March 23, 2012
Michelin Guide Awards 14 Stars to Copenhagen Restaurants
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 3 MIN.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - The new 2012 edition of the Michelin Guide has awarded Copenhagen restaurants a total of 14 stars reaffirming Copenhagen's position as the culinary frontrunner and 'hot-spot' food destination of Europe. Earning more stars than any other Scandinavian city, Copenhagen's recognition also eclipses European cities including Hamburg, Amsterdam and Rome.
The 2012 edition of the Michelin guide Main Cities of Europe awards four new restaurants in Copenhagen bringing the city to 13 listed restaurants and a total of 14 Michelin stars.
Organic restaurant Geranium, spearheaded by Rasmus Kofoed who won the gold medal at the World Championships for Chefs Bocuse d'Or, finally received a Michelin star.
Rel�, another new Michelin restaurant headed by chef Christian Puglisi formerly of Noma, offers foodies a new opportunity to enjoy affordable Michelin food in surroundings that break with conventional Michelin norm.
Rel� is located in a rustic space in the up and coming trendy district of N�rrebro. Other new Michelin restaurants in Copenhagen include Gr�nbech & Churchill by Rasmus Gr�nbech as well as restaurant Den R�de Cottage by Anita Klemmensen, idyllically set in the woods on the northern coast of Copenhagen.
The Michelin guide is not only about the stars. The Bib Gourmand is a Michelin guide award category that recognizes outstanding restaurants that offer a particularly good value. In 2012, 12 Copenhagen restaurants were awarded a Bib Gourmand, including newcomer Marv & Ben, a "gastronomic inn" located on one of Copenhagen's oldest streets.
Across the city, restaurant chefs are combining time-honored Danish dishes with innovative preparations, using local, seasonal ingredients and incorporating the influence of international cuisines. Now, more than ever, the city's culinary scene is shining with a wide array of food offerings.
A great way to experience Copenhagen's food scene is to visit the city during the Copenhagen Cooking Festival. The festival will run from August 24 to September 2, 2012 and will include a third winter edition in February 2013.
In 2011, Copenhagen Cooking (both the large summer edition in late August and the winter edition during February's Wondercool festival) attracted an estimated 100.000 visitors.
From innovative fare to traditional dishes, the 10 festival days will offer a wealth of Nordic temptations and experiences around the city for people of all ages. Events include food markets, wine and cocktail tastings, and "Taste of Copenhagen," a program that allows diners to experience some of the city's best restaurants at lower prices.
In addition to its Nordic focus, international cuisine will be celebrated at "Diversity Celebration - Taste the World," a street party centered on international cuisine that draws thousands of people for a global culinary experience. www.copenhagencooking.com
Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Copenhagen in 2012:
2 stars: Noma.
1 star: Geranium (New), Gr�nbech & Churchill (New), Rel� (New),
Den R�de Cottage (New), AOC, Herman, Kokkeriet, Era Ora, Formel B, Kiin Kiin, Kong Hans K�lder and S�ller�d Kro.
Bib Gourmand: Marv & Ben (New), Orangeriet, Enomania, M�l�e, S�ren K, Skovshoved, Famo, Frederiks Have, Kanalen, K�dbyens Fiskebar, L'Altro and Sommelier.
Copenhagen can be reached directly from Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. with Scandinavian Airlines, SAS, www.flysas.com/us
Comprehensive visitor travel information is available at www.visitdenmark.com/usa
For more information on New Nordic Cuisine www.visitdenmark.com/usa/en-us/menu/turist/inspiration/nydlivet/gastronomi/new-nordic
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A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
