“A French family-run restaurant in the heart of the city nestled on the cosy corner of Skindergade.” That was the modest description of Mon Amour, a restaurant that I came across while looking for classic French food in the heart of Copenhagen. Not having heard of it before, I went there one evening in September expecting to be caught by surprise. And that I was, for what I met with was not an elegant and posh restaurant – the kind that makes you develop sympathy for your wallet – but a fairly-priced, busy and casual French family-run eatery.
Even on a Wednesday night, the place is almost fully booked, with waiters rushing around and shouting orders to serve a wide spectrum of customers who range from local regulars and families with children to couples looking for a cosy dining experience and just about anyone who walks in through the door for a serving of authentic Confit de canard or Steak frites. With a casual setting that includes rustic interior, mismatched furnishings and simple décor, Mon Amour is a place where anyone can find refuge and take the load off after a stressful day. It is not a place where one would feel the need to observe certain decorum. At Mon Amour, you can relax after a long day at work or better yet a long day of shopping, as the location on Skindergade makes it a place conveniently located for the shoppers and tourists.
When talking about Mon Amour, it would be a crime not to mention the vision of the chef and owner, Nicolas Lammin. Lammin hails from a family of restaurateurs in the north of France. Having grown up around a restaurant that was run by his family, Lammin has tried to bring the same ambience to Mon Amour, and to a certain extent he has succeeded. The waiting staff at Mon Amour consists of Lammin’s cousins and extended family, while helping him co-run the restaurant is his Danish girlfriend Louise Dahlerup. According to Dahlerup, Mon Amour is like their living room, where they spend most evenings entertaining and feeding their guests.
My classic French evening started off with a serving of Petit moules, a dish of mussels from Rømø prepared with carrots, parsley, garlic, saffron and a touch of cream in a broth containing white wine. Served with bread on the side, this dish was a perfect start to the evening and accompanying it was a glass of La Cevaliere – LaRoche, Chardonnay – Pays D’oc. Continuing on the seafood theme, I opted for the Pan-fried sole with the day’s pick of potatoes in parsley and butter sauce, which was served with a glass of Sylvaner – Pinot Gris from the Alsace region. No French meal is complete without a classic French dessert. I decided to end the evening with a plate of the classic Crepe Suzette, which is pancakes flambéd with Gran Marnier, served with vanilla ice cream.
Some of the other specialities at Mon Amour include the traditional Confit de canard (duck cooked in fat), Coquelet a la Provincale (overcooked poussin marinated in spices from the Province region and served with potatoes), and the highly recommended Tartiflette Des Alpes, a speciality from the Alps that involves potatoes bacon, garlic and Reblochon cheese – a comfort dish that is very popular during the skiing season.
As I stayed on after the meal to have a chat with Dahlerup, she shed light on an interesting fact. Mon Amour prepares and serves only the dishes that Chef Lammin likes to eat. In other words, the menu reflects Lammin’s personal taste and preferences. There aren’t many places in Copenhagen where the chef and his family are involved in the running of a restaurant and where you get a feeling of walking into someone’s living room in the north of France. The key success factor to this restaurant is that the prices are kept reasonable and the food is prepared and served with passion.
Mon Amour
Skindergade 22, Cph K;
3311 0115, info@mon-amour.dk
Open: Lunch: Tue-Sat 12:00-14:00 Dinner: Tue-Sun 17:00-23:00
Cuisine: Classic French
Top Dish: Tartiflette Des Alps
Price Range: three-course menu 275kr, mains 155-195kr
www.mon-amour.dk
