Katana VentraIP

Noma (restaurant)

Noma is a three-Michelin-star restaurant run by chef René Redzepi, and co-founded by Claus Meyer, in Copenhagen, Denmark. The name is a syllabic abbreviation of the two Danish words "nordisk" (Nordic) and "mad" (food).[2] Opened in 2003, the restaurant is known for its focus on foraging, invention and interpretation of New Nordic Cuisine.[1][3] In 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014, it was ranked as the Best Restaurant in the World by Restaurant magazine.[4][5][6][7] In 2021, it won the first spot in the World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards.[8]

Noma

2003 (2003)[1]

René Redzepi

None

Refshalevej 96

1432

History[edit]

Noma's original location was at Strandgade 93, in an old warehouse on the waterfront of the Inner Harbour in the Christianshavn neighbourhood in central Copenhagen.


The building is situated by the Greenlandic Trading Square, which for 200 years was a centre for trade to and from the Faroe Islands, Finnmark, Iceland, and in particular, Greenland. Dry fish, salted herring, whale oil and skins are among the goods that were stored in and around the warehouse before being sold off to European markets.[9]


In 2003, the warehouse was turned into North Atlantic House, a centre for the art and culture of the North Atlantic region.[10] Noma was opened at the same time by René Redzepi and Claus Meyer.[1][11] The restaurant's interior was designed by Space Copenhagen.[12]


Between 12 and 16 February 2013, 63 of 435 diners became ill after eating at Noma, according to a Danish Food Administration report.[13][14] The symptoms were attributed to norovirus, which was believed to have been unintentionally spread by an infected kitchen employee.[15][16]


Redzepi planned to close Noma after 31 December 2016 and reopen it in 2017 as an urban farm near Copenhagen.[17]


Noma reopened on 15 February 2018 after a year hiatus.[18] The restaurant itself also moved from its previous Strandgade location, now housing Restaurant Barr, to its current location at Refshalevej 96.


In May 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis, Noma re-opened as a wine and burger bar,[19] with takeaway options. It is sometimes referred to as "Noma 3.0" by the food media.[20] Redzepi planned to keep this open for at least a part of the summer 2020.


In 2021, Noma won first place on the World's Best Restaurant 2021 list.[21]


Noma is expected to close at the end of 2024 and transform into a test kitchen, Noma Projects, for online ordering.[22] The dining rooms will occasionally be open as a pop-up restaurant.[23][24]

Staff[edit]

Redzepi formerly worked at restaurants including The French Laundry, El Bulli, Kong Hans Kælder and Le Jardin des Sens. The head chef is currently Kenneth Foong, replacing Canadian Benjamin Ing in July 2020. Prior head chefs include Dan Giusti and Matt Orlando.[27] The head sommelier is Ava Mees List.

Temporary locations[edit]

From 28 July to 6 August 2012, Noma decamped to London for a 10-day pop-up restaurant hosted by Claridge's hotel in Mayfair, while the restaurant in Copenhagen was closed from 22 July to 13 August for refurbishment. Redzepi, along with head chef Matt Orlando and staff from the restaurant, served up a £195-per-head nine-course menu that included their versions of scones and clotted cream, Lancashire hotpot with British ingredients, as well as live ants foraged in Denmark and flown to London.[28][29][30][31]


On 29 March 2014, Noma announced that the restaurant would be relocating to Japan for two months at the beginning of 2015.[32]


On 24 July 2015, Noma announced that the restaurant would be relocating to Australia for 10 weeks at the beginning of 2016.[33][34]


On 12 April 2017, Noma Mexico was opened in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico.[35] Noma partnered with Traspatio Maya, a nonprofit network of 15 Maya communities to provide Yucatecan ingredients, such as white Naal Teel corn, Ixil onions, Xtop pepita, bee larva, and Melipona honey from the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.[36] Products from the rest of the country are also included, such as Baja California wine, Chiapas coffee and Oaxaca artisanal plateware.[37][35][36] The pop-up closed on 28 May.[35]


On April 13, 2022, it was announced that a popup Noma would open in Brooklyn, New York, operating from May 16–20 of that year.[38]

2006: 33rd Best Restaurant in the World

[39]

2007: 15th Best Restaurant in the World

[40]

2008: 10th Best Restaurant in the World

[41]

2009: 3rd Best Restaurant in the World

[42]

2009: Chefs' Choice

2010: Best Restaurant in the World

[43]

2011: Best Restaurant in the World

[44]

2012: Best Restaurant in the World

[45]

2013: 2nd Best Restaurant in the World

[46]

2014: Best Restaurant in the World

[47]

2015: 3rd Best Restaurant in the World

[48]

2016: 5th Best Restaurant in the World

[49]

2021: Best Restaurant in the World

[7]

Grilled leeks with ashes, hazelnut, yoghurt and caramelized chicken gravy

Grilled leeks with ashes, hazelnut, yoghurt and caramelized chicken gravy

Mousse of sorrel and granita of Rosa rugosa and beetroot

Mousse of sorrel and granita of Rosa rugosa and beetroot

Rye bread and chicken skin with rygeost (Danish smoked cheese) and lumpfish roe

Rye bread and chicken skin with rygeost (Danish smoked cheese) and lumpfish roe

Toast with turbot roe, herbs and vinegar dust

Toast with turbot roe, herbs and vinegar dust

Raw prawns with seaweed, rhubarb and herbs

Raw prawns with seaweed, rhubarb and herbs

Pickled and smoked quail eggs

Pickled and smoked quail eggs

Marrow with pickled vegetables

Marrow with pickled vegetables

Meringue and ice made with birch and honey

Meringue and ice made with birch and honey

(Video). Phaidon Press. 2010.

"René Redzepi and the story of Noma"

Bourdain, Anthony (6 October 2013). (Includes video). Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. CNN.

"Season 2, Episode 4: Copenhagen. Happiness"

Official website