Still no three star restaurants in Nordic countries

Michelin Guide published 2012 edition of the Michelin Main Cities of Europe Guide this week. Copenhagen’s Noma has been named the best restaurant in the world two years running by Michelin rival Restaurant magazine’s The S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants- list. However Rene Redzepi’s restaurant, which is famous for foraging and finding new Nordic ingredients, fails to get a third star from Michelin once again, causing an outcry among the food loving community.

Noma is still the only two-star restaurant in Denmark but a grand total of twelve restaurants get one star and another dozen are mentioned for good value. This is a large haul and according to the local press positions Copenhagen as the gastronomic capital of the Nordic region. The restraurants getting one star mention are Den Røde Cottage,Era Ora, Geranium, Grønbech & Churchill, Herman, Kiin Kiin,Kokkerie,t Kong Hans Kaelder, Relæ, Søllerød Kro,a|o|c and formel B.

Swedish papers are also finding their own twist on what is the main gastronomic city in Scandinavia. They position Stockholm on pole since it has two two-star restaurants, which is the most in the region. These are Matsalen by Mathias Dahlgren and Frantzén/Lindeberg by chef Björn Frantzén and pastry chef Daniel Lindeberg.

Stockholm’s four restaurants with 1 Michelin star are Esperanto, F12, Lux Stockholm and Mathias Dahlgren-Matbaren. The Guide also looks into restaurants in Gothenburg and has given it four restaurants with a star, namely 28+, Fond, Kock & Vin and Thörnströms Kök. A total of 9 Swedish restaurants (7 Stockholm, 2 Gothenburg) get the Bib Gourmand mention for good food at moderate prices.

Finnish capital Helsinki retains its stars from last year. Tv-celebrity Hans Välimäki’s Chez Dominique has two stars and Demo, Luomo, Olo and Postres maintain one. Five additional restaurants get a Bib Gourmand mention.

Organic food focused Maaemo, headed by chef Esben Holmboe-Bang, jumped into the list to become the only two-star restaurant in Oslo, Norway. Bagatelle, Oscarsgate and Statholdergaarden are listed with one-star rating. Three Norwegian restaurants have a Bib Gourmand mention.

The book covers a total of 64 restaurants in Sweden, 59 in Denmark, 31 Finland and 29 in Norway. Three stars mean a restaurant is worth a separate trip, 2 suggest a detour and one means the restaurant is very good in its category.