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A question of etiquette: Copenhagen

I went to Copenhagen and got swept away. It was a cold-ish October, but that didn't matter, Copenhagen is all about the hygge. Hygge is refined coziness, that equates to the glow of candles amongst beautifully designed furniture.  


Let's get straight to the point and agree that the Danes have taste. They know how to smooth off all the edges and bask in perfect harmony of colour palettes and few patterns. And lighting, everywhere the lighting is so 'correct'. In fact, I'd loath to come in summer, when the need for side lights become almost obsolete with the late setting sun.

Hygge really excelled in the wine bars, and so the combination of impeccable service, beautiful space and drinking wine is my vision of the next realm.

But. But... As well some of the most amazing food, Copenhagen is also the place I had the worst dish I have ever eaten. And at a renowned establishment. What do you do when that happens?! Seriously, what do you do?

I've asked my friends who cook for a living, and they said the dish sounded like a classic combination - kohlrabi and apple. It was thin slices of charred kohlrabi, with apple purée. So much purée. The type of purée that I would've made, slushed up and put in with my muesli and yogurt. The kohlrabi was chewy and the whole thing was acidic. Acidity that stuck to the back of my throat, worming its way up to my nasal passage like smoke rising.  No seasoning. At all. There wasn't much seasoning in general in the food I had, but other dishes were compensated by the produce shining through.

But back to the important question, a question of etiquette - what do you do, in a highly acclaimed restaurant, on a tasting menu, eating alone and you hate a dish?

I've been brought up to eat everything I've been given, particularly when in someone else's house. Now the thing with creating 'hygge' infused (infested) environments, is that everywhere feels like someone's home. All the welcoming glow does, is make me comfortable, at home, and, well... feel obliged.

I ate it. Gulped it down, gluggy mouthful at a time. I said 'thank you, it was lovely' when the plate was cleared.

The offending dish:



















Places to go, with some comments from me and my friend who lives there:


Falernum 
Vinstue - Lovely little wine bar/ sort of bistro, not too pricey if you share some things. 
Vinhanen - really delicious wine, platters of meats and cheeses for around a tenner.
Warpigs - a brewery! Great ales and delicious mac and cheese.
Vedstranden 10 - This was really cute wine bar 
Host - 3 courses for 325 kroner and meant to be wonderful. Wine on top but we don't have to go crazy. 
Kjobenhavn - 3 courses about 30quid. It's a New Nordic sort of place 
Madklubben - Generally good service and good food at a reasomable price. 
Manfreds - Its 250kroner for 7 small courses 
Relae - I really wanted to go, but forgot to book in time!


Lots of lovely photos of my weekend in Copenhagen. Including business card of a place I loved, great open top sandwiches, delicious breakfast at a 'porridge bar' and a picture of a wine bar, and one of my friend's apartment - can you tell which is which!? #hygge














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