Bæst - when Italy's finest side meets the North
Italy has an enclave in Copenhagen!
At Bæst in Nørrebro, our foodie hearts soar.
The best local organic products and the skilled hands of Chef Christian Puglisi ensure that even the simplest dishes are a grand delight.
From pizza to pistachio ice cream, we indulge in a Danish-Italian Dolce Vita.
In Munich, Italy feels very close. Therefore, we aren't easily satisfied if the gelato isn't as good as the one we had in Florence or if the pizza can't compete with Naples'.
Consequently, we were a bit hesitant to try Italian food in the far north.
Christian Puglisi, born in Messina, Sicily and raised in Denmark, has not only worked in top restaurants like Noma but also earned a Michelin star with his restaurant Relæ.
So, we were quite confident it would be good here...
Upon arriving at Bæst, we were immediately pleased with our decision to see how Italy blends into Copenhagen.
The long tiled bar leads to an open kitchen with a glowing Neapolitan stone oven.
At the back of the room, behind glass, hang hams and salamis from their own butcher shop, made from organic Hindsholm Grisen pork.
Wooden tables and black lacquered chairs, Cocoon lamps, and raw walls create an unpretentious and inviting atmosphere.
While the seven or eleven-course tasting menu allows for a full experience of Italian delicacies, we are especially drawn to the heavenly scent of freshly baked dough.
Our highest praise goes to the simplest dishes here.
The extra virgin olive oil, in which we dip Mirabelle's sourdough bread, is stunningly good.
The burrata, like the mozzarella, is made in their own creamery on the first floor and is fantastic.
We enjoy it with the most flavorful wood-fired roasted eggplant and basil.
Finally, the pizza, topped with just tomato sauce, garlic, oregano and Bæst stracciatella, ranks among the best we've ever had.
Anyone who thinks Denmark is too far north for a fabulous Italian experience is greatly mistaken.
