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Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurants. Show all posts
Saturday, March 15, 2014

Restaurant Mathias Dahlgren (Matbaren)

Having the usual perfect timing... I visited the restaurant Mathias Dahlgren last week with a friend, just ahead of the announcement of 2014's Michelin Guide. Mathias Dahlgren, the man himself, is one of Sweden's most successful chefs. In fact, he is only Swede to win a gold medal at the prestigious Bocuse d'Or competition (we do have several silver medalists).
Detail from the foyer...
The restaurant is actually two in one... as you enter, to the right you have the Dining Room (Matsalen) and to the left you have the Food Bar (Matbaren). There is also a Chef's Table (Matbordet) which is bookable. The Dining Room has been awarded 2 stars in the Michelin Guide for several years in a row and is considered one of Sweden's best restaurants. Here they offer two tasting menus (5 or 8 courses), available with wine & beverage pairings.
My friend and I, however, opted to dine at the Food Bar. This is Mathias Dahlgren's version of a gourmet bistro and has been awarded 1 star in the Michelin Guide for several years in a row. More casual than the Dining Room, guests order dishes from an a la carte menu (in other words, no set tasting menus). The dishes are all "medium" sized, no starters or entrées, and you are welcome to order just one or more depending on how hungry you are. For example, we each took a medium dish (heart of venison and spare-rib dumplings) followed by a shared cheese dish and then a dessert each. Incredibly delicious and perfect!
Dinner at food bar with show!
The service was impeccable, the wine recommendation perfect and the surroundings beautiful... I really recommend this restaurant if you want to try modern, gourmet, Michelin star, Nordic cuisine without breaking your wallet. At the Food Bar you can either eat at a table or at the actual food bar. Now, sitting at a bar (where you sit next to each other and not across from one another) might not appeal to some... but I have to say that I wish we had chosen that option. It looked quite fun and the bar is u-shaped so your view comprises of the restaurant and the open kitchen. Our waitress commented that sitting at the bar allows you to see what other diners order and can help you decide on what you want to try yourself...
Press image: my amateur pics didn't do the food justice.
Mathias Dahlgren is located on Blasieholmen in downtown area just across the water from the Royal Palace. To get there from the Rival Hotel, it is just a 5-7 minute taxi ride. Closest subway station is Kungsträdgården (blue line). Reserving tables in advance is highly recommended, especially for the Dining Room. You have more of a chance to last minute tables in the Food Bar. They actually do keep a few seats at the bar free for rop in guests. If you are going to be staying at the Rival... contact me in advance for help in reserving a table. Click here for other restaurant reviews/recommendations.
Press image of Matbaren.

AN restaurants
Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Stockholm Restaurants in the Michelin Guide 2014

The day that foodies and the culinary world have waited for in nervous anticipation is finally here: the 2014 Michelin Guide has been released. And it is mostly good news for Stockholm restaurants! Two new restaurants have received one star each. Many were hoping that one of our two 2 star restaurants would get a third star or that Esperanto would finally get their second star... but no such luck. One other piece of good news is that it was announced that, in 2015, the Nordic countries will get their own special guide which will include restaurants in smaller cities and towns. Currently Sweden is part of the European city guide which only includes restaurants in major cities.
The Food Bar (Matbaren) at Mathias Dahlgren.
Here is a quick explanation of the Michelin Guide's star system: one star means that it is "a very good restaurant in its category", two stars mean that the restaurant offers "excellent cooking, worth a detour" and three stars are awarded to restaurants with "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". The Guide also has a special award called Bib Gourmand for restaurants with "good food at moderate prices". Here is the list for Stockholm:

And the Stockholm restaurants on the Bib Gourmand list are: Sjögräs (around the corner from the Rival Hotel), Den Gyldene Freden, Proviant, Brasserie Bonbonne, EAT, Pubologi, Ulla Winbladh, Rolf's Kök and Oaxen Slip (new!). 
Operakällaren- one of the restaurants which received a new star!
Please keep in mind that if you wish to dine at one of the Michelin star restaurants... reserving a table ahead of time is required! Often several weeks in advance. If you are going to be staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me in advance for help in making a reservation. Click here if you wish to see past guides and other restaurant awards. Last week I visited Mathias Dahlgren and will be writing about it soon... so stay tuned! In the meantime you can read my other restaurant reviews/recommendations by clicking here. 


AN restaurants
Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Best Restaurants Awarded in the White Guide 2014

A day after the Oscars were awarded in Hollywood, the Oscars of the Swedish culinary world were handed out here in Stockholm by the White Guide. What I like about the White Guide is that it is a complete guide to restaurants in all of Sweden, done by Swedes (as opposed to international guides- like the Michelin Guide). The awards are given in a wide array of categories and Stockholm restaurants nabbed many top spots... though this year has seen more restaurants from the rest of Sweden getting awards, which is good news for Sweden! Stockholm restaurants also feature prominently on the White Guide's lists of Swedish restaurants in the categories "International Master Class" and "Master Class". Here are how Stockholm restaurants fared...
Best Culinary Experience: Oaxen Krog!
Stockholm restaurants in Sweden's International Master Class (placing on list in parantheses):
And... the ones who made the Master Class list:
Click here to read the whole list!  And if you want to see past White Guides, or other guides/lists, click here.
The winners at Esperanto. Photo from White Guide.

AN restaurants
Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Stockholm Steakhouse Awards 2014

You might think, when visiting Stockholm, that you will be mostly dining on herring, salmon and other oceanic delicacies... but meat is big here in Stockholm, with a large variety of steakhouses to choose from. They even have an annual award (Årets Köttkrog) naming the best steakhouses in Sweden.
Stockholm dominated the awards this year and there were no changes in the top two spots, with the well deserved win going to Restaurant AG again (third year in a row?). I really do like this restaurant (blog article) and was actually there last week to visit their tapas bar... which is well worth a visit itself (their hamburger is arguably the best in the city). The second place award went, once again, to Djuret. They have a great concept where their menu focuses on one animal at a time (paired with wines from one region) and changing monthly. For example, currently the menu is variations of beef paired with wines from California and next month it will be variations of duck and chicken paired with wines from Burgundy.
The meat locker at AG...
Other Stockholm restaurants in the top ten (ranking in parentheses) are: Svartengrens (3), Rolf's Kök (4), Vassa Eggen (6), Grill (8) and Zink Grill (10). I blogged about this award last year and wrote a little about other options for meat lovers, which you can read by clicking here. And if you want to read about other recent restaurant awards, click here.

AN restaurants
Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Restaurant Awards: Gulddraken 2014

Winner of the luxury category: Oaxen Krog!
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:

A special "guest dragon" was awarded by international food critic A.A. Gill to Oaxen Slip, the more casual sister restaurant to Oaxen Krog (winner in the luxury category). If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for help in booking tables for these or other restaurants... or if you just need more information. Keep checking back here for other upcoming guide releases. 
Click here to see past guides and award winners and click here if you want to see my restaurant reviews/visits.

AN restaurants
Saturday, January 18, 2014

Restaurant Linje 10

Entrance...
I recently wrote about the up-and-coming Hornstull neighbourhood... and this past week, a friend and I visited one of the many local restaurants there: Linje 10. The name means "line 10" and refers to the former street car, or tram, line that ran between Värtahamnen and Hornstull (taken out of service in 1967).
The restaurant serves a menu filled with flavours from southern Europe. I had the grilled loin of Ibérico pork with sherry and crispy potatoes ("El Cerdo Ibérico") and my friend opted for the plat du jour which was an Atlantic redfish. Rustic, unpretentious, reasonably priced and tasty.
Popular bar!
While the food was good, I think the selling point is the restaurant's laid-back vibe which is a reflection of the neighbourhood itself. My friend and I had a chuckle as both the staff and many of the patrons really lived up to the Södermalm hipster style... plenty of low-slung, skinny jeans, facial hair and retro fashion. Young, friendly and attentive staff. The bar is popular and the crowd is boisterous... couple this with music and tables set close together means that it can get a bit loud. Fun if you are out with friends, but perhaps not the optimal place for a romantic dinner. The bar itself is definitely worth a visit and they have several tapas and charcuterie options on the menu to go with your glass of wine. In other words, a good place to go and watch local Stockholmers in action...
Shave and a haircut?
The restaurant shares space with both a florist and a retro barbershop, all three going under the name Tjoget. Linje 10 is open for both lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. Located in nearby Hornstull, it is very easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... either a 20 minute walk or two stations away on the subway (red line to Hornstull). Not the best pictures perhaps, but it was crowded in the restaurant so it was hard to take pictures without disturbing other guests. Click here for more restaurant reviews.
AN restaurants, Södermalm
Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Restaurants During Christmas and New Year's 2013

Over the next two weeks, I will be doing a series of articles detailing which days restaurants, museums, shops and church services are open/closed during the holiday season to help you plan your visit in Stockholm. First up... restaurants!
Chefs at F12 (photo by Wolfgang Kleinschmidt)
Restaurants are a little tricky this time of year. Some restaurants are open every evening, others are just closed on the major holidays while others may be closed for up to three weeks. Christmas Eve (December 24th) is the hardest! Almost all restaurants are closed with the exception of hotel restaurants (like the Rival Bistro) and a scattered few others in Gamla Stan and on Djurgården. Christmas Day is also a bit difficult... though better than the previous day as more restaurants are open for business. Some restaurants may even be closed on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th). Around New Year's you have similar problems: on the 31st many restaurants are closed and the ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course set menu, called nyårssupé, and nothing else. There are a select few restaurants that are open and just serve from their regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for help in reserving tables. And don't wait too long... restaurants tend to fill up (especially on New Year's Eve)! January 1st will find many restaurants closed for business as both staff and patrons are generally hiding under the covers, resting up!
Chef's Table at the Rival Bistro.
As I mentioned earlier... some restaurants close for 2-3 weeks during the holidays. Sadly, for foodies and gourmands, these are generally Michelin star and other high end restaurants. Here is a list of some of the restaurants that are closed for a longer period of time this holiday season:

  • Mathias Dahlgren(Matsalen & Matbaren)- closed from December 22nd through January 6th. 
  • Frantzén- closed from December 22nd through January 6th. 
  • F12- closed from December 22nd through January 12th (open New Year's Eve).
  • Gastrologik- closed from December 22nd through January 6th.
  • Oaxen Krog & Slip- closed from December 22nd through January 8th.
  • Ekstedts- closed from December 22nd through January 8th, with the exception of Dec 26, 27 & 28.
  • Esperanto- closed from December 22nd through January 9th.
  • Lux Day by Day- closed from December 23rd through January 2nd. 
  • Djuret- closed from December 22nd through January 2nd.
  • B.A.R.- closed from December 22nd through January 1st. 
  • Wedholm's Fisk- closed from December 23rd through January 6th. 
  • GQ- closed from December 23rd through January 7th.
  • Jonas- closed December 22nd through January 6th (open New Year's Eve). their Food & Wine Bar is open on Dec 27th & 28th as well as Jan 3rd & 4th.
  • Himlen- closed from December 22nd through January 8th (open on New Year's Eve).
  • Kryp In- closed from December 23rd through January 7th. 
  • Pubologi- closed from December 22nd through January 2nd.
  • Sjögräs- closed from December 22nd through January 7th. 
  • Östermalm's Saluhall (indoor food market and popular place for lunch- no dinner)- closed on December 24th, 25th, 26th and 29th as well as January 1st. 
I have actually compiled a list of 90 Stockholm restaurants and which days they are closed/open during the holidays. So, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel (lucky you!), contact me and I will help you find restaurants for your stay. And I would, of course, be remiss in not mentioning that the Rival Bistro is open every evening... year round!
Esperanto.

AN christmas, new year, restaurants
Sunday, December 8, 2013

Nobel Prize Ceremonies

This Friday, December 10th, is the date for the Nobel Prize Cermonies in Oslo (Peace Prize) and Stockholm (all other prizes). The winners have all arived in the city and this week is filled with seminars, lectures and press confernces. As a visitor to Stockholm during this time, you really can't take part in any of the festivities or events as they are generally invitation-only. The one event that is open for the public is the Nobel Concert in the Stockholms Konserthus on Wednesday evening. There are only a few seats still available. For more information and to book tickets click here. Otherwise it is good to be aware that there can be some traffic problems in the downtown area on Friday evening as police escorts take award winners, diplomats and the royal family from their hotels to the Konserthuset and then to the City Hall for the dinner.
If you want to get a little feel for the Nobel Awards and festivities, then I recommend visiting the Nobel Museum in the Old Town as well as City Hall where you can tour the beautiful halls where the famous dinner is served each year. At the City Hall you also have the restaurant Stadshuskällaren where you can actually try the dinners served to the award winners each year.
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AN event, museum, Nobel, restaurants
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