So it was the day. My waiting and hunting did pay of. My reservation for (one of) the best fine dining locations in the world came due and it was my tuen to see what high priced food is all about.
I went to our Malmö office for work to reduce travel time and to be able to be there at 18:00. The location is around 20 minutes by bus (with no traffic) from CPH central, so i got there in due time.
I was welcomed with a warm tea in a glass house with a wood stove where parts of our food was grown.
After most of the guests for the common table arrived and everyone was double checked about their preferences (they did not ask for a name a 2nd time and only asked about what was mentioned during reservation, otherwise if there was something new), we where paired in seemingly predeceided groups and asked to walk the scenic way across the ocean to the main door. I was paired with a girl and two other guys.
When we entered, the entire kitchen stuff from the open kitchen gathered in line to welcome us, i felt remembered to my military days.
Our room was larger then my living room, with a single table to seat 20 persons – direct view to the open kitchen. The decoration was all around the “Ocean Season” with Shells on the floor, live crabs on the table and seaweed everywhere – in beautiful wooden building with large glass windows and lots of “just right” lighting. You could feel the attention to details everywhere – just amazing how good everything made you feel.
Of course they knew if you booked the wine or the juice pairing and we where served with the respective Joyce soon after everyone was seated.
The first two servings where from Norwegian King Crab – King crab leg
and jellied crab head.
very tasty and with the later with interesting texture. The occasional “yes chef” from the kitchen started. Interesting.
The next course (Crab broth) we titled “kiss the crab hole” when it was served – very delicious and interesting to eat.
We started talking more and figured we where 2 Americans a Belgian guy and me. All of them besides me had extensive fine dinning experience.
The “Crab flatbread” came with a new drink pairing – everything was explained with origin and details of preparation.
Very tasty – i started wondering if i would leave the place hungry – despite eating soooo delicious food all the time.
The dishes got tastier and tastier. I am not a big seafood fan, but the “Blue muscle and fresh cheese” did teach me different.
I started to wonder if i just could not just have more of the “Scallop steak” and call it a day – until the “Marinated Wasabi” made me regret that wish. This was probably the best ting i have ever eaten in my life. Wasabi with fish in a wasabi leave – omg.
The seaweed a la creme did not catch me afterwards,
similar to the “Beet sashimi” – mind yourself – all of this has been fricking delicious.
We continued talking all the time and it was pleasant. I had been seated with a Californian who is semi retired from his restaurant businesses, a Belgian entrepreneur working with e-Sims and a New York health care Administrator. The “Berries on seaweed” was just amazing and i only wished it was covered on both sides. My LA comrade showed me pictures of the Aurora he took two days ago. I definitely have to see this live.
The main dish was announced. “Barbecued burbot, Mussle broth, Ramson and scallop and Pickles”:
So good. I could not believe it. The fish is actually a Swedish lake fish, that only comes up during winter season when everything is frozen.
Now it was time for deserts – started by “Amazake mousse, fruits and kelp”
fllowed by “Fresh hazelnuts and chanterelles” – which i assumed to be caramel sauce…
closed by a “Cardamom sea star” – about which we had to fight to live and death with our immediate neighbor.
After that we where served a coffee or tea based on preference and offered a kitchen tour, but i had to leave to catch my train – after all it was already 22:00 – 4 hours of non stop dinning.
I never felt full nor hungry and the experience was amazing. My only regret was that i couldn’t share this experience with the woman i love.
Was the food worth the money? Probably not.
Was the experience worth the money? Yes.
In my opinion fine dinning is not a everyday thing, but well worth not picking takeouts several month. I will continue looking for the best food in the world. Maybe i shouldn’t have started with Noma.
P.S.: We as well saw Rene during the evening, which made the whole table discuss on how to get a picture with him for like half an hour.
