Denmark is a small country located in Northern Europe. It used to be the home of the Vikings, which meant that it was a major power in Europe. Now, however, Denmark is a modern nation that is helping with the economic integration of Europe. Most tourists head to Copenhagen, which is one of the major cities of the country. Others head to Legoland, which is perfect for families or Lego-lovers to visit, and Ribe, the oldest town in Denmark.
Traditional Denmark cuisine is much like the cuisine of Norway and Germany. Most dishes are very heavy and have a lot of meat and carbohydrates in them. People survived on the foods that they could grow until the 1860’s, when Denmark finally became a member of trade with other nations. This means that vegetables and fruits played a large part in the majority of early dishes.
The first meal of the day is usually buttered bread that is served with cheese, jam and coffee. Sometimes salami is served as well. Some Danish people eat cereal with a crumbled bread on top, or an porridge. On a special occasion, morgenbord is served. This is a buffet of different foods that are laid out during an anniversary or birthday. It will have a number of different breakfast selections on it.
Smorrebrod is a type of sandwich that is eaten during the lunch hour. It is a buttered rye bread that is topped with cold cuts, meat or cheese. There are a number of different combinations that can be made, but all of these open sandwiches are created using a base of a dark buttered bread and a meat or cheese. Just like the Danish have a special celebratory meal for breakfast, so do they for lunch. Kolde bord, or cold table, is a smorgasbord of lunch items that are served on a large table. Different items, such as pickled herring, Danish sausage, Veal medallion, cold cuts, and different breads, are laid out for people to choose from.
Dinner is the main meal of the day, and is when the family gathers together. Regular dinners may include dishes such as frikadeller. Frikadeller are a Danish meatball that is made using ground veal or pork, onions, eggs, and spices. It is made into balls, flattened, and fried in pork fat. They are often served with potatoes and gravy or red cabbage. These are also a popular dish in a smorgasbord.
Christmas time is a special time in a Danish household. A Christmas lunch is often served. This lunch can be for family members or for a business. It includes traditional smorgasbord items, such as liver, cold cuts, salads, cheeses, and fruit. One thing that separates a Julefrokost from a traditional lunch buffet is the selskabssang, or party song. These are songs that are sung during the meal, making the occasion extremely festive.