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Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
I had the opportunity yesterday to try yet another great restaurant in Stockholm! This time it was the restaurant within the Spritmuseum. In English this has been translated as "The Museum of Spirits", though I like to call it "The Museum of Adult Beverages" so that people don't confuse it with the ghostly type of spirits. One highlight of this museum is the Absolut Art Collection, though they do have several other permanent and temporary exhibitions. Click here to read about my visit a couple of years ago.
The setting...
But back to the restaurant! This place is on point when it comes to several of the hottest trends in Swedish gastronomy... 1. New Nordic Cuisine, 2. restaurants located in museums and cultural centers 3. creative focus on vegetarian dishes/options and 4. great culinary experiences at more humane prices. New Nordic espouses the use of local, seasonal produce while using innovative techniques or reviving old, traditional techniques. And I do love the trend of combining food & drink with a cultural experience. Besides Spritmuseum, another great example of this in Stockholm is the restaurant at Fotografiska (photography museum) which I recently visited. More on the vegetarian trend and pricing a bit later.
The vegetarian dishes featuring winter spinach, blackened beet,
parsley root, pickled celeriac and much more.
Head chef Petter Nilsson and manager/Sommelier Erika Lindström are the creative force behind this restaurant and their combined culinary knowledge and experience is quite impressive. Currently (until the summer) the restaurant has their fine dining option on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. They have a more casual a la carte menu on Tuesday evenings and lunch (daily). When summer starts they open up their outdoor garden terrace where they will serve an a la carte menu and the indoor restaurant will close for the season. Spritmuseum's location on Djurgården's waterfront, adjacent to other popular sites like the Vasa Museum, ABBA the Museum and Skansen, means that it is a great option for an al fresco lunch this summer. And soon, in time for the warm weather, they will open a floating pier in front of the museum where they promise to have Stockholm's largest assortment of beers on draft. Looking forward to that...
Omnivorous dishes with focus on lamb, langoustine and cod.
Last night we experienced their fine dining restaurant. Diners have a choice of three menus. A completely vegetarian 7 course menu, an omnivorous 7 course menu or you can go all out and try all 10 dishes... which we did! While I am a big meat eater, I love it when I am pleasantly surprised by delicious vegetarian dishes and this was definitely the case at Spritmuseum. As I mentioned earlier, focusing on vegetables as the main component of a dish is a growing trend here in Stockholm and it is wonderful that vegetarians have these fine dining options and don't have to feel like they are inconveniencing the kitchen (though they never should here in Stockholm). The prices won't ruin you either with the above menus costing 600, 750 and 1000 SEK respectively. This is quite good when compared to other similar restaurants and considering the culinary experience. We like this trend!
Desserts... buttermilk sherbert with dried blueberries, malt & porter,
apple compote with milk & meringue and bergamot genoise.
Don't miss Erika's wine pairings as well... they were interesting (focus on natural wines) as well as spot on. And keep in mind that, as they only use fresh, seasonal produce, the menus change often throughout the year... so check their website for current menus. It is easy to get to the restaurant/museum from the Rival Hotel, just hop on the Djurgård Ferry from nearby Slussen (10 minute ferry ride followed by 5 minute walk). If you are coming from the downtown area, then I recommend the Djurgård street car. If you are staying at the hotel, contact me for help with reservations. Click here for other restaurant reviews/recommendations.
Edit: The NY Times just wrote a postive review... so, speaking from experience, booking ahead is advised.

Spritmuseum's Restaurant

Posted by zlatin

I had the opportunity yesterday to try yet another great restaurant in Stockholm! This time it was the restaurant within the Spritmuseum. In English this has been translated as "The Museum of Spirits", though I like to call it "The Museum of Adult Beverages" so that people don't confuse it with the ghostly type of spirits. One highlight of this museum is the Absolut Art Collection, though they do have several other permanent and temporary exhibitions. Click here to read about my visit a couple of years ago.
The setting...
But back to the restaurant! This place is on point when it comes to several of the hottest trends in Swedish gastronomy... 1. New Nordic Cuisine, 2. restaurants located in museums and cultural centers 3. creative focus on vegetarian dishes/options and 4. great culinary experiences at more humane prices. New Nordic espouses the use of local, seasonal produce while using innovative techniques or reviving old, traditional techniques. And I do love the trend of combining food & drink with a cultural experience. Besides Spritmuseum, another great example of this in Stockholm is the restaurant at Fotografiska (photography museum) which I recently visited. More on the vegetarian trend and pricing a bit later.
The vegetarian dishes featuring winter spinach, blackened beet,
parsley root, pickled celeriac and much more.
Head chef Petter Nilsson and manager/Sommelier Erika Lindström are the creative force behind this restaurant and their combined culinary knowledge and experience is quite impressive. Currently (until the summer) the restaurant has their fine dining option on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. They have a more casual a la carte menu on Tuesday evenings and lunch (daily). When summer starts they open up their outdoor garden terrace where they will serve an a la carte menu and the indoor restaurant will close for the season. Spritmuseum's location on Djurgården's waterfront, adjacent to other popular sites like the Vasa Museum, ABBA the Museum and Skansen, means that it is a great option for an al fresco lunch this summer. And soon, in time for the warm weather, they will open a floating pier in front of the museum where they promise to have Stockholm's largest assortment of beers on draft. Looking forward to that...
Omnivorous dishes with focus on lamb, langoustine and cod.
Last night we experienced their fine dining restaurant. Diners have a choice of three menus. A completely vegetarian 7 course menu, an omnivorous 7 course menu or you can go all out and try all 10 dishes... which we did! While I am a big meat eater, I love it when I am pleasantly surprised by delicious vegetarian dishes and this was definitely the case at Spritmuseum. As I mentioned earlier, focusing on vegetables as the main component of a dish is a growing trend here in Stockholm and it is wonderful that vegetarians have these fine dining options and don't have to feel like they are inconveniencing the kitchen (though they never should here in Stockholm). The prices won't ruin you either with the above menus costing 600, 750 and 1000 SEK respectively. This is quite good when compared to other similar restaurants and considering the culinary experience. We like this trend!
Desserts... buttermilk sherbert with dried blueberries, malt & porter,
apple compote with milk & meringue and bergamot genoise.
Don't miss Erika's wine pairings as well... they were interesting (focus on natural wines) as well as spot on. And keep in mind that, as they only use fresh, seasonal produce, the menus change often throughout the year... so check their website for current menus. It is easy to get to the restaurant/museum from the Rival Hotel, just hop on the Djurgård Ferry from nearby Slussen (10 minute ferry ride followed by 5 minute walk). If you are coming from the downtown area, then I recommend the Djurgård street car. If you are staying at the hotel, contact me for help with reservations. Click here for other restaurant reviews/recommendations.
Edit: The NY Times just wrote a postive review... so, speaking from experience, booking ahead is advised.

Last week I had a Concierge colleague visiting from Denmark. She celebrated her birthday during her visit and she wanted to go out and eat somewhere special. I decided on the restaurant Nook! The restaurant hasn't been open very long, but has already garnered a lot of good press & rave reviews and I was eager to try it. One reason for the positive reviews is the fact that this charming, neighborhood restaurant manages to offer a great gastronomic experience at humane prices in a relaxed setting. Love that!
Appetizer
The kitchen's concept is also very interesting. While they do ride on the wave of the trendy New Nordic cuisine, they also add Asian influences to the dishes in an intelligent and interesting way. For example, in the dishes you will find ingredients like wasabi, nashi pear, rice noodles and hoisin sauce alongside seasonal, local produce.
Casual ambiance.
The menu is a bit limited. Besides "snacks" they have two set 3-course menus. You are, however, allowed to mix between the two or just order a part of the set menu. I opted for the menu that consisted of lightly seared scallop (with pickled daikon, hollandaise and Chinese spinach) as the appetizer, followed by lamb roast beef (with celeriac, crispy black kale and hazelnut butter) for the main course and licorice ice cream (with rasberries and roasted white chocolate) for dessert. Delicious!
Main course...
The restaurant is located on Södermalm, the same island as the Rival Hotel, near the SoFo district. Nook is not a large restaurant and is quite popular... so booking in advance is recommended. If you are staying at the hotel, contact me for help. Click here to see my other recent restaurant visits...
...and dessert.

Restaurant Nook

Posted by zlatin

Last week I had a Concierge colleague visiting from Denmark. She celebrated her birthday during her visit and she wanted to go out and eat somewhere special. I decided on the restaurant Nook! The restaurant hasn't been open very long, but has already garnered a lot of good press & rave reviews and I was eager to try it. One reason for the positive reviews is the fact that this charming, neighborhood restaurant manages to offer a great gastronomic experience at humane prices in a relaxed setting. Love that!
Appetizer
The kitchen's concept is also very interesting. While they do ride on the wave of the trendy New Nordic cuisine, they also add Asian influences to the dishes in an intelligent and interesting way. For example, in the dishes you will find ingredients like wasabi, nashi pear, rice noodles and hoisin sauce alongside seasonal, local produce.
Casual ambiance.
The menu is a bit limited. Besides "snacks" they have two set 3-course menus. You are, however, allowed to mix between the two or just order a part of the set menu. I opted for the menu that consisted of lightly seared scallop (with pickled daikon, hollandaise and Chinese spinach) as the appetizer, followed by lamb roast beef (with celeriac, crispy black kale and hazelnut butter) for the main course and licorice ice cream (with rasberries and roasted white chocolate) for dessert. Delicious!
Main course...
The restaurant is located on Södermalm, the same island as the Rival Hotel, near the SoFo district. Nook is not a large restaurant and is quite popular... so booking in advance is recommended. If you are staying at the hotel, contact me for help. Click here to see my other recent restaurant visits...
...and dessert.

In 2010, French cuisine was added to UNESCO's intangible world heritage list... and rightly so! Very few nations have such a gastronomic cultural identity as France. On March 19th 2015, this cultural heritage will be celebrated in a big, big way: Goût de France. This exciting international gastronomical event will take place in 1300 restaurants in 150 countries on 5 continents. Each chef will offer their own French style menu... French digestive, a cold starter, a hot starter, fish or shellfish dish, meat or poultry dish, French cheese (or cheese plate) and a chocolate dessert along with French wines and digestives (naturellement!). All types of restaurants are taking part, from neighborhood bistros to gourmet establishments.
Good France. Photo by (c) Pierre Monetta
Sweden has long had a close relationship with France, even before the time of Axel von Fersen and Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, and is well represented in the Goût de France. 17 restaurants in Sweden are taking part, 7 of them in Stockholm, and all of these restaurants applied and their menus were approved by an international committee of chefs. The Stockholm restaurants are:

So, if you are visiting Stockholm on March 19th... book a table and help celebrate French cuisine. And if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me if you need any help booking a table or translating a website (some are only in Swedish). You should be able to find their special Goût de France menu on their websites linked above, otherwise visit this website where you can search for ALL restaurants taking part and their special menu for the evening.
Good France. Photo by (c) Pierre Monetta

But you can enjoy great French cuisine year-round in Stockholm, not only on March 19th. Besides the fine establishments above, here are several other recommended French restaurants in the city: Pastis, Delikatessen, Bistro Bon, Á la Crêpe, Mister French, Naturligtvis, Chez Betty, Brasserie Godot, Napolyon and Grand Escalier. Bon Appétit!

Goût de France - Good France

Posted by zlatin

In 2010, French cuisine was added to UNESCO's intangible world heritage list... and rightly so! Very few nations have such a gastronomic cultural identity as France. On March 19th 2015, this cultural heritage will be celebrated in a big, big way: Goût de France. This exciting international gastronomical event will take place in 1300 restaurants in 150 countries on 5 continents. Each chef will offer their own French style menu... French digestive, a cold starter, a hot starter, fish or shellfish dish, meat or poultry dish, French cheese (or cheese plate) and a chocolate dessert along with French wines and digestives (naturellement!). All types of restaurants are taking part, from neighborhood bistros to gourmet establishments.
Good France. Photo by (c) Pierre Monetta
Sweden has long had a close relationship with France, even before the time of Axel von Fersen and Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, and is well represented in the Goût de France. 17 restaurants in Sweden are taking part, 7 of them in Stockholm, and all of these restaurants applied and their menus were approved by an international committee of chefs. The Stockholm restaurants are:

So, if you are visiting Stockholm on March 19th... book a table and help celebrate French cuisine. And if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me if you need any help booking a table or translating a website (some are only in Swedish). You should be able to find their special Goût de France menu on their websites linked above, otherwise visit this website where you can search for ALL restaurants taking part and their special menu for the evening.
Good France. Photo by (c) Pierre Monetta

But you can enjoy great French cuisine year-round in Stockholm, not only on March 19th. Besides the fine establishments above, here are several other recommended French restaurants in the city: Pastis, Delikatessen, Bistro Bon, Á la Crêpe, Mister French, Naturligtvis, Chez Betty, Brasserie Godot, Napolyon and Grand Escalier. Bon Appétit!

White Guide 2015
Hot on the heels of the Michelin Guide comes the White Guide. One big difference between the two is the fact that the White Guide is a guide for all of Sweden, by Swedes. This guide also looks at all different categories of restaurants and not just the most exclusive. While the White Guide for Sweden still is only in Swedish, they recently released a White Guide Nordic which is in English and for all the Nordic countries. But on to this White Guide. While many restaurants from other parts of Sweden did very well this year (including Best Restaurant to Fäviken Magasinet), for our purposes let's look at how Stockholm restaurants fared at the top of the lists in 2015...

Best Dining Experience of the Year: Gastrologik
Best Wine Experience of the Year: Operakällaren
Rising Star of the Year (awarded to young chefs with great potential): Lina Ahlin Olofsson at Frantzén.

The gang behind Gastrologik. Photo by Marcus Möller.
Stockholm restaurants that made the list of Swedish restaurants with the highest rating of International Master Class (number in parenthesis is their position on the list of Swedish restaurants):

Stockholm restaurants that made the list of Swedish restaurants with the rating of Master Class (number in parenthesis is their position on the list):
Click here for past guides and lists! 



Best Restaurants Awarded in the White Guide 2015

Posted by zlatin

White Guide 2015
Hot on the heels of the Michelin Guide comes the White Guide. One big difference between the two is the fact that the White Guide is a guide for all of Sweden, by Swedes. This guide also looks at all different categories of restaurants and not just the most exclusive. While the White Guide for Sweden still is only in Swedish, they recently released a White Guide Nordic which is in English and for all the Nordic countries. But on to this White Guide. While many restaurants from other parts of Sweden did very well this year (including Best Restaurant to Fäviken Magasinet), for our purposes let's look at how Stockholm restaurants fared at the top of the lists in 2015...

Best Dining Experience of the Year: Gastrologik
Best Wine Experience of the Year: Operakällaren
Rising Star of the Year (awarded to young chefs with great potential): Lina Ahlin Olofsson at Frantzén.

The gang behind Gastrologik. Photo by Marcus Möller.
Stockholm restaurants that made the list of Swedish restaurants with the highest rating of International Master Class (number in parenthesis is their position on the list of Swedish restaurants):

Stockholm restaurants that made the list of Swedish restaurants with the rating of Master Class (number in parenthesis is their position on the list):
Click here for past guides and lists! 



Congratulations Oaxen Krog on your second star!
Today The Michelin Guide announced the restaurants in the Nordic countries which have received stars in their guide for 2015. And it was good news for Stockholm! While no restaurants made that magical leap from 2 to 3 stars, Oaxen Krog did gain their second star and Volt received their first star. Congratulations to both of them as well as the other restaurants who managed to remain on the list (there were no loss of stars either)!

2 Stars ("Excellent cooking, worth a detour")
1 Star ("A very good restaurant in its category")
Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen maintained their status as a 2 star restaurant.
And, in case you were wondering, 3 stars means "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". The Michelin Guide has another category, besides the stars, called Bib Gourmand. This is awarded to restaurants with "exceptional good food at moderate prices". In other words, they won't empty your wallet. Here are the restaurants in Stockholm named in the Bib Gourmand category:
If you are going to be staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for help in making reservations (or if you need further recommendations/assistance). Keep in mind that these restaurants, especially the starred ones, need to be booked well in advance! Click here to see past Michelin Guides as well as other restaurant guides and awards.

Stockholm Restaurants in the Michelin Guide 2015

Posted by zlatin

Congratulations Oaxen Krog on your second star!
Today The Michelin Guide announced the restaurants in the Nordic countries which have received stars in their guide for 2015. And it was good news for Stockholm! While no restaurants made that magical leap from 2 to 3 stars, Oaxen Krog did gain their second star and Volt received their first star. Congratulations to both of them as well as the other restaurants who managed to remain on the list (there were no loss of stars either)!

2 Stars ("Excellent cooking, worth a detour")
1 Star ("A very good restaurant in its category")
Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen maintained their status as a 2 star restaurant.
And, in case you were wondering, 3 stars means "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". The Michelin Guide has another category, besides the stars, called Bib Gourmand. This is awarded to restaurants with "exceptional good food at moderate prices". In other words, they won't empty your wallet. Here are the restaurants in Stockholm named in the Bib Gourmand category:
If you are going to be staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for help in making reservations (or if you need further recommendations/assistance). Keep in mind that these restaurants, especially the starred ones, need to be booked well in advance! Click here to see past Michelin Guides as well as other restaurant guides and awards.

For twenty years, F12 was a popular restaurant in Stockholm. Considered one of the city's best, it was awarded a Michelin star several years in row. So it came as a bit of a surprise when owners and chefs Melker Andersson and Danyel Couet announced last year that they were closing the doors, with plans to reopen in a new form and direction. But it only makes sense that after 20 years they would want to try different things to avoid stagnating.
Well, less than 9 months after closing, they have indeed reopened. Same location, but completely different restaurant. The new restaurant is called Público. The idea behind the restaurant is that it should function as a place to spend the entire evening... from pre dinner cocktails to dinner and then to nightclub when the clock strikes midnight.
Salmon ceviche...
The menu is a fusion of Mexican and Peruvian cuisines. The interior, with its color palette of terracotta reds, browns, dark wood and touches of gold, gives me almost a feel of Havana. I stopped by yesterday evening with friends to see the changes, have a drink and try some of the food. I am loathe to call this a real review as we didn't eat a proper dinner (just some "tastes"). I also tend to wait a couple of months after a restaurant opens to give it a proper try. I have been part of the opening of a few restaurants and hotels myself and I know that it takes that long for a place to "find itself".
Tacos!
What we did try were the ceviche and tacos. There are 10 different ceviche and 8 different tacos on the menu. We opted for the salmon (with lime, coconut and coriander) and tuna (with green apple, yuzu and sesame) ceviche. Very delicious... I especially enjoyed the tuna. After that, we moved on to the tacos. Three different varieties came to the table: Iberian pork (with chorizo, beans, and mojo rojo), duck leg (with duck liver, apple, cabbage and chipotle) and king crab (with radish, chili and cress). Everyone at the table had a favorite... mine was the duck.
I will definitely be back to try a proper dinner! Though I do like the idea of sitting with friends, a glass of wine and ordering ceviche and tacos until you have had your fill. Very informal and relaxed. Público is located in the downtown area, just on the other side of Gamla Stan from the Rival Hotel. It is either a 30 minute walk, a short bus ride (#3 from Slussen) or a 5 minute taxi ride.

Restaurant Público

Posted by zlatin

For twenty years, F12 was a popular restaurant in Stockholm. Considered one of the city's best, it was awarded a Michelin star several years in row. So it came as a bit of a surprise when owners and chefs Melker Andersson and Danyel Couet announced last year that they were closing the doors, with plans to reopen in a new form and direction. But it only makes sense that after 20 years they would want to try different things to avoid stagnating.
Well, less than 9 months after closing, they have indeed reopened. Same location, but completely different restaurant. The new restaurant is called Público. The idea behind the restaurant is that it should function as a place to spend the entire evening... from pre dinner cocktails to dinner and then to nightclub when the clock strikes midnight.
Salmon ceviche...
The menu is a fusion of Mexican and Peruvian cuisines. The interior, with its color palette of terracotta reds, browns, dark wood and touches of gold, gives me almost a feel of Havana. I stopped by yesterday evening with friends to see the changes, have a drink and try some of the food. I am loathe to call this a real review as we didn't eat a proper dinner (just some "tastes"). I also tend to wait a couple of months after a restaurant opens to give it a proper try. I have been part of the opening of a few restaurants and hotels myself and I know that it takes that long for a place to "find itself".
Tacos!
What we did try were the ceviche and tacos. There are 10 different ceviche and 8 different tacos on the menu. We opted for the salmon (with lime, coconut and coriander) and tuna (with green apple, yuzu and sesame) ceviche. Very delicious... I especially enjoyed the tuna. After that, we moved on to the tacos. Three different varieties came to the table: Iberian pork (with chorizo, beans, and mojo rojo), duck leg (with duck liver, apple, cabbage and chipotle) and king crab (with radish, chili and cress). Everyone at the table had a favorite... mine was the duck.
I will definitely be back to try a proper dinner! Though I do like the idea of sitting with friends, a glass of wine and ordering ceviche and tacos until you have had your fill. Very informal and relaxed. Público is located in the downtown area, just on the other side of Gamla Stan from the Rival Hotel. It is either a 30 minute walk, a short bus ride (#3 from Slussen) or a 5 minute taxi ride.

The photography museum Fotografiska has been one of my favorite museums in Stockholm since they opened in 2010. Not only for their great exhibitions (Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Henri Cartier-Bresson and David LaChapelle just to name a few of the recent larger ones), but also for the location and space. Since they opened, they have had a café on the third floor of the museum with fantastic views over Stockholm harbor. I have always loved ending my museum visits here with a glass of wine while thinking that it would be a great place for a restaurant.
Well, they have now made it in to a restaurant! And not just any restaurant... under head chef Paul Svensson (past chef at Michelin star restaurants Bon Lloc and F12) it has garnered plenty of attention, rave reviews and was just recently namned by the newspaper DN as the best restaurant in Stockholm in the mid-price category. I was there earlier this week for dinner with my work colleagues. In fact, we were there when they found out that they had won the above mentioned award.
Chefs celebrating their award as best mid-priced restaurant.
The restaurant's concept is to bring fruits and vegetables to the forefront. The menu is split into three categories: cold, warm and sweet (all fruits and/or vegetables, though not necessarily 100% vegetarian). Each of these dishes cost 125 SEK and you can order and mix the dishes how you please. Each evening they have one meat and one fish dish available to order as well. When we were there we had the choice of duck or cod.
The beet dish...
We started with red beets from the Tanus region of France with ramson capers and an oyster emulsion, followed by Amandine potatoes with smoked sour cream and bleak roe. I chose the duck for my main dish as well as roasted celery root with porcini mushrooms and walnuts. We ended our meal with a gooey chocolate cake with caramelized rye and lingon berries. It was all delicious! But to be honest, I think we ordered too much food (as a group). If I were to go there with a friend I would order a few cold and warm vegetable dishes to share between us as well as a meat/fish each.
...and the Amadine potatoe dish.
This is a great way to combine some culture (museum visit) with an evening out. In fact, this has become somewhat of a trend... museums that house good restaurants as well. The Museum of Spirits and, in some part, Moderna Museet being two others on trend. They do still have the café area in case you just want to eat something light with a coffee or drink. Make sure you don't miss the museum which is open every evening until 11pm. Fotografiska is located on the waterfront of the island Södermalm, just a 15-20 minute walk from the Rival Hotel.
Current exhibition: Herb Ritts.

The view from the restaurant during the day.

Restaurant at Fotografiska

Posted by zlatin

The photography museum Fotografiska has been one of my favorite museums in Stockholm since they opened in 2010. Not only for their great exhibitions (Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Henri Cartier-Bresson and David LaChapelle just to name a few of the recent larger ones), but also for the location and space. Since they opened, they have had a café on the third floor of the museum with fantastic views over Stockholm harbor. I have always loved ending my museum visits here with a glass of wine while thinking that it would be a great place for a restaurant.
Well, they have now made it in to a restaurant! And not just any restaurant... under head chef Paul Svensson (past chef at Michelin star restaurants Bon Lloc and F12) it has garnered plenty of attention, rave reviews and was just recently namned by the newspaper DN as the best restaurant in Stockholm in the mid-price category. I was there earlier this week for dinner with my work colleagues. In fact, we were there when they found out that they had won the above mentioned award.
Chefs celebrating their award as best mid-priced restaurant.
The restaurant's concept is to bring fruits and vegetables to the forefront. The menu is split into three categories: cold, warm and sweet (all fruits and/or vegetables, though not necessarily 100% vegetarian). Each of these dishes cost 125 SEK and you can order and mix the dishes how you please. Each evening they have one meat and one fish dish available to order as well. When we were there we had the choice of duck or cod.
The beet dish...
We started with red beets from the Tanus region of France with ramson capers and an oyster emulsion, followed by Amandine potatoes with smoked sour cream and bleak roe. I chose the duck for my main dish as well as roasted celery root with porcini mushrooms and walnuts. We ended our meal with a gooey chocolate cake with caramelized rye and lingon berries. It was all delicious! But to be honest, I think we ordered too much food (as a group). If I were to go there with a friend I would order a few cold and warm vegetable dishes to share between us as well as a meat/fish each.
...and the Amadine potatoe dish.
This is a great way to combine some culture (museum visit) with an evening out. In fact, this has become somewhat of a trend... museums that house good restaurants as well. The Museum of Spirits and, in some part, Moderna Museet being two others on trend. They do still have the café area in case you just want to eat something light with a coffee or drink. Make sure you don't miss the museum which is open every evening until 11pm. Fotografiska is located on the waterfront of the island Södermalm, just a 15-20 minute walk from the Rival Hotel.
Current exhibition: Herb Ritts.

The view from the restaurant during the day.

(Nominee) Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren.
Photo by: Tuukka Ervasti/imagebank.sweden.se
It is that time of the year when several prestigious restaurant guides/awards are announced... like the White Guide, Michelin Guide and Top 50 Restaurants. First up, however, is Gulddraken (the Golden Dragon) which is an annual prize awarded by the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter. The awards are split up into different categories, like luxury, middle, budget. I do love the idea that these awards aren't only for the high-end gourmet restaurants. The winners this year, in each category, are:

Congratulations to all of the winners as well as all of the nominees! Several of the above linked websites are only in Swedish... especially for the budget and bar categories as they cater mainly to Stockholmers. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can help you with translating and directions. Click here for past winners of the Gulddraken as well as other guides/awards. 

Gulddraken Awards for Best Restaurants in Stockholm 2015

Posted by zlatin

(Nominee) Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren.
Photo by: Tuukka Ervasti/imagebank.sweden.se
It is that time of the year when several prestigious restaurant guides/awards are announced... like the White Guide, Michelin Guide and Top 50 Restaurants. First up, however, is Gulddraken (the Golden Dragon) which is an annual prize awarded by the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter. The awards are split up into different categories, like luxury, middle, budget. I do love the idea that these awards aren't only for the high-end gourmet restaurants. The winners this year, in each category, are:

Congratulations to all of the winners as well as all of the nominees! Several of the above linked websites are only in Swedish... especially for the budget and bar categories as they cater mainly to Stockholmers. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can help you with translating and directions. Click here for past winners of the Gulddraken as well as other guides/awards. 

White Guide Nordic 2015, cover.
The White Guide has been around for many years... annually listing the 600, or so, best restaurants in Sweden. It comes out every year in March and I have reported on it over the past 4 years. In fact, it was one of the reasons why I started writing this blog... I thought that it was great information for visitors but, unfortunately, was only available in Swedish. That has all changed! Yesterday they announced the publication of a new White Guide Nordic, covering all the Nordic countries, which is in English! If you were wondering... the Nordic countries are Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
The reason given for this new Nordic guide and the fact that it is in English is the continuing high interest internationally in Nordic cuisine. If you are interested in haute cuisine at all, then you know that Noma in Copenhagen has been ranked as the best restaurant in the world for several years in a row. The White Guide looks at several factors when assessing a restaurant and divides them up in different categories... High Class, Very High Class, Masterclass and International Masterclass. Here are the Stockholm restaurants that made the Nordic Top 30 and are considered International Masterclass. Sweden is well represented with 12 of the top 30 restaurants and 6 of them from Stockholm. Several restaurants shared the same amount of points, which is why they share placement on the ranking list. For the rest of the list as well as the top 225 restaurants in the Nordic countires... click here.

Click here to see other restaurant guides and rankings, both current and over the past 5 years. Congratulations to all of the restaurants that made the list!



White Guide Nordic- Best Restaurants in the North!

Posted by zlatin

White Guide Nordic 2015, cover.
The White Guide has been around for many years... annually listing the 600, or so, best restaurants in Sweden. It comes out every year in March and I have reported on it over the past 4 years. In fact, it was one of the reasons why I started writing this blog... I thought that it was great information for visitors but, unfortunately, was only available in Swedish. That has all changed! Yesterday they announced the publication of a new White Guide Nordic, covering all the Nordic countries, which is in English! If you were wondering... the Nordic countries are Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
The reason given for this new Nordic guide and the fact that it is in English is the continuing high interest internationally in Nordic cuisine. If you are interested in haute cuisine at all, then you know that Noma in Copenhagen has been ranked as the best restaurant in the world for several years in a row. The White Guide looks at several factors when assessing a restaurant and divides them up in different categories... High Class, Very High Class, Masterclass and International Masterclass. Here are the Stockholm restaurants that made the Nordic Top 30 and are considered International Masterclass. Sweden is well represented with 12 of the top 30 restaurants and 6 of them from Stockholm. Several restaurants shared the same amount of points, which is why they share placement on the ranking list. For the rest of the list as well as the top 225 restaurants in the Nordic countires... click here.

Click here to see other restaurant guides and rankings, both current and over the past 5 years. Congratulations to all of the restaurants that made the list!



Photo: ©Erik Nissen Johansen, Pharmarium
I was out last week with my cousin who was in town on a business trip. He had heard of Pharmarium and was eager to try it... and, as it was on my list of (relatively) new places to visit, so was I! In fact, it has been high up on the lists over best cocktail bars in Stockholm since they opened a little over a year ago.
First round of cocktails...
We were actually planning on eating dinner and we both had assumed that Pharmarium was both a regular restaurant as well as cocktail bar. But after showing us to our table, the waiter explained to us what to expect for our evening in regards to food & drink. They are first and foremost a cocktail bar. When it comes to food, instead of your regular menu of starters and main dishes, they offer a series of medium-sized dishes... each designed to be paired with one of their signature cocktails. He explained that if we were interested in dinner, 2 or 3 of these dishes would satisfy our hunger. We were intrigued!
Scallop dish.
Pharmarium is located on the main square (Stortorget) in the old town (Gamla Stan), in the building that once housed Stockholm's first apothecary/pharmacy back in the 1500's. Not only does this explain their name, it explains the inspiration for their concept and interior design. The interior of the locale has elements that resemble an old apothecary... small wooden drawers along the wall, herbs growing at the bar and the black & white checkered floor.
Next round...
Many of the ingredients in both the cocktails and accompanying dishes follow the "pharmaceutical" concept... spices, plants, berries and herbs with medicinal value (or, like gold, were once thought to contain such properties). We started with a cocktail-dish pairing each and then we got a little wild and chose both cocktails and dishes randomly. Everything was delicious and the flavors were very seasonal. My absolute favorite dish was the sweetbreads with puré, cauliflower crisp and apricot & raisin chutney. Favorite cocktail? Hmmm... perhaps the Philosopher's Stone (Wild Turkey, Cynar & bitters, foam of smoked maple syrup, apple and gold powder).
Sweetbread dish.
As I mentioned, Pharmarium is in Gamla Stan and it is just a 15 minute walk from the Rival Hotel. Currently, the square houses the Gamla Stan Christmas market. But the historic square is popular year round and buildings lining the square are some of the most photographed in the city. The entrance is a little hard to spot, but it is on the south side of the square... just opposite the Nobel Museum.


Pharmarium Cocktail Bar

Posted by zlatin

Photo: ©Erik Nissen Johansen, Pharmarium
I was out last week with my cousin who was in town on a business trip. He had heard of Pharmarium and was eager to try it... and, as it was on my list of (relatively) new places to visit, so was I! In fact, it has been high up on the lists over best cocktail bars in Stockholm since they opened a little over a year ago.
First round of cocktails...
We were actually planning on eating dinner and we both had assumed that Pharmarium was both a regular restaurant as well as cocktail bar. But after showing us to our table, the waiter explained to us what to expect for our evening in regards to food & drink. They are first and foremost a cocktail bar. When it comes to food, instead of your regular menu of starters and main dishes, they offer a series of medium-sized dishes... each designed to be paired with one of their signature cocktails. He explained that if we were interested in dinner, 2 or 3 of these dishes would satisfy our hunger. We were intrigued!
Scallop dish.
Pharmarium is located on the main square (Stortorget) in the old town (Gamla Stan), in the building that once housed Stockholm's first apothecary/pharmacy back in the 1500's. Not only does this explain their name, it explains the inspiration for their concept and interior design. The interior of the locale has elements that resemble an old apothecary... small wooden drawers along the wall, herbs growing at the bar and the black & white checkered floor.
Next round...
Many of the ingredients in both the cocktails and accompanying dishes follow the "pharmaceutical" concept... spices, plants, berries and herbs with medicinal value (or, like gold, were once thought to contain such properties). We started with a cocktail-dish pairing each and then we got a little wild and chose both cocktails and dishes randomly. Everything was delicious and the flavors were very seasonal. My absolute favorite dish was the sweetbreads with puré, cauliflower crisp and apricot & raisin chutney. Favorite cocktail? Hmmm... perhaps the Philosopher's Stone (Wild Turkey, Cynar & bitters, foam of smoked maple syrup, apple and gold powder).
Sweetbread dish.
As I mentioned, Pharmarium is in Gamla Stan and it is just a 15 minute walk from the Rival Hotel. Currently, the square houses the Gamla Stan Christmas market. But the historic square is popular year round and buildings lining the square are some of the most photographed in the city. The entrance is a little hard to spot, but it is on the south side of the square... just opposite the Nobel Museum.


Press image from Mathias Dahlgren
Dining room at Matsalen.
Both chef Mathias Dahlgren and his restaurant MD Matsalen have been at the top of the lists of the best chefs and restaurants in Sweden for many years (even as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world) and has been awarded 2 Michelin stars since 2009. Mathias also won the gold medal at the 1997 Bocuse d'Or (culinary championships). While I have tried his one star restaurant Matbaren ("The Food Bar") a few times and his conceptual dining experience Matbordet ("The Dining Table"), I have not had the opportunity to try Matsalen ("The Dining Room")... until now!
 Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen is located in the downtown area, just across the water from the Royal Palace. Currently, Matsalen offers one set tasting menu: "The Natural Cuisine". Officially this is made up of 5 courses. I say "officially" because between the other smaller dishes, tastes and palate cleansers you really come up to around 9. All together they make up an incredible gastronomical experience.
Fire fried King Crab...
When we first arrived, we were ushered into a small bar/lounge to enjoy a glass of champagne and soon, once we were all gathered, a chef came out to welcome us and take us back into the kitchen. There we had a chance to enjoy 3 amuse-bouche while chatting with the chefs. Apparently this is a newly introduced component to the dining experience and it really was the perfect way to start the evening! When we were finished, the maître d' led us to our table in the beautiful dining room. The interior design is very Nordic with clean lines and muted earth tones.
The best freshly baked bread! Served with smoked butter and cod roe.
I really can't describe all of the delicious dishes here, but some of the highlights were the fire fried King Crab, served on a block of ice along with a creamy mixture of horseradish and bleak roe, and the seared scallops served with a potato créme, garlic, clams and lemon (a play on Moules Mariniere). The dessert was also a real winner... vanilla ice cream and Swedish Cloudberries (hjortron) served wrapped in a "false waffle" and drizzled with birch sap sabayonne.
MD's take on Moules Mariniere... with seared scallops.
We had the set beverage pairings... wines and beer paired with the different dishes, often with one beverage paired with two of the courses. The pairings were spot on and often interesting as well (orange wine, for example, which I had never heard of). The meal ended with Matsalen's version of the classic Swedish fika. I was pretty stuffed at this point and couldn't imagine eating more... but somehow it magically disappeared.
A palate cleanser: sorbet of pine shoots and mint, with meringue powder and bluberry.
While it is a set tasting menu that they offer, they can accommodate some dietary restrictions as long as they are given advanced warning. Booking a table in advance is a must! A table in Matsalen becomes bookable on their website one month in advance and they disappear quickly. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and wish to dine here... contact me for assistance (but in good time!).
Dessert! Not sure what a "false waffle" is, but it's delicious!


Restaurant Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen

Posted by zlatin

Press image from Mathias Dahlgren
Dining room at Matsalen.
Both chef Mathias Dahlgren and his restaurant MD Matsalen have been at the top of the lists of the best chefs and restaurants in Sweden for many years (even as one of the top 50 restaurants in the world) and has been awarded 2 Michelin stars since 2009. Mathias also won the gold medal at the 1997 Bocuse d'Or (culinary championships). While I have tried his one star restaurant Matbaren ("The Food Bar") a few times and his conceptual dining experience Matbordet ("The Dining Table"), I have not had the opportunity to try Matsalen ("The Dining Room")... until now!
 Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen is located in the downtown area, just across the water from the Royal Palace. Currently, Matsalen offers one set tasting menu: "The Natural Cuisine". Officially this is made up of 5 courses. I say "officially" because between the other smaller dishes, tastes and palate cleansers you really come up to around 9. All together they make up an incredible gastronomical experience.
Fire fried King Crab...
When we first arrived, we were ushered into a small bar/lounge to enjoy a glass of champagne and soon, once we were all gathered, a chef came out to welcome us and take us back into the kitchen. There we had a chance to enjoy 3 amuse-bouche while chatting with the chefs. Apparently this is a newly introduced component to the dining experience and it really was the perfect way to start the evening! When we were finished, the maître d' led us to our table in the beautiful dining room. The interior design is very Nordic with clean lines and muted earth tones.
The best freshly baked bread! Served with smoked butter and cod roe.
I really can't describe all of the delicious dishes here, but some of the highlights were the fire fried King Crab, served on a block of ice along with a creamy mixture of horseradish and bleak roe, and the seared scallops served with a potato créme, garlic, clams and lemon (a play on Moules Mariniere). The dessert was also a real winner... vanilla ice cream and Swedish Cloudberries (hjortron) served wrapped in a "false waffle" and drizzled with birch sap sabayonne.
MD's take on Moules Mariniere... with seared scallops.
We had the set beverage pairings... wines and beer paired with the different dishes, often with one beverage paired with two of the courses. The pairings were spot on and often interesting as well (orange wine, for example, which I had never heard of). The meal ended with Matsalen's version of the classic Swedish fika. I was pretty stuffed at this point and couldn't imagine eating more... but somehow it magically disappeared.
A palate cleanser: sorbet of pine shoots and mint, with meringue powder and bluberry.
While it is a set tasting menu that they offer, they can accommodate some dietary restrictions as long as they are given advanced warning. Booking a table in advance is a must! A table in Matsalen becomes bookable on their website one month in advance and they disappear quickly. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and wish to dine here... contact me for assistance (but in good time!).
Dessert! Not sure what a "false waffle" is, but it's delicious!


Pubologi, photo by Nicho Södling, Stockholm Visitors Board. 
Spring is usually when most restaurant guides are published and awards are presented. However, there is one interesting award presented in the Autumn: Kockarnas Kock ("Chef's Chef"). This is a list of Sweden's best chefs and restaurants chosen by the country's 100 best chefs and organized by the magazine Restaurangvärlden ("the World of Restaurants"). The fact that the jury is made up of chefs in the know makes it of special interest to those with culinary interests. Here is how Stockholm chefs and restaurants fared in the top 20 in Sweden for 2014:

Best Chefs (this year's rank, name, restaurant, last year's rank in parentheses)

1. Sayan Isaksson, Esperanto (4).
2. Mathias Dahlgren, Mathias Dahlgren (2).
4. Björn Frantzén, Restaurant Frantzén (1).
5. Magnus Ek, Oaxen Krog & Slip (5).
8. Mikael Einarsson, Djuret & Pubologi (8).
9. Jacob Holmström, Gastrologik (9).
10. Adam Dahlberg, Adam & Albin Matstudio (18).
11. Tom Sjöstedt, Lilla Ego (new).
12. Paul Svensson, freelance (11).
14. Johan Jureskog, AG & Rolfs Kök (12).
15. Stefan Ekengren, Görvälns Slott (new).
16. Claes Grännsjö, freelance (10).
18. Albin Wessman, Adam & Albin Matstudio (20).
20. Gustav Otterberg, Ekstedt (19).

Best Restaurants (this year's rank, restaurant, last year's rank in parentheses)

2. Restaurant Frantzén (1).
3. Esperanto (4).
5. Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren (5).
6. Oaxen Krog (new).
7. Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen (2).
8. Lilla Ego (new).
9. Ekstedt (6).
11. Nook (new).
12. Restaurang AG (9).
14. Chez Betty (16).
15. Speceriet (new).
16. Gastrologik (8).
17. Oaxen Slip (new).
18. Operakällaren (12).
19. Råkultur (11).
20. Spritmuseum (new).

I didn't list the restaurants and chefs from other parts of Sweden... but I should definitely mention that the #1 restaurant in Sweden, according to the chefs, is Fäviken Magasinet in Järpen. I would love to visit it some day! Click here for the full list (including restaurants outside of Stockholm). And click here if you want to see other recent guides and awards.

Stockholm's Best Chefs & Restaurants... According to Other Chefs!

Posted by zlatin

Pubologi, photo by Nicho Södling, Stockholm Visitors Board. 
Spring is usually when most restaurant guides are published and awards are presented. However, there is one interesting award presented in the Autumn: Kockarnas Kock ("Chef's Chef"). This is a list of Sweden's best chefs and restaurants chosen by the country's 100 best chefs and organized by the magazine Restaurangvärlden ("the World of Restaurants"). The fact that the jury is made up of chefs in the know makes it of special interest to those with culinary interests. Here is how Stockholm chefs and restaurants fared in the top 20 in Sweden for 2014:

Best Chefs (this year's rank, name, restaurant, last year's rank in parentheses)

1. Sayan Isaksson, Esperanto (4).
2. Mathias Dahlgren, Mathias Dahlgren (2).
4. Björn Frantzén, Restaurant Frantzén (1).
5. Magnus Ek, Oaxen Krog & Slip (5).
8. Mikael Einarsson, Djuret & Pubologi (8).
9. Jacob Holmström, Gastrologik (9).
10. Adam Dahlberg, Adam & Albin Matstudio (18).
11. Tom Sjöstedt, Lilla Ego (new).
12. Paul Svensson, freelance (11).
14. Johan Jureskog, AG & Rolfs Kök (12).
15. Stefan Ekengren, Görvälns Slott (new).
16. Claes Grännsjö, freelance (10).
18. Albin Wessman, Adam & Albin Matstudio (20).
20. Gustav Otterberg, Ekstedt (19).

Best Restaurants (this year's rank, restaurant, last year's rank in parentheses)

2. Restaurant Frantzén (1).
3. Esperanto (4).
5. Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren (5).
6. Oaxen Krog (new).
7. Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen (2).
8. Lilla Ego (new).
9. Ekstedt (6).
11. Nook (new).
12. Restaurang AG (9).
14. Chez Betty (16).
15. Speceriet (new).
16. Gastrologik (8).
17. Oaxen Slip (new).
18. Operakällaren (12).
19. Råkultur (11).
20. Spritmuseum (new).

I didn't list the restaurants and chefs from other parts of Sweden... but I should definitely mention that the #1 restaurant in Sweden, according to the chefs, is Fäviken Magasinet in Järpen. I would love to visit it some day! Click here for the full list (including restaurants outside of Stockholm). And click here if you want to see other recent guides and awards.

Entrance from station interior...
I usually try not to write about two restaurants or exhibitions in row but, as I just visited this newly opened restaurant, I will bend the rules. There was quite a bit of buzz about Luzette before it opened, one reason is because of its location: The Stockholm Central Train Station. At first, a train station might not seem like the ideal place for a nice restaurant. But when you consider that the train station has just undergone a large scale renovation and that Luzette takes classic restaurants once found in train stations, like Gare du Nord (Le Train Bleu) and Grand Central Station (Oyster Bar), as their inspiration, then the idea doesn't seem so strange.
Luzette's interior is beautifully designed and will seem somewhat familiar if you have visited some of Stockholm's more popular restaurants. Jonas Bohlin is the name of the designer and he is also responsible for the interiors of restaurants like Riche, Taverna Brillo, Sturehof and AG. Jonas often uses Swedish materials such as wood, tile, brass and granite. The high ceilings and light colors used makes the restaurant feel very airy and light.
red wine braised cheeks of veal
As for the menu, I would describe it as Continental/Swedish... with many classic favorites as well as more seasonal innovative dishes. They even have a rotisserie in the restaurant which produces 4 dishes on the menu. I had the very delicious cheeks of veal braised in red wine served with baked marrow and truffle mash. The perfect dish for a rainy autumn evening! My colleagues at the table were also very happy with their choices and we were all pleased with the large portions and reasonable prices.
Besides the restaurant and bar, they also have a gelateria, bakery as well as take-away counter... perfect for train travelers. Another feature which works very well with their location is their generous opening hours... they are open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As you can imagine, they are very centrally located in the city (entrance to the restaurant both from the street and interior of the station). To get there from the Rival Hotel, it is either 3 stops away on the subway (all lines) or a 7-8 minute taxi ride. Click here to read about my other restaurant visits and recommendations.
Bakery and gelateria...

Restaurant Luzette

Posted by zlatin

Entrance from station interior...
I usually try not to write about two restaurants or exhibitions in row but, as I just visited this newly opened restaurant, I will bend the rules. There was quite a bit of buzz about Luzette before it opened, one reason is because of its location: The Stockholm Central Train Station. At first, a train station might not seem like the ideal place for a nice restaurant. But when you consider that the train station has just undergone a large scale renovation and that Luzette takes classic restaurants once found in train stations, like Gare du Nord (Le Train Bleu) and Grand Central Station (Oyster Bar), as their inspiration, then the idea doesn't seem so strange.
Luzette's interior is beautifully designed and will seem somewhat familiar if you have visited some of Stockholm's more popular restaurants. Jonas Bohlin is the name of the designer and he is also responsible for the interiors of restaurants like Riche, Taverna Brillo, Sturehof and AG. Jonas often uses Swedish materials such as wood, tile, brass and granite. The high ceilings and light colors used makes the restaurant feel very airy and light.
red wine braised cheeks of veal
As for the menu, I would describe it as Continental/Swedish... with many classic favorites as well as more seasonal innovative dishes. They even have a rotisserie in the restaurant which produces 4 dishes on the menu. I had the very delicious cheeks of veal braised in red wine served with baked marrow and truffle mash. The perfect dish for a rainy autumn evening! My colleagues at the table were also very happy with their choices and we were all pleased with the large portions and reasonable prices.
Besides the restaurant and bar, they also have a gelateria, bakery as well as take-away counter... perfect for train travelers. Another feature which works very well with their location is their generous opening hours... they are open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As you can imagine, they are very centrally located in the city (entrance to the restaurant both from the street and interior of the station). To get there from the Rival Hotel, it is either 3 stops away on the subway (all lines) or a 7-8 minute taxi ride. Click here to read about my other restaurant visits and recommendations.
Bakery and gelateria...

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