London’s Foodie A-Z: D = Denmark
Next up on my culinary journey around London saw me heading to Ladbroke Grove and Danish restaurant, Snaps + Rye, for lunch – a delightful piece of Scandinavia tucked just around the corner from Portobello Road Market.
Seated in a corner table at the back of the restaurant, I couldn’t decide what to drink. The Danes aren’t exactly known for their wines, and (where possible) the idea is to try a traditional drink. Looking at the akvavits, I felt it was a little early for a snaps (a shot), so was considering a longer drink with one of the akvavit cocktails. They had great names such as Bloody Viking, Blushing Dane and Freya’s Kiss, but couldn’t decide so sought guidance from the lovely waitress who suggested I did have a snap and ‘do it the Danish way’ by sipping it throughout my meal.
Taking her recommendation, I ordered a Green Dill Weed (trust me, it was a lot nicer than it sounds) and she brought me the cutest little glass and then filled it right to the top (literally), so that I had to lean forward to take the first sip. Well, I didn’t want to lose a drop by picking the glass up and spilling it! Apparently, that’s the Danish way too; mouth to glass rather than glass to mouth for the first sip or two.
As the first sip hit the back of my throat the alcohol kicked in but, as the waitress said, the second sip tastes better as your taste buds open up.
My main course of pork and veal frikadeller (meatballs) arrived and I tucked in. Meatballs can sometimes be a little dry, but these were plump and moist, and set off nicely by the baby hasselback potatoes and red cabbage with bacon bits.
The waitress was also right about the snap going down well when sipped slowly with the food. Oh, and it is a snap and not a schnaps. The snap selection brand, Lovlos, is the Danish restaurant owner’s own creation and each one was ‘born’ in Copenhagen, but made in London under the sub-heading ‘Danish in Spirit’.
Ensuring I left room for dessert, I ordered the Gammelsdag Aeblekage. Like most of the menu, my dessert was a modern take on a traditional Danish recipe – a ‘cake’ of smooth apple compote offset with creamy, sweetened Skyr and dusted with chocolate shavings and mazarin (marzipan) crumbs. Absolutely delicious.
My lunch was lovely, the surroundings relaxing, and the staff incredibly friendly. You also get value for money, as the table next to me had ordered the salmon and the waitress apologised that the pieces were smaller than usual, so she was willing to offer them either a free drink or a side order of smoked salmon to make up for it.
Now, when do you hear that in a restaurant? In London?
Must be the ‘Danish way’!
#lifeofaguide #LondonFoodieAZ #Denmark #Snaps+Rye #frikadeller #meatballs #akvavit #gammelsdagaeblekage #applecake
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