NEW NORDIC THRIVES IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD

Are the principles of New Nordic cuisine, which include simplicity, sustainability and traditional cooking methods, the perfect response to our current culinary landscape?

author GLENN CARTLEDGE

The Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland and nearby islands are home to around 27million people. And yet, this relatively small and isolated region has exported a cuisine that has seemingly captured the 21st century’s culinary zeitgeist.

The roots of the New Nordic movement are anchored in the famous 3-star Michelin restaurant Noma, located in Copenhagen and consistently ranked the world’s best restaurant. Along with other Nordic chefs, the owners of Noma compiled a manifesto of ten goals in 2004 that would become the foundations of a new approach to sourcing, preparing, cooking and serving food.

The manifesto is visionary because it embraces values that, increasingly, are considered central to creating authentic and sustainable meals. They include collaborating with suppliers, reflecting seasonality in ingredient sourcing, promoting animal welfare, expressing simplicity and emphasising health and wellbeing.

Comfort Amongst The Chaos

The popularity of New Nordic plays right into the current shift towards comfort foods, a trend that’s been rising in response to the uncertainties of recent years. Here, simplicity and flavour are the focus, not complex recipes or funky superfood ingredients.

It’s an approach that is closely related to the Danish concept of ‘hygge’ or cosiness, wellness and contentment; feelings that especially resonate in this post-pandemic climate.

Dishes featuring familiar ingredients and traditional cooking methods remind us of days when the kitchen at home was filled with the aroma of cooking. New Nordic chefs

New Nordic Thrives In An Uncertain World

finding ways to bring these dependable favourites back to the table with Scandinavian twists that amplify the crucial characteristics of simplicity, familiarity and flavour.

The enduring appeal of comfort food reminds us that diners will always return to dependable classics and no-fuss meals that evoke warm memories of simpler times. It’s no surprise our social media feeds are currently dominated by baked goods, curries, sandwiches, casseroles and gravy-based dishes.

The Return Of Simplicity

New Nordic is notable for its use of humble ingredients, such as potatoes, carrots, pickled vegetables, chicken and fish, to create dishes that exude warmth and contentment. Dishes across the menu are generally based on easily sourced, seasonal and organic foods.