Piccolina Aarhus

30/06/2025: Denmark = Hygge. Doesn't this mean anything to you? Aarhus in East Jutland boasts several Michelin-starred restaurants. We visited two. Nordic cuisine used to intimidate me. Too dogmatic. They rake the forests and meadows, ferment whatever they find. Bycatch, no problem. Oh, an ant, great, who needs lemon? You know every producer personally, ideally for generations. Food that can't be shipped to the kitchen by cargo bike because the producer is located too far from the kitchen is taboo. And what do you end up with? Perhaps a Redzepi 😊? That's quite biased, because there's no doubt that Mr. Redzepi, together with Ferran Adria, has significantly shaped the culinary world over the past twenty years, and that deserves recognition 🏆. We saw Wassim Hallal, the chef of the Frederikshoj restaurant, as a guest chef on Ikarus (Servus TV). We liked his style and personality. The restaurant has just been redesigned. It appears elegant and tasteful. Dark tones dominate, but the overall impression is anything but cold. The ambiance exudes quality. There are no tablecloths, which, in my opinion, seemed rather out of place here. There are a few works of art on the walls. Overall, it's rather minimalist. We felt very comfortable, as the details we appreciated were present. The tables are generously spaced. The chairs are comfortable. From our table, we had a magnificent view of the sea. The air conditioning was pleasant, as was the background music. There was a small side table for the phone and the lady's bag. Parking was available in front of the restaurant. The guests were a diverse mix and mostly dressed casually. We appreciated all of this. We were greeted by the restaurant manager and co-owner, Jeppe Lund. He was supported by a friendly and attentive service team. Mr. Lund was the one who played a key role in ensuring that I enjoyed the evening so much, despite my mediocre English skills. Eating out in Denmark is more expensive than in Germany. This is partly due to a sales tax rate of 25 percent. We enjoyed 14 courses (including two desserts). The "Greetings from the Kitchen," as we are used to in Germany, was not offered. Bread was also not served. Water was not charged. The wine list is extensive. The dishes served to us delighted us from start to finish. We didn't encounter any dogmatism here. Many ingredients were regional, but why forgo Danish lobster, oysters, and potatoes? All of these "local" products were of the highest quality. All the dishes were highly aromatic, yet very subtle. The entire process was executed with utmost precision. It's hard to imagine a tartlet or other treat that's finer or crispier. Each cube is cut as precisely as the next. I love this kind of precision; it's not only a testament to good craftsmanship, but this work also undoubtedly makes a difference in terms of feel. I'll refrain from singling out a single course or describing the meal in detail here. Every time we thought it couldn't get any better, Chef Hallal and his team went one better. We were more than impressed. A magnificent menu. Who's surprised that I was able to enjoy the best Canelés de Bordelais of my life with coffee at the end of the evening? Jeppe Lund told a nice anecdote about it. Chef Eric Kragh Vildgaard celebrated his third Michelin star here, which he received for his restaurant Jordnær. He was said to have been so impressed by this pastry that he consumed considerably more than one. I'll have the opportunity to ask him about it next week, as Jordnær is our next destination. According to Mr. Lund, it's going to be fantastic, and I'm happy to believe him.

25/05/2025: Sublime, nothing less. Craftsmanship and culinary art merge into a higher unity. Care has been taken to ensure that you get the full sensory impression of the experience.