Itinerary

Day 1 Helsinki - Eat & Joy

Arrive in Helsinki and be greeted by our local partners at the airport for a transfer to our centrally located hotel. Settle into your hotel and relax before the afternoon tour. You will meet your escorts this afternoon for a short group meeting.

We will do an afternoon tour to the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress. Suomenlinna, which was built in the 1700s, is one of the world's largest maritime fortresses and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. Built on six islands off the coast of Helsinki, Suomenlinna is today one of the most popular sights in Finland. Suomenlinna offers an unforgettable experience, offering museums, special events, idyllic cafes and cosy restaurants.

In the evening we enjoy a welcome dinner at the first of our great restaurant line up, Chez Dominique. An innovative blend of Nordic and French cuisine is in store for us to enjoy as we toast the start of our Nordic Real Food tour.

On the Menu
Bouillabaisse, Baltic herrings , Rosemary Crème Brulée

Accommodation

Hotel Haven
Meals Included

Dinners1
Day 2 Helsinki to Stockholm through the archipelago

The morning is free to enjoy the Finnish capital. We recommend a walking tour of the city, which is known for its great mixture of neo-classical buildings, orthodox style churches and chique bars and restaurant scene. You have the opportunity to visit the Senate Square, Uspenskij Cathedral, Parliament House, New Opera House, Sibelius Park & Monument and the Underground Temple.

In the afternoon we transfer from the hotel to the pier for embarkation on the overnight ferry across the Baltic Sea to Stockholm, Sweden. On board you can enjoy a buffet dinner and there is a choice of entertainment, shops, casino and bars.

Be prepared to enjoy the incredible islands and scenery on this journey.
Accommodation

Silja Line - accommodation is in 2-berth outside superior cabins (seaside) with shower/WC.
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Dinners1
Day 3 Stockholm - New Scandinavian

We arrive Stockholm in the morning and are picked up for a transfer to our hotel, Stallmastergaarden Inn. Stockholm’s oldest inn has a charming combination of contemporary comfort and an exciting historic past dating back to the mid-1600s. The popular restaurant is famous for its cuisine featuring its own charcoal grill, rotisserie and smokehouse.

We make a mid morning tour of Stockholm including visits to the Vasa Museum, the City Hall and the Old Town (Gamla Stan). We end up at Östermalmshallen for lunch, including tasting of delicatessen such as smoked reindeer heart and moose salami.

In the afternoon we head out to the Rosendal's Garden, an oasis of colour and nature. We have time to to wander around in this beautiful setting, which main purpose is to present biodynamic (organic) garden cultivation to the general public.

In the evening we will enjoy a dinner at one of Sweden's best restaurants.

On the Menu
Smorgasbord with fresh Swedish delicacies, smoked meats
Accommodation

Stallmastergaarden Inn
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Lunches1, Dinners1
Day 4 Exploring Stockholm, Rosendals Tradgard

In the morning we board a classic old vessel for a cruise through the peaceful Stockholm archipelago. The buffet is filled with traditional dishes made of Swedish primary produce, cold and warm meats, fresh salads and breads. Make sure to leave some room for dessert, our dessert table is packed with everything anyone with a sweet tooth could desire.

We are back in Stockholm city for some free time. Maybe take another walk through ‘Gamla Stan’ (the old quarter). Enjoy a beer or glass of wine at one of the many small bars.

In the evening we will be served an outstanding evening meal at Stallmastergaarden Inn .
Accommodation

Stallmastergaarden Inn
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Lunches1, Dinners1
Day 5 Grythyttan – Country Cooking

On our way to Oslo we stop overnight at Grythyttan Gästgivaregård (inn) located in the tranquil and beautiful countryside of south central Sweden. The inn is comprised of 22 buildings, all built between 1640 and 1960. The kitchen at the Grythyttan has been well respected for many years, and the distinguished wine cellar boasts over 7,000 bottles from all over the world.

At Grythyttan you will find the Nordic House of Culinary Art. The centre aims to show the many faces of the Nordic food world with a goal to boost Nordic food culture. The founder has turned the centre into a hub for further training and research in food and food culture. We may get a chance to tour the centre during our stay in Grythyttan.

We enjoy an exquisite dinner at Grythyttan Gästgivaregård in the evening.

On the Regional Menu
Bakes pike-perch, truffle, cranberries

Accommodation

Grythyttan Gästgivaregård
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Dinners1
Day 6 & 7 Oslo – Wild Berries & Game

We head to Oslo, a 2½ hour journey allowing us to enjoy the picturesque Swedish countryside. Arriving in Oslo we are taken to our stunning countryside accommodation 20 minutes outside the city centre.

We take a tour of some of the Oslo highlights, including the Vigeland Sculpture Park and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Museum. For the evening of day 6 we dine at Lysebu Restaurant on the hill overlooking the suburbs of Oslo.

August is the middle of the blueberry season in Oslo, and since about 90% of the wild berry crop in the Nordic region stands untouched there is plenty to go around. We spend a full morning in the forest in search of berries, and we may also be lucky to find chanterelle mushrooms and other wild and exotic mushrooms. A dip in one of the many freshwater lakes is always inviting. Arriving at one of the cottages in the forest we help clean and prepare the berries, and any other treasures we may have found out there in the woods.

The afternoon is free to explore Oslo and its famous attractions, such as the Viking Ship and the Kon Tiki Museums.

This evening we will enjoy a simple and fresh meal at Grefsenkollen Restaurant. Our table is set in the Winter garden with windows on three sides and a spectacular view. Grefsenkollen Restaurant has a beautiful setting and sits among the top 35 of the best 66 restaurants in the Nordic region.

On the Regional Menu
Reindeer, Norwegian elk (moose), wild mushrooms, wild berries
Accommodation

Lysebu Hotel
Meals Included

Breakfasts2, Lunches1, Dinners2
Day 8 & 9 Lom & Brimiland – Over the Campfire

Our bus trip takes us from city life to the mountains and valleys of Norway to Lom. We stop along the way to break the journey - visiting Maihaugen museum with lunch. Lom is home to one of Norway’s oldest stave churches, and is also the gateway to the mountains, as well as the fjords on the other side. There will be an opportunity to visit the Climate Park here.

In Lom our host is Arne Brimi (or a representative from his famous kitchen). Arne is one of the most famous Norwegian chefs, and the first Norwegian candidate for the Bocuse d’Or, the European Cuisine Championship. Arne is a real character and in cooperation neighbours and friends he has built a unique gourmet and adventure village around the area of Lom, which he calls ‘Brimiland’. Brimiland will open their exquisite mountain eatery Vianvang to us for an unforgettable Norwegian palatal sensation of rich game delicacies.

On the Regional Menu
River trout, wild mushrooms, game

Accommodation

Røisheim Hotel
Meals Included

Breakfasts2, Lunches1, Dinners2
Day 10 Balestrand & the Sognefjord – Goats Cheese & Orchards

Our adventure continues to Balestrand and the historic Kviknes Hotel, where the best traditions of inn keeping go right back to 1752. The Kvikne family, who still own the hotel today, took over in 1877 and a continuous process of development has been going on from that day to this.

As we are touring in late summer / early autumn the orchards this area is so famous for will be at the start of the fruit picking season. These mountainous regions of Norway are also home to thousands of goats, and we cannot leave without tasting some of the local goat’s cheese and other dairy products.

On the Regional Menu
Lamb, goat’s cheese, fresh fruit

Accommodation

Kvikne's Hotel
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Dinners1
Day 11 Flåm Railway & Bergen - Something Fishy

No tour to Norway is complete without the magnificent scenery of mountains and fjords. Balestrand lies in the heart of the fjord region of Norway in the inner reaches of the wonderful Sognefjord. We cross the fjord on a ferry and take a short train ride on the famous Flåm railway under thunderous waterfalls and rich natural scenery.

Bergen lies in the mouth of the Hardanger Fjord and is an old Hanseatic trading town that got its importance from the trade with dried cod from the northern Norwegian coast. We can call it the fish capital of Southern Scandinavia, and therefore, we will be joined by one of the experts and visit the Bergen fish market. A trip up the mountain on the Fløibanen funicular is not to be missed.

In the evening the table is set at Enhjørningen Restaurant on ‘Bryggen’, Bergen`s traditional wharf. This is a Norwegian Fish restaurant of unique character housed in a deep and narrow building restored in 18 century Hanseatic style.

On the Regional Menu
Wild Atlantic salmon, crab, lobster

Accommodation

Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontorat
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Dinners1
Day 12 Reykjavik – New Nordic Cuisine

From Bergen we catch a short flight across the Norwegian Sea to Iceland and the sparkling city of Reykjavik. On the way from the airport we make a stop at the Blue Lagoon for a nice soak after the flight across the North Atlantic. The afternoon is filled with a cultural and historical excursion of the city and a visit to a traditional fish market.

Check in at Hotel 101 in downtown Reykjavík where you will be greeted with a welcome drink.

Tonight's dinner is at Við Tjörnina, the oldest seafood restaurant in Reykjavík, 5 course menu.

On the Menu
Fried Icelandic duck, summer truffles, wild rasberries

Accommodation

101 Hotel
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Dinners1
Day 13 Wild Iceland – Golden Circle

This morning you set out into the country, driving east across the Hellisheiði pass, where geothermal energy has been harnessed for electricity and the many different boreholes send steam into the air. East of the pass the southern farmlands stretch out and shortly after passing the town of Selfoss you will visit a farmers market right on the highway where emphasis is on selling local products.

Heading north next stop will be at Engi, one of the bigger producers of organic vegetables and herbs in the south. Here the farmers welcome the group and show the premises. A short drive from Engi is the world famous Geysir geothermal area where the original geyser is found and the adjacent Strokkur spouts regularly into the air, truly a must for all visitors to Iceland. The Gullfoss waterfall is nearby also an obligatory stop before continuing on to Þingvellir NP a World Heritage Site and an important place for Iceland, in geological and historical terms. Return to Reykjavík in the late afternoon for accommodation at Hotel 101.

We dine tonight at the Dill restaurant, which is famous for the pioneering of the New Nordic Cuisine. Restaurant Dill is located in the Nordic House in Reykjavík, which was designed and built in 1968 by renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. Restaurant Dill is run by chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason, captain of the Icelandic culinary team, and Ólafur Örn Olafsson, president of the Icelandic sommelier association.
Accommodation

101 Hotel
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Lunches1, Dinners1
Day 14 Reykjavik – Purely Icelandic

Today you will visit the microbrewery Borg for insights into the local brews, as well as the quaint little farmers' market Frú Lauga located in the heart of Reykjavik. The market offers fresh agricultural produce to the city folks. Later on we visit to a local shop that cures fish and meat in the traditional Icelandic way.

In the late afternoon we are hosted by one of Iceland’s famous chefs, and get an insight into how the chefs prepare for the night's feast, as well as getting a presentation on their philosophy and methods. The restaurant we will be dining at uses only characteristically local Icelandic produce, and the Icelandic region, culture and identity is a key ingredient in what is on offer on the menu.

On the Menu
Smoked Arctic Char from Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Accommodation

101 Hotel
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Lunches1, Dinners1
Day 15 & 16 Faroe Islands – Tastes of the North Atlantic

On our way back to Copenhagen we make a 2 night stop on the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands are perched in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean north of Shetland and Orkney. The islands are part of the Western Nordic region and are home to dramatic rugged cliffs, sprawling seabird colonies, and a newfound taste for Nordic gastronomy. We arrive in the capital, Torshavn, in the afternoon and after check-in we will enjoy an evening cruise on a schooner. On board we are served local fish soup carefully prepared by the well known cook, Birgir Enni, who also is your skipper and guide onboard. This is a unique experience, very local indeed.

On day 16 our local guide will take us to the beautiful village of Gjógv. In Gjógv a mouth-watering Faroese Buffet is awaiting us. After lunch we make a guided walk of the village, see and sit on Crown Princess Mary´s bench and enjoy the panorama views.

After returning to our hotel we will meet and enjoy a tasting with Chef Leif Sørensen, who is one of the Nordic chefs behind the New Nordic Food Manifesto. In evening he will serve us a 6 course meal inspired by the terms ‘simple’, ‘pure’ and ‘fresh’ at his restaurant KOKS.

On the Regional Menu
North Atlantic seafood treasures and New Nordic Cuisine
Accommodation

Hotel Føroyar
Meals Included

Breakfasts2, Lunches1, Dinners2
Day 17 Copenhagen – World Class stage

We take a morning flight from the Faroe Islands to Copenhagen where a very special experience is awaiting us. We will do a short walking tour of the old quarter to familiarise ourselves with this romantic city.

In the late afternoon take a stroll along the harbour front at Nyhavn or meander through the old quarter enjoying a quiet beer while you reminisce on the experiences of Nordic delicacies.

Tonight we dine at Geranium, the home of this year's (2011) Bocuse d'Or GOLD winner Rasmus Kofoed.

On the Menu
World Class dining stage 1
Accommodation

71 Nyhavn Hotel
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Dinners1
Day 18 Copenhagen - Dinner at Noma

In the morning we make a tour of the main Copenhagen attractions including the Amalienborg and Christiansborg Palaces. We also visit the Meat City (Kødbyen) and go for a walk through the 'Freetown' of Christiania. The afternoon is free to explore further on your own before tonight's fabulous dinner.

Prior to our finale dinner we visit the Nordic Food Lab, a non-profit institution, which purpose is scientific exploration of the New Nordic Cuisine.

This evening we aim to secure the private dining room at Restaurant Noma, winner of the ‘S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant’ title in both 2010 & 2011.

Note: Noma does not take bookings before 3 months in advance. When the Nordic Real Food tour in 2011 was launched in October 2010 we did not have Noma confirmed. It was confirmed first in May 2011 for a sitting in Sept 2011. We are confident that we will be able to secure a table also for the 2012 tour, however, this cannot be guaranteed.

On the Menu
World Class dining stage 2
Accommodation

71 Nyhavn Hotel
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Dinners1
Day 19 Overnight tour to Dragsholm Slot

A comfortable 3 hour journey from Copenhagen, Dragsholm is one of Denmark’s oldest castles. The name Dragsholm means “the islet by the drag”, where the “drag” refers to the isthmus that connected Odsherred with the rest of Zealand before the reclaiming of Lammefjorden. Since 1200, the islet has been the site for a Dragsholm Slot – from the original palace and then medieval castle to the present baroque castle.

The castle is situated in beautiful and ever-changing natural surroundings, and is not far from the fjord. The owners of Dragsholm Slot’s say that the history and location should be both seen and tasted. Their ambition is for the castle’s cuisine to belong to Scandinavia’s gastronomical elite now and in the future. The cuisine in the gourmet restaurant The Castle Kitchen is innovative and gourmet. The starting point is the castle’s history and the season’s ingredients from Lammefjorden and the rest of Odsherred with strong roots in Danish and Scandinavian cuisine.

Our formal final dinner is served from 7pm this evening.

Please note that Day 17 to 20 could alternate depending on securing our NOMA booking.
Accommodation

Dragsholm Slot
Meals Included

Breakfasts1, Dinners1
Day 20 Return to Copenhagen

We return to Copenhagen and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals Included

Breakfasts1

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