Love Smushi at the Royal Cafe
Always a treat, smushi at the Royal Cafe. What is a smushi you ask? A smushi is an invention taking smørrebrød (traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches) and creating sushi-ish size portions that are sculpted into true pieces of art. This time around, I was thrilled to see the “Fodor’s Choice” sticker on the front door…since I was the one that selected the establishment for a “Fodor’s Choice” distinction in the “First Edition Fodor’s Scandinavia,” published in 2009. I also wrote about smushi and interviewed owner Rud Christiansen and his partner Lo Østergaard. Here is an excerpt from the article written for Copenhagen Exclusive Magazine:
“The idea with smushi is to create smaller portions so one can sample more varieties and really get a taste of Denmark,” said owner Rud Christiansen. Christiansen and his partner and interior stylist Lo Østergaard have custom designed the café from floor to ceiling with designs from Holmegaard, Royal Copenhagen, Bang & Olufsen and Arne Jacobsen, just to name a few. Part Danish design museum, part shop and café, “the funny, funky, baroque, rock and roll-style café is a showcase for promoting Danish society and food,” Christiansen said. The new smushi and Danish café concept is so popular that franchises in Singapore, Seoul, Taipei and Tokyo are set to open next year. Christiansen also talked of looking for space in the U.S. In addition, smushi-making has been added to the official smørrebrød curriculum at Copenhagen’s culinary school. It will be taught as somewhat of an art form, like making sushi is, where there is an architectural approach to the design and assembly.
Scallops with saffron beurre blanc topped with a heart-shaped red beet in a puff pastry 🙂
“Egg Royal” with salmon and cream of herbs shaped into a triangle with leeks.
Codroe with cauliflower remoulade smushi and Potato tureen with roasted chestnuts smushi
The delicious lunch was enjoyed with a lovely cup of Pai Mu Tan white tea aka Baii Mudan or White Peony tea, made with ” leaves and flowers from the wild trees.” It was earthly good!
Laura Stadler Consulting 