FinishingNotes.com

Courtesy CopenhagenMediaCenter/ NP Hotels

Begun with the union of Jean Marchal, a servant in the royal court, and Maria Coppy, daughter to the royal chef, who together opened a restaurant on the King’s Square site in the 1700s, Hotel d’Angleterre soon grew into a grand palace retreat that reflects a passion for hospitality.  The incredible attention to detail affords guests fantastic luxury and service in a spectacular historical setting. Wonderfully located in Copenhagen’s Kongens Nytorv square in the heart of the city, Hotel d’Angleterre is an easy stroll to the famed pedestrian shopping street Strøget.  Check out Swedish fashion label Filippa K nearby in Ny Ostergade.

Currently undergoing an update, Hotel d’Angleterre will re-open in September 2012, beautifully blending rich Danish heritage with the clean, bright spaces and efficiency of modernity.

Courtesy Ganni

Danish label Ganni does an exquisite job of blending classic and modern fashion, resulting in timeless pieces that become your most-loved wardrobe.  The collection reflects a sophisticated Parisian easy elegance that always inspires.  An exciting Danish label to stock up on when in Copenhagen!

Ganni Spring 2012 Video

Shop Ganni at Anthropologie and NeedSupply Co. (starting Fall ’12)

Courtesy Ganni

Ganni

A popular Danish label with a 40 year history, the InWear Collection features functional, lively pieces that can be mixed and matched.  Reflecting an effortless modern feeling melded with feminine, classic, and easy-to-wear elegance, Inwear is accessible fashion with an exciting twist.  You’ll find multiple stores throughout Copenhagen.

Visit Inwear

Courtesy CopenhagenMediaCenter/ Mads Damgaad

The Michelin-starred NOMA was founded by Claus Meyer in partnership with head chef René Redzepi with the intention of reinventing Nordic cuisine.  Opened in 2003, NOMA has been named first place at the S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards for the last two years.  NOMA’s cuisine is based solely on indigenous fare (menu) from Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – all of which is presented with exciting simplicity.  Welcome to modern North Atlantic cuisine!

Courtesy CopenhagenMediaCenter/ Claes-Bec-Paulsen

Denmark’s open-face sandwich smørrebrød, deriving from smøor go bred meaning “butter and bread” in Danish, evolved as the combination of  the rye bread lunch sandwiches of farmers and workers and the lavish dinners of the urban bourgeoisie and nobility.  A the end of the 19th century, wealthy city-folks made the sandwiches stylish, drawing on the old tradition of serving meats and fish on slices of bread instead of plates.  Restaurants in the Tivoli Gardens introduced menus with more than a hundred varieties of open sandwiches.  These watering holes became customary weekend sojourns for Copenhageners who dined on sandwiches with towering combinations of cold meats or pickled and fried fish and other exotic fare.  The sandwich tradition was kept alive through the 20th century largely by workers who adopted the tradition as everyday lunch as well as by restaurants and beer joints for which the sandwiches were the backbone of their cuisine.

Courtesy Aamanns

Today the sandwiches are enjoying a haute cuisine revival.  Adam Aamann’s 2006 revival of Denmark’s lunch tradition introduced a sophisticated, fresh and simple ingredients – earning him an honorary diploma from the Danish Academy of Gastronomy in 2007.  (Visit Aamanns Establissement and Aamanns Smørrebrødsdeli in Copenhagen).  And today’s smørrebrød can reflect pure culinary craftsmanship.  Get inspired and create your own smørrebrød at home!

Courtesy CopenhagenMediaCenter/ Claes Bech Poulsen

Bocuse d’Or Europe 2010 and 2011 winner (World’s Best Chef) Rasmus Kofoed reopened his restaurant Geranium in Copenhagen last fall with his partner Søoren Ledet.  Located on the 8th floor  in Faelledparken (Common Gardens) in the center of Copenhagen, the restaurant offers great views and spectacular cuisine.  The menu reflects wonderful regional cuisine that is tastefully inventive.

Side Trip: Visit Mette Gassner’s, awarded Best Chef in Denmark 2011, restaurant Ti Trin Ned which serves inspired Danish cuisine.  Located in Fredericia, an hour-and-a-half train ride from Copenhagen, Ti Trin Ned serves exceptional dishes that are worthy of  a day trip.

Courtesy Ti Trin Ned

Ti Trin Ned
Norgesgade 3
Fredericia

Tel: +45 75 93 33 55

Courtesy Lakrids by Johan Bülow

Licorice is a favorite Danish treat – and you can get some of the world’s best in Copenhagen.  Look for Lakrids By Johan Bülow.  Focused on making handmade licorice as a delicacy, using only the best ingredients and no additives, Lakrids by Johan Bülow produces salty Salmiak Licorice (the Danes’ favorite) as well as Sweet Licorice, Habanero Chili Licorice, Salmiak Chili Cranberry, Passion Chocolate Coated Licorice, sweet and salty syrups, licorice powder, and even licorice stout.  Visit Lakrids flagship shop located in Denmark’s prestigious department store Magasin‘s (Kongens Nytorv Square) gourmet food-court to sample and buy treats.  Or go to the super Meyers Deli to buy Lakrids and other gourmet goodies.

Courtesy Meyers Deli

Lakrids By Johan Bülow

Shop Lakrids at Meyers Deli

Courtesy Torvehallerne

Visiting the local farmers market is a great way to absorb local culture and cuisine.  Be sure to visit Copenhagen’s Torvehallerne FoodMart for a great array of Danish delicacies, local produce as well as “foreign” specialities.  The city’s new market showcases more than 80 shops including several local producers, heralding a return to the farmer to customer purchasing experience.  Don’t miss chocolatier Summerbird – try the flødeboller, chocolate-covered, meringue treats.  Located near the Nøorresport Station, Torvehallerne Market is open everyday except Mondays.

Courtesy Torvehallerne

Torvehallerne Market
1360 København
Tel: +45 7010 6070
Hours
Tues, Wed., Thurs. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Courtesy CopenhagenMediaCenter/ Christian Alsing

Once royal hunting grounds, Dyrehaven, or Jægersborg Dyrehave, opened as a public park in 1756.  Located 6 miles north of Copenhagen, the Deer Park’s Red Gate entrance is next to the Klampenborg S-train Station, making the park’s wild terrain a short train ride from the city center.  Covering roughly 2,718 acres, the natural forest offers super biking and hiking paths, picnics areas and wildlife watching, including 2100 free-range Red, Fallow and Skia

Courtesy CopengagenMediaCenter/ Tuala Hjanrø

Deer.  Today the park hosts the yearly Hubertus hunt (Hubertusjagten) held on the first Sunday in November – quite a site.  Check out the world’s oldest amusement park Dyrehavsbakken (or Bakken for short) located in the middle of the park – a great family outing that includes a pixy forest, Santa’s obstacle course, handmade candy in The Candy Cockery, 34 roller coasters, and more rides than any other amusement park in Scandinavia.

Courtesy Den Gule Cottage

Go to Den Gule Cottage and buy a picnic lunch basket to take to the park.  Or dine at the more formal, Michelin-rated, sister restaurant Den Røde Cottage after spending a day at the park.

Courtesy Den Gule Cottage