Start saving your appetite and cleanse your pallet! Northern Europe’s largest food festival, Copenhagen Cooking, starts on Friday and will run for the next ten days, with more than 150 gastronomic events to choose from. As the poster suggests, this year’s festival pays tribute to the social aspect of meals, so grab your friend, partner or somebody else and venture into the city for a culinary experience out of the ordinary.
The festival will celebrate both Nordic and international cuisine, and this year the city’s vibrant Vesterbro area joins in the fun with culinary delights all the way from Singapore. Claus Meyer, the owner of Singaporean restaurant namnam and co-founder of restaurant Noma, has invited chefs directly from Singapore’s hawker centre to come to Copenhagen and conjure up authentic street food at various stands in the heart of Vesterbro.
If you prefer to explore the Nordic cuisine, which is enjoying its heyday right now, there will also be plenty of opportunity for this at the festival. Numerous tastings from some of the best restaurants in Scandinavia, a Danish ‘Smørrebrød’ Championship, cooking schools for children and markets focusing on local produce are just some of the available options.
The festival events have been divided into the following nine categories and we have selected our top picks for each category.
Copenhagen Cooking
Various venues across Zealand; starts Fri, ends Sep 1; www.copenhagencooking.com
TOP PICKS:
Nordic summer: Nordic Taste
This is the ultimate celebration of Nordic cuisine. With a punch card for 175kr you enjoy ten food samples created by some of the best chefs and restaurants from Scandinavia in the beautiful, historic surroundings at Søren Kierkegaards Plads.
Tøjhusmuseet, Søren Kierkegaards Plads, Cph K; Sat & Sun 12:00-18:00; free adm, 175kr for 10 samples; reservations at www.copenhagencooking.billetto.dk
Fine dining: Strangas Dessert Restaurant
Prize-winning dessert chef Nikolaos Strangas has composed a pallet pleasing four-course menu in the name of the dessert. For people with a sweet tooth this will be an absolute treat.
Strangas Dessert Boutique, Åboulevarden 7, Cph V; Fri & Sat 18:30-21:30; 695kr; reservations at www.copenhagencooking.billetto.dk
Hidden treasures: Sailing trip with dinner on the quayside
Step on board an elegant old schooner at restaurant MS Amerika in the old Free Harbour, then sail off under Knippelsbro and out into the Øresund to see Copenhagen from the sea. On returning, enjoy a fantastic three-course meal overlooking the waterfront.
MS Amerika, Dampfærgevej 8, Cph Ø; Sun 15:00; 700kr; reservations at www.msamerika.dk
Knowledgeable cooking: Medieval banquet at Esrum Kloster
History with every mouthful! Get seated at the long tables in the 800-year-old monastery as the waiters serve up a culinary masterpiece from a bygone age.
Esrum Kloster, Klostergade 11, Esrum, Græsted; Fri 18:30-22:00; 525kr; reservations at www.esrum.dk
Glass and bottle: Beer tasting for the adventurous at Nørrebro Bryghus
Beer tasting and shaggy dog stories at Nørrebro Brewery. Be prepared for anything when tasting the brewery’s most exciting beers in a playful and experimental mood.
Nørrebro Bryghus, Ryesgade 3, Cph N; Wed & Thu, 18:00-19:00; 50kr; reservations at info@noerrebrobryghus.dk
Food for children: Food dare run
If your child is a fussy eater, this is for you. In the course of one kilometre, the children will taste six different types of food that will challenge their taste buds and maybe open their eyes to new food. There will be medals, goodie bags and recipes for all the brave children who finish the run.
Kongens Have, Cph K; Sat 11:00-14:00; 100kr; reservations at www.sportstiming.dk
Green revolution: Build your own urban garden
In the city the soil is often too polluted to plant anything in, but with a plant box everybody can grow their own little gardens wherever they live. At this workshop you will learn how to make your own sprouts to start an urban garden.
Prags Have, Prags Boulevard 43, Cph S; 1 Sep, 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-17:00; 50kr; reservations at www.msamerika.dk
Copenhagen’s backyard: Picnic with Café Skildpadden
Skildpadden has packed a picnic basket for two, complete with tablecloth, napkins, glasses, a sweet surprise and a guide to the best picnic spots in Copenhagen.
Skildpadden, Gråbrødre Torv 9, Cph K; starts Fri, ends 1 Sep, daily 11:30-19:30; picnic basket for two from 200kr; reservations at reservation@skildpadden.dk or 3313 0506
Social food: Herring long table on the canal
Get yourself seated at a long table by the water and enjoy a Danish favourite. You will get to try the cold, home-marinated version of herring as well as the hot, fried version. There will of course be schnapps to toast it and cheese and dessert will also be served.
Kayak Bar, Børskaj 12, Cph K; Fri-Sun and 30-31 Aug, 13:00-15:00; 150kr; reservations at www.copenhagencooking.billetto.dk
FREE EVENTS:
Cooking Kids 2013: Kids competing in cooking skills
Let the kids run riot.
KBH Madhus, Ingerslevsgade 44, Cph V; Tue 09:30-17:00
Carlsberg celebrates the Little Mermaid
Toasting the pint-sized lady in style.
Skulpturhaven, Visit Carlsberg, Gamle Carlsbergvej 11, Cph V; Fri 16:00-18:00
Diversity Party – taste the world
Life would be dull if it all tasted the same.
Prags Boulevard 43, Cph S; Sat 31 Aug, 12:00-20:00 and Sun 1 Sep, 12:00-18:00
Risotto world championship
Learn a few things about making sure the rice doesn’t stick.
Torvehallerne, Frederiksborggade 21, Cph K; Sun 12:00-16:00
Showing of ‘Trashed’ and heated debate about food waste
Trash your wasteful neighbours at this debate.
Husets Biograf, Magstræde 14, 2. sal, Cph K; Sun 18:00-21:00
Aquavit tasting at Nyhavn
Scandinavia’s second favourite spirit, but we won’t hold that against them.
Nyhavns Færgekro, Nyhavn 5, Cph K; Tue 13:00-15:00
Beer with terroir
Free beer – what’s not to like.
Kølster Malteri og Bryggeri, Krogerupvej 3C, Humlebæk; Sat 31 Aug, 11:00-12:30 and Sun 1 Sep, 11:00-12:30
Local ingredients in food and drink
Discover more about what’s growing on your doorstep.
Frederiksberg Rådhusplads, Smallegade 1, Frederiksberg; Fri 30 Aug, 10:00-18:00 and Sat 31 Aug, 10:00-16:00
