How did a relatively small city in Northern Europe become one of the world’s most influential food capitals? And was it ever really just about food?
For this episode, we sat down with Copenhagen-born chef, author and creative director Mikkel Karstad, who has spent more than three decades working with food, to explore his city through the culture surrounding it.
We talked about the movement that transformed Copenhagen’s food identity, rediscovering local ingredients, traditions and seasons — and how New Nordic has evolved again as a new generation of restaurants brings influences from Korea, Japan and beyond into a distinctly Danish way of cooking.
We get into Copenhagen’s extraordinary bakery culture, the importance of rugbrød and smørrebrød, what hygge actually means to a Dane, why summer changes the rhythm of the city, and the neighborhoods Mikkel thinks are worth paying attention to.
A conversation about food, but also about seasons, togetherness, and the small things that can tell you something about a place.
For bread & bakeries:
Juno the Bakery
Sommer Canteen
Lille Bakery
Kødbyen
Sinne Gas
For smørrebrød:
Palægade
Møntergade
Aamanns
Restaurants:
Sushi Anaba
Koan
Jatak
Neighborhoods & areas:
Vesterbro
The Meatpacking District / Kødbyen
Nordhavn