Scandinavia - the new hot spot for food lovers
April 23, 2009
Scandinavia is fast becoming a leader in the European gastronomic scene. Long standing traditions and local produce are being fused with contemporary tastes and influences to create exciting new flavours. Whatever your fancy, Scandinavia is sure to have something to delight your taste buds. Read on to find out more about trendy new eateries, places to dine, budget meals, royal treatments, restaurants with spectacular views, dinner on historic grounds and other delicious news.
DELICIOUS DENMARK
The 2009 edition of the renowned food bible, the French Michelin Guide, has awarded a total of fourteen stars to Copenhagen restaurants. There is also an explosive demand for Danish organic goods and only a few other metropolitan cities in the world can match Copenhagen’s share of consumption of organic foods.
Copenhagen food hot spots
Restaurant Herman: Chef Thomas Herman has created an original interpretation of traditional Danish cuisine. Be prepared for a radical and affectionate take on some Danish classics, with names like "Burning Love" and "Shooting Star"! The restaurant was recently awarded a Michelin star.
Address: Herman 5, Bernstorffsgade
More information on: www.nimb.dk
Noma: www.noma.dk
Check out more of Copenhagen’s Michelin awarded restaurants:
• Ensemble: www.restaurantensemble.dk
• Kokkeriet: www.kokkeriet.dk
• MR: www.mr-restaurant.dk
• KiinKiin: www.kiin.dk
• Kong Hans Kælder: www.konghans.dk
• The Paul: www.thepaul.dk
• Noma: www.noma.dk
The classic smørrebrød gets a Royal treatment
Restaurant Ida Davidsen in Copenhagen has an enormous menu with over 250 variations of the classic Danish open sandwich (smørrebrød). The Davidsen family opened their first smørrebrød restaurant in 1888 and it is now run by a fifth generation family member. One of the oldest variations of the smørrebrød is “Dyrlægens Natmad”, which translates to “the veterinary’s night bite”. It comes from a certain vet who insisted every night on a piece of smørrebrød piled with liver pâté, beef jelly, salty meat and onion rings. To this day, it still remains an irresistible classic!
www.idadavidsen.dk
Dine as a noble
Dragsholm Castle is one of Denmark's oldest secular buildings scenically situated by the bay 'Nekselø Bugt' and surrounded by a moat and a large park. The castle, which is a combination of a mediaeval and a baroque castle, was erected around the 13th century. The castle menu is based on seasonal ingredients from the locals and has strong roots in the Danish and Nordic cuisine. Dragholms slot also offers unique accommodation.
www.dragsholm-slot.dk
Organic Copenhagen
Copenhageners’ organic consciousness is also making its mark in the city’s gastronomy. An impressive 51% of all food consumed in the city’s institutions is organic – a world record. Today, the private sector’s share of spending on organic products in Copenhagen is about 23%.
Check out these healthy delights:
Restaurant Geranium is located in Kongens Have, the King’s Garden and run by two of Denmark’s best chefs, Rasmus Kofoed and Søren Ledet. The team uses organic and biodynamic ingredients exclusively – that goes for the wines as well, which come from all around the globe.
Rasmus Koefed is a double medallion winner of the prestigious Bocuse D’Or, the world cuisine contest, which is a chef’s equivalent to a world championship.
www.restaurantgeranium.dk
BioMio is located in Copenhagen's fashionable meatpacking district, and has room for 250 people. Here they serve organic, healthy and tasty food at reasonable prices in a laid back atmosphere. On arrival you are given a chip card, and then you collect your own food and drink straight from the chef.
www.biomio.dk
Axel Hotel Guldsmeden is another good choice for the conscious consumer. The hotel serves a wholly organic breakfast and the evening dinner in the restaurant is organically inspired. Hotel Guldsmeden also produces its own organic personal care products such as shampoo, body lotion, and soap that are available in the rooms.
www.hotelguldsmeden.dk
Soupanatural is a micro cafe located in the area of Nørrebro and serves everything from porridge in the morning to dinner and evening drinks. The menu is organic and served in environment-friendly venue. Soupnatural was awarded the `Cities Most Conscientious´ in 2008.
www.soupanatural.dk
DELECTABLE NORWAY
Oslo on a budget
Oslo is known for being very exclusive both in regards to quality and price, but you can find an array of affordable restaurants and cafés in most parts of the city - especially in the areas around Youngstorget/Torggata, Grünerløkka and Grønland.
Brasserie 45 serves delicious continental dishes based on the finest produce at very competitive prices. It is well-known by locals and often serves food for people on their way to the movies or the theatre, or simply meeting business connections or friends. The restaurant has one of the best locations in town, right next to the National Theatre, Karl Johans gate and the City Hall.
www.brasserie45.no
A restaurant with a spectacular view
Fløien Folkerestaurant is a popular restaurant, not only among tourists, but also with the locals. Don’t miss the amazing panoramic view over Bergen - the islands - and beyond to the North Sea on the Outdoor Terrace, while enjoying a light meal from the restaurant, or simply enjoy the beautiful sunset on a late summer night with a cold refreshing drink.
During the winter season, enjoy hot chocolate, waffles, sandwiches or try the very popular soup buffet, which comes with home baked bread - eat as much as you can!
www.bellevue-restauranter.no/index.asp
Dinner on historic grounds in Bergen Bryggen
Tracteursted has the reputation as one of Bergen’s quality restaurants. The restaurant is part of the Svensgården building, in a unique settingin Bryggestredet in the innermost part of the Hanseatic wharf, Bryggen. The wharf in Bergen is known worldwide as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. It is the centre of historical Bergen and a must for any visitor to Bergen.
Bryggen Tracteursted consists of “Schøtstuen” – the Assembly Room, the Firehouse – representing the kitchen, and in the back the Stable and the Hayloft. In the back yard you will find an intimate open air restaurant where light meals are served during the summer season. At Bryggen Tracteursted you will find a modern kitchen inspired by the traditions from Bergen and Hanseatic cooking.
www.bellevue-restauranter.no
SCRUMPTIOUS SWEDEN
Lunch time value in Stockholm
For those looking for low cost options in Sweden, it may be worth eating a hot meal at lunch time. Swedes themselves often have a hot meal at midday, so most of Stockholm’s restaurants offer good value lunches. Look out for “Dagens lunch” (“Lunch of the day”) or “Dagens rätt” (“Dish of the day”).
Listed below are some great lunch places to check out whilst in Stockholm
Hotorgshallen Saluhall – is a popular indoor food market where you can go for fresh and affordable food. It offers speciality foods from every corner of the world and a unique atmosphere. It is located in the centre of Stockholm.
www.hotorgshallen.se
Gooh Maltidsbutiker is a joint initiative between Lantmannen – A Swedish cooperative which consists of 42,000 Swedish farmers and award winning restaurant Operakällaren. Gooh is a new concept, merging dining out and take away.
The idea behind it to be able to offer healthy, well cooked meals for everyone at a reasonable price.
Gooh meals can be found in take away shops and supermarkets as well as in their own shops and restaurants throughout Sweden and Stockholm. Gooh also offers meals to businesses for lunch. Try their fish casserole, special meatballs or their homemade bread.
www.gooh.se
Gondolen is a restaurant located 33 metres above the water, overlooking Stockholm’s beautiful islands. For dining, this place can be rather expensive, however during lunch hours (11am-3pm) they offer great Swedish meals for around $15. The same restaurant owner also runs one of Stockholm’s oldest wine bars which is located on the ground floor of the building.
www.eriks.se
Cafe and coffee culture in Stockholm
‘Fika’ is a common way of socialising in Sweden. The Swedish word for a coffee break is “fika”. The word was originally backwards slang for the word ”kaffi” which is one way to say coffee in Swedish. But fika is more than a cup of coffee. It’s about coffee, or an equivalent drink, accompanied by a cookie, a roll or a sandwich.
Vurma is one of the trendy cafes with high “cosy” factor, which combine a traditional Swedish café with colourful cushions and sofas. With a personal and friendly style, considerate staff and tasty sandwiches with names like ‘buddy’, ‘stranger’ and ‘scruffy’, Vurma has become so popular that the first cafe in Vasastan has spun off to Kungsholmen and Södermalm.
www.vurma.se
Chaikaha is also a popular destination located in the old town (Gamla Stan), which serves first-class teas from around the world. As afternoon tea is an obvious trend in Stockholm Chaikaha is perfect, especially for the chillier times of the year.
www.chaikhana.se
Malmö - a mecca for foodies
When it comes to international culinary diversity, no town in Sweden can boast a greater variety of restaurants than Malmö. People from 170 different countries live in Malmö. Here, flavours from all over the world mingle happily with local home cooking, and there are places for every taste and size of wallet. Food in Malmö is noted for its host of enthusiastic cooking entrepreneurs, who serve everything from falafels to top gourmet dishes. Over the past few years, Malmö has also received a number of prestigious culinary awards – a sign of the steadily increasing quality of the food the city offers.
A great way to get around the Malmö food mecca is by Mat-Karavan. Mat-Karavan, started on the initiative of a few local food enthusiasts, taking people on a two-hour guided tour of Möllevångstorget and the surrounding district, where you can sample specialities from all over the world. The tour provides an excellent insight into the diversity of foods that culinary Malmö has to offer. Participant can enjoy the taste, sight and smells of all the exotic fruits and Arab delicacies for sale on the market stands or in the local shops.
www.matkaravan.nu