local Løgismose oysters with a sauce of white wine vinegar and very finely diced apple and cucumber (…aw shucks). We drank ‘Salty Ocean Weed’ beer specially brewed by local outfit Mikkeller and sparkling wine from the island of Lilleø. It was made by Anders Selmer (below) who also owns the very cool Copenhagen restaurant Fiskebar (Fishbar). The tasting finished up with smoked salmon and crushed hazlenuts then a riesling ‘foam’ with raspberries that had been frozen with nitrogen to give them lots of ‘pop’.
After the tasting we were all set loose to explore the town centre on our own. Somehow I found myself on Strøget the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe. The shopping here is incredible (not that I’d know from experience Tim…window shopping only I promise). And last night we were spoilt with dinner at Louise Nimb. Another Michelin-starred restaurant but this one is actually inside Tivoli. More on that later but right now I am late for breakfast and our next ‘outing’ so will sign off here but be back with more news from this AMAZING city.
Wow, lucky you, everything sounds so wonderful! I was salivating reading your explanation of the “Nordic tasting” yummmm, very jealous!!!
Thanks Carmel, re-reading that post here at home I am feeling quite nostalgic for Copenhagen! Thanks for your comment, Sophie
Those were the days going on a writing famil! Enjoy and thank you for sharing! x
WOW Sophie…this is amazing stuff! Loving the update, enjoy!
Oh this post makes me so Nostalgic for Copenhagen. Isn’t it just the best city! I have only been there over a weekend but I am desperate to get back, it has great food, shopping, sites, architecture, people and overall style. So much fun! Enjoy your time away. Really looking forward to reading all about it.
Hi Amelia, yep Copenhagen is a seriously awesome place. I am already plotting how I might get back there one day. Thanks so much for your comment, Sophie
Sounds like you are having an incredible time…cant wait to see more Soph. x
p.s….Would loved to have tasted those rye sticks with the aioli…i thought they were a table decoration when i first saw the image and had not yet read your text!
Hey Fliss, thanks for your comment and congratulations on the launch of Udder. I really love the whole collection and am hoping to pick up a few pieces for Alice and Tom once I recover financially from a minor shopping indiscretion over in Denmark….Sophx
Have the most incredible time Soph! Your reportage from the head of the table is fantastic. It can’t be easy doing it all on the go. The photos are very more-ish. Can’t wait to read part 2. x
Thanks Lisa! Sophiex