Bornholm is a Danish island located in the Baltic Sea, about 160 km east of Copenhagen and about 37 km off the Swedish coast. This lovely island has always been a big draw for Danes, and it’s no surprise that more and more people are flocking there to experience its unique traditions, and in particular its incredible food scene. Bornholm has always been known as the island of smokehouses, thanks to the many fishing villages that are dedicated to this activity. In recent years, lots of chefs have done a great job of making the most of the local ingredients and breathing new life into the whole island’s cuisine. Thanks to the people of Bornholm, this beautiful island has become a real gastronomic highlight, not just in Denmark but across the whole of Europe, with chefs flocking to the island from all over the world.
It’s not just a great place to visit for foodies, but it’s also a wonderful place to live, surrounded by local producers and food professionals. In 2007, Nicolai Norregaard opened a restaurant in a kiosk in the dunes of the beautiful beach of Dueodde: with a menu based on seasonal, local produce, Kadeau started a culinary revolution. Today, eating in Bornholm is not just about savouring the local flavours, but about having a complete experience amidst locally produced tableware and design objects. Every summer, in the beautiful setting of Gudhjem Harbour, chefs from all over the world compete to prepare Bornholm‘s most famous dish: ‘Sol over Gudhjem’ (Sun over Gudhjem), made with smoked herring, raw egg yolk, chives and horseradish, served on freshly baked rye bread.
The old tradition has not been abandoned, however: Bornholm’s economy was once based on its smokehouses with their characteristic white towers, ten of which are still in operation and can be visited today. The tradition of smoking has been handed down since the first smokehouse was opened on the island in 1866. Fish smoked with the scent of alder wood can be tasted and bought on the island in the premises next to the smokehouses. This experience alone is worth the journey to an island of incredible charm, between long flat stretches that can be travelled by bicycle and Viking sites with a history stretching back thousands of years.
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