Danish

Ask a non-Dane to name some famous foods from Denmark, and they’re likely to offer up 'pastries", 'butter" or 'herring". Indeed, the Danes are justifiably renowned for their superb butter, can’t get enough of herring and other cured fish, and specialise in light, flaky pastry – though no-one in Copenhagen would dream of asking for a 'Danish" at the patisserie. The sweet treats are known locally as Wienerbrød, after the Austrian bakers (reportedly strike-breakers) who brought their techniques to Denmark in the mid-19th century.Danish cuisine is all these clichés but much, much more. The well-known staples – a key one being dense wholegrain rye bread, traditionally baked weekly at home – are the building blocks of a hearty food culture that is steeped in tradition, is made for long, cold winters and celebrates blissful summer days.

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Ask a non-Dane to name some famous foods from Denmark, and they’re likely to offer up 'pastries", 'butter" or 'herring". Indeed, the Danes are justifiably renowned for their superb butter, can’t get enough of herring and other cured fish, and specialise in light, flaky pastry – though no-one in Copenhagen would dream of asking for a 'Danish" at the patisserie. The sweet treats are known locally as Wienerbrød, after the Austrian bakers (reportedly strike-breakers) who brought their techniques to Denmark in the mid-19th century.

Danish cuisine is all these clichés but much, much more. The well-known staples – a key one being dense wholegrain rye bread, traditionally baked weekly at home – are the building blocks of a hearty food culture that is steeped in tradition, is made for long, cold winters and celebrates blissful summer days.

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