Food Time: The Story of Incredible Eats While Studying Abroad

It’s food time!!! Time to talk about all the amazing and fantastical experiences(while also mentioning the average and okay-ish occurrences) during my first few weeks abroad.

(And where might this magical place be?? Read on, dear reader, read on!!)

Ok, let’s get the big one out of the way first. Last week I teased that I made dinner reservations for myself at a fancy restaurant, and oh my goodness it did not disappoint. Using an app that the Coordinator of my Culinary Living and Learning Community(aka LLC) recommended, Early Bird, I was able to reserve a 3 course meal at a restaurant called Væksthuset for an incredibly affordable price. And although I may have showed up to the establishment wearing two layers of pants and the warmest coat I could wear, the staff greeted my starry-eyed self with the utmost care and treated me to a meal that I will remember for the rest of my life.

(The three courses of Danish culinary goodness in question - are you guys seeing this stuff too?!?)

Since this was basically my first ever fine-dining experience(at least the first one where I’ve been served 3 totally distinct courses, I mean hello), as a whole I had really high expectations for the meal. But holy cow I had no idea that you could make food that tasted this GOOD!!!!! From the bread to the salad to the fish, the pomme purée and the ice cream, every course seemed to be more delicious and mindblowing than the last. I devoured everything that the restaurant threw at me, cleaning every plate and not wanting to leave a speck of astonishing gastronomy uneaten. If you have the time and can spare just a little bit of extra change, I could not recommend a better experience than watching the sun go down over Copenhagen Harbour while enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime meal - I would pay the reservation fee again in a heartbeat.

(Insert something a little more honest, but just as yummy)

Ok, so we’ve got the fancy-schmancy stuff out of the way. But how do the day-to-day options of food service in Copenhagen compare? And to that I would say it’s just as good! Maybe lacking a bit of the wow factor that fine-dining or Michelin-starred restaurants have to offer, but Copenhagen itself is kind of generally renowned for having an incredible food scene with tons of distinct options. Just this past week I’ve been to 3 cafes, 2 bakeries, 1 sandwich shop, and have seen dozens upon dozens of restaurants, diners, and eateries specializing in all kinds of different local, regional, and international cuisine. For example, me and a couple of friends from my Core Course just got Bangladeshi cuisine from a place called Ritta in the neighborhood of Vesterbro after class today! If you name it, Copenhagen has it here.

(Behold: the honest DIS student's breakfast - grapes, an egg, burnt english muffins, Swedish candy, all washed down with glass of milk - the nutritionally optimal start to any class day) 

But if eating out is not your thing, fear not! I along with the majority of my fellow students are on a pretty tight budget for the entirety of their semester here, and let me just tell you that Copenhagen food is sometimes not worth the Copenhagen price. Luckily, all DIS students not living in a homestay are provided with a stipend for groceries to spend throughout their time here to cut down on food costs(students living in a homestay get the majority of their meals lovingly prepared by their host family - consider me jealous). Even so, some of my favorite(and most delicious) meals here so far have been group dinners made by my roommates living in our shared apartment, Culinary LLC, or something I just whipped up in 15 minutes by myself when I’m running late to class. It’s been such a rewarding process to make a grocery list, go shopping, and then use the ingredients that you just bought to make something that you know is going to taste completely scrumptious later.

(The real process of making traditional Danish cuisine - the single bite is most certainly included)

I think that experience that best encapsulates my encounters with food in Copenhagen so far has been my Culinary LLC’s weekly cooking event. Every Tuesday, our coordinator Maj brings in a boatload of ingredients for our entire apartment community to cook with, whereafter we each learn how to work with a new kind of food, cuisine, or culinary process. This past week, our cohort learned how to make a classic Danish dish - smørrebrod! Literally translated as “butter-bread,” smørrebrod is an open-faced rye bread sandwich topped with all kinds of various hearty spreads and garnishes - anything from meats to cheeses or even entirely vegetable and gluten-free versions. Our group was assigned the “smoked salmon” version of the recipe, but after each of our 4 separate groups finished their dish, we walked around the apartment and were able to try everyone else’s signature smørrebrod! It was a fantastic way to meet my fellow LLC members while also gaining a deeper understanding of Danish culinary culture. And who could say no to a free meal?!?

(Another breakfast I made for myself this week - maybe slightly more normal this time)

Overall, the food in Copenhagen has been an absolute highlight of my time in Denmark so far. From fancy dinners to everyday eats and classic home-style cooking, I think I’m very lucky to have access to so many good food options within just a 10-15 minute walk or bike ride away(or less than 5 minutes to the closest grocery store!) If this is the standard for how tasty the local food scene is for anywhere in Denmark, I’m beyond excited to try everything that Aarhus has to offer during my trip there for Core Course Week this coming Wednesday! Until then, I hope you all can find a little joy(or a little comfort) in a meal made for(or by) you during this chilly week in February. Until next time!

(P.S: Try a hotdog with chocolate milk from any local stand in Copenhagen - a weirdly delicious must-try!)