Flora Danica: a Danish interlude on the Champs-Elysées

Located at 142 Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the Maison du Danemark invites us to discover the country's culture through exhibitions, screenings, and its two restaurants: a gourmet restaurant, Le Copenhague, and a brasserie, Flora Danica.

In 2017, the restaurant's interior was completely redesigned by the star Danish design duo, Danish architect Stine Gam and Italian architect Enrico Fratesi. The kitchen is run by Andreas Møller, a 34-year-old chef from Copenhagen and heir to the New Nordic Cuisine movement that emerged in the early 2000s under the impetus and creativity of chefs such as Claus Meyer and René Redzepi of Noma, which has been named the world's best restaurant several times in the 50 Best Restaurants list.

With the support of French chef Guillaume Leray,Andreas Møller has created a simple menu that brings together all the classics of Danish cuisine. Smørebrød (pronounced "smeureubreud"), a slice of black bread spread with butter and topped with herring or mackerel, is an institution in Lars Von Trier's homeland.



You'll love the homemade tarama served with a blini, followed of course by salmon, cooked on one side and served with warm beets and potato salad, or the "Gilbert Bécaud" style salmon heart. The famous singer of "Et Maintenant" used to request a certain way of slicing the salmon, which ended up being added to the restaurant's menu.



On the meat side, the finely chopped beef tartare is a treat, and if you still have room for dessert, try the light rice pudding made with whipped cream or opt for the freshness of a red fruit soup, known here as Rødgrød.

A place just the way we like it: a theme, a short menu, good products without unnecessary frills. However, we regret the absence of organic and natural wines, as Denmark is very advanced in terms of healthier eating and ecology. This last point will not prevent us from returning to tryAndreas Møller's gourmet restaurant, Le Copenhague, located upstairs.

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.