Pairing Smørrebrød correctly — a note on aquavit

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Smørrebrød. I ordered it with aquavit and the bright and pickled elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. pickled herring in particular became more prominent in a good way.

Danish New Nordic cuisine movement redefined fine dining globally in the 2000s. The a Noma-inspired New Nordic restaurant is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Smørrebrød with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.