SAMPLERS
CELEBRATING SANDWICHES AS ART IN COPENHAGEN By Lynda Balslev
In recent years, the Copenhagen food scene has won international acclaim with the likes of Noma and a windfall of Michelin stars. Despite this heady achievement, the Danes remain content to keep things down-to-earth and simple. And there’s no better reflection of this balance than their smørrebrød tradition. Smørrebrød, which translates as “butter and bread,” has a legacy stretching back to the Middle Ages as a Danish worker’s lunch. Over time, this practical staple worked its way into the family meal and onto the holiday table. Today, smørrebrød is ever-present in daily life as a fast-casual bite, a substantial lunch, or the starter to a celebratory meal. COPENHAGEN’S NYHAVN WATERFRONT AREA
SMØRREBRØD IS A POPULAR LUNCH CHOICE IN DENMARK
© COPENHAGEN MEDIA CENTER/THOMAS HØYRUP CHRISTENSEN
Presentations range from minimal to lavish. What they share is a balance of traditional and modern influences, while
© COPENHAGEN MEDIA CENTER/WONDERFUL COPENHAGEN
Leave it to the Danes to elevate the open-face sandwich or smørrebrød to an art form. In a country where understatement and hygge reign, it makes sense that the unpretentious sandwich is a national icon on a par with The Little Mermaid and LEGO.
