Music Pairings; Dinner and a Song List- Recipes for a Memorable Dining Experience Series; Danish Night with a Meal Fit for a Viking & Classical Jazz

Welcome (Velkommen! ) to the seventh edition to my dinner and a song list series. If you missed the first installment, "Italian Night; Spaghetti Bolognese" you can find it here, or the second installment; Memphis BBQ Night see it here, the third; Old English Chaucerian Night with Baked Cod and Bragot , the fourth; Hungarian Night with Paprika Chicken, Esterhazy Torte and Exquisite Violin, the fifth, "Luck 'O the Irish" Night with Celtic Melodies, Limerick Ham and Champ (no Green Beer Here) or find the sixth edition Polish Night, Perogies, Galumpkies and Sobieski Secret Recipe here. You can also find the list of my music pairing articles here , just use the search box on the top right of my profile and type in the phrase "music pairings".

It seems everyone writes about food and wine pairings these days, but I'm here to bring you something different. With this series I'm pairing food with music to enrich the diner's experience. I'm hoping, with this series, to not only bring some new tastes of food and music to your palates, but also something for your minds to chew, gobble and feast upon that might enlighten or enrich your evening meals and create a most memorable evening to share with your loved ones, maybe even start a new tradition of trying new dishes and musical offerings you might not have otherwise found, and round out your worldly palates.

This "Danish Night" article is dedicated to one of my best friends (Lisa Anderson Lasher Klein) who just happens to be of Danish heritage. Lisa's Aunt Harriet Jensen was the Pastry Chef for the Royal Family in Copenhagan in the 30's and 40's, after which, Aunt Harriet moved to Elgin, Illinois and opened her own Danish Bakery which she ran until her passing. I had to find out some of these wonderful recipes, so I emailed Lisa to ask her opinion on what would be an authentic Danish menu for a night of entertaining and got the perfect suggestions. She's such a sweetheart and always has always been so kind to me, (both her, and her husband are the best hosts and cooks I know). My better half and I love visiting them as they both are pros in the kitchen and serve the best meals (and I do mean BEST), that we've ever had. From the excellent wines and delectable delicacies they lavish upon their lucky guests, it's no wonder they have such a large group of people they call friends. Their parties are the most talked about all year and I'm so lucky to have such a diverse group of friends all with different tastes and cultures to bring to the table. So here's to you Lisa! (and Dave too!) Thanks for all the wonderful dishes you've shared with me along with the cherished friendship I hold so dear, I hope this article lives up to a proper Danish evening.

Lisa suggested the following menu for "Danish Night": Perfect for 6 people
Menu:
Appetizers:
Salmon Log (recipe below)
Curry Herring (recipe below)
Sherry Herring (recipe below)
Served w/ Pickled Beets, Hard Boiled Eggs, Pickled Cucumbers, or Gherkins

Entree/ Main Course:
Kalvebryst med Dildsauce (Breast of Veal with Dill Sauce) - (recipe below)
Boiled Potatoes with Parsley Sauce (recipe below)
Indbagte Gnlerodder (Baked Carrot Ring w/ creamed peas) - (recipe below)

After Dinner Always Serve:
Cream Havarti cheese
Danablu (Danish Blue) cheese
Danish Fontina cheese
Served w/ soft bread & jams

Dessert :
Ame Riddere (Poor Knights) - (recipe below)

Danish Recipes:

Appetizer #1- Salmon Log:
Ingredients:
1 pound red salmon
8 oz. cream cheese softened
1 TBL. lemon juice
2 TBL. minced onion
1 tsp. prepared horseradish
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. liquid smoke
chopped parsley
Directions:
Remove skirt and bones on salmon. Mix all ingredients (except parsley). Shape mixture into a log roll and roll outside with chopped parsley. Wrap with plastic wrap and chill overnight. Serve w/ crackers, pickled beets, gherkins and toast points.

Appetizer #2- Curry Herring:
Ingredients:
2 marinated whole herrings
1 hard boiled egg
1/2 med onion chopped
1/2 cup real mayo
1/2 TBL. heavy cream
1 1/4 tsp. curry powder
1/2 TBL. lemon juice
chopped parsley
salt & pepper
Directions:
Cut herring into small pieces. Slice hard boiled eggs. Layer herring and eggs in bowl and add chopped onions on the top. Mix mayo w/ cream and curry, add lemon and salt & pepper to season. Pour dressing over herring and arrange more egg slices and chopped parsley on top.

Appetizer #3- Sherry Herring:
2 whole herrings
1/2 med. onion chopped
1/2 branch Dill (fresh) chopped
1/8 cup sherry
1/4 cup tomato juice
1/2 TBL. sugar
1/4 tsp. allspice
Directions:
Cut herring in 1-2 inch pieces and combine with the rest of the ingredients. Serve w/ crackers and toast points.

Entree/Main Course- Breast of Veal w/ Dill Sauce: Serves 6
Ingredients:
3 pounds lean veal breast
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
2 TBL. butter
2 TBL. fresh chopped dill
Directions:
Melt butter in large hot frying pan and place veal very briefly to brown both sides, cover meat with boiling water and add bay leaf, salt, pepper, and dill. Simmer for 1 1/2 hrs. Remove veal and reserve 2 cups of stock. Cut veal into fine serving pieces and place on platter. Serve w/ Dill Sauce.
Dill Sauce Ingredients:
2 TBL. butter
2 TBL. flour
2 TBL. crushed dill
1 1/2 TBL. white vinegar
2 cups veal stock
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp. salt
parsley
Directions:
Melt butter in skillet, add flour and stir until smooth, add hot veal stock gradually while stirring. Add remainder of ingredients and stir until smooth. Serve w/ veal breast, garnish with parsley.

Entree/Main Course- Sides: Boiled Potatoes w/ Parsley Sauce:
Ingredients:
2 TBL. butter
2 TBL. flour
3 TBL. fresh parsley minced
1 cup milk
Salt & Pepper
6 peeled & boiled potatoes
Directions:
Melt butter over low heat, stir in flour, parsley and seasonings, mix until smooth, Add milk gradually stirring until smooth. Allow sauce to cook for 15 min at low temp. stirring when necessary. Serve over boiled potatoes.

Entree/Main Course- Sides: Baked Carrot Ring w/ Creamed Peas
Ingredients:
2 TBL. butter
2 TBL. flour
2 TBL. bread crumbs
1 TBL. parmesan cheese
1/2 cup light cream
1 cup shredded carrots
1 tsp. salt
3 eggs separated
2 cups creamed peas (recipe below)
Directions:
Melt butter over low heat in large saucepan, add flour gradually and stir until smooth. Stir in a little at a time, cream, then cheese. Add carrots, salt & pepper, and stir in beaten egg yolks. Beat egg whites separately until stiff and fold into mixture. Pour into a buttered ring mold coated w/ bread crumbs. Fill about 2/3 full and set mold in an open pan of hot water (water should only come up half way of mold). Bake 50 min. or until firm at 350 degrees. Unmold onto platter and fill inside of carrot mold w/ creamed tiny peas. (see recipe below).
Creamed Peas Ingredients:
10 ounces tiny peas
3 TBL. flour
3 TBL. butter
1 cup light cream
1 cup vegetable, veal or chicken stock
salt & pepper
chopped parsley
Directions:
Boil peas and drain. Melt butter in saucepan, add flour and mix until smooth, add stock and cream, cook until thick. Add chopped parsley. Mix in peas and serve.

Dessert- Poor Knights:
Ingredients:
White bread sliced
3 eggs beaten
1/4 cup milk
1 TBL. Sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon
bread crumbs
2 TBL. butter
Directions:
Beat eggs, milk, sugar and cinnamon until frothy. Dip bread in mixture, then bread crumbs. Fry slices in butter and sprinkle w/ sugar, serve w/ favorite jams.

Lisa says when her and husband Dave were in Denmark, they ate a lot of caviar and hard boiled eggs. She also says the cheeses and creams were the finest they'd ever had, and the breads were so soft and buttery, they melted in her mouth. She also told me Danish people love to make their own flavored vodkas matching each course of the meal. Their favorite restaurants were Noma (rated #9 in the world), and Formal B, where they watched pate being made before eating it, with their 8 course meal. They both have said it was some of the finest food they had ever tasted, anywhere in the world.
Learn more about Danish cooking here: More...

And to play during your Danish night dinner-

MUSIC;
There are many different forms of Danish music that are associated with Denmark and one of those is Light Classical. For a lovely sample of Danish classical check this one out; Northern Lights: Danish Songs and you won't be disappointed.

Also Jazz is a popular genre in Denmark. Valdemar Eiberg formed and recorded the first jazz orchestra in 1923, which many people think was the first known recordings of Danish music. This one has to be on the list just for the title don't you think? 75 Years With Jazz In Denmark An Anthology In Sound.

During the 1930's Jazz music really became popular and that is still the case today among the Denmark music loving population. Here's a great one for some awesome Jazz called; Swiss Movement: Montreux 30th Anniversary Edition This one, in my book should be in everyone's music collection, and it tops my list for the "must have" of your Danish night celebration, it's fabulous!

If you'd like a real taste of a country, have a good listen to their folk music. This is the best (and fastest) way to immerse yourself in the sounds and feelings of a place and really get a 'feel' for it. Most folk music in Denmark is dominated by the fiddle and the accordion. For this I would recommend The Danish Song Treasury, Vol. 4.

If you're saving this meal for a special holiday celebration you'll have to put this one is the cd player...you'll love this one, Danish Christmas it's absolutely beautiful, in fact, I'm buying this one for Christmas this year. The haunting voices of the choir lift you up and bring a very ethereal quality to a wonderfully composed compilation and would add a very special ambiance to any special evening.

For more of a romantic dinner, you may want to choose another Dane, Jacob Gade who in 1925 composed a now, very famous temperamental, romantic Tango called "Tzigane Jalousie". Which is song #11 on this CD; RCA Red Seal Century: Soloists and Conductors, and I guarantee you've heard before...somewhere, in some film... it's a classic, and quite romantic indeed, it was featured in over 100 films, and the royalties from the tune allowed Gade to devote himself to composition full-time for the rest of his life. The royalties even now fund a foundation for young musicians. You can also find more of his melodies on this fine CD; Jakob Gade: Jealousy - Suites, Tangos & Waltzes.

The above choices are my picks for the Danish evening, but...if you're into more of a rockin' dinner party, here are a few famous Danish bands in the pop and rock genres;

As for popular music, the Danish band Aqua has made the biggest splash. Aqua is a Euro-pop dance group and best known for their massive hit single "Barbie Girl" from their platinum-selling debut album Aquarium in 1997. Aqua only released one other album, Aquarius (2000) before splitting in 2001, due to a rift in the band caused by vocalist Lene Nystrøm's relationship with guitarist, songwriter and fellow band member Søren Rasted.

Savage Rose is a Danish psychedelic rock group, founded in 1967 by Thomas Koppel, Anders Koppel, Alex Riel, Jens Rugsted, Flemming Ostermann, and Annisette.

D.A.D. is a Danish rock band previously known as "Disneyland After Dark", a name that had to be changed after a threatening lawsuit from The Walt Disney Company. Their style of music is often categorized as melodic heavy rock. They have also used the names D.A.D., D• A• D and D:A:D, each name represents a period in the band's history. I don't really care too much for them, but if you like heavy rock, you may enjoy them.

Pretty Maids are a Danish heavy metal band from Horsens, Denmark. Formed in 1981 by Ronnie Atkins and Ken Hammer. Their sound and music can be described as classic guitar-laden heavy rock with a strong emphasis on melodic elements like vocals and keyboards. As I pointed out in the D.A.D clip, I'm not really fond of heavy metal, but if you are you'll like this band.

And as they say in Danish,
"Skål! Bunden i vejret eller resten i håret!"
Cheers! Bottoms up! in other words: the rest in your hair!
OR
"Velbekomme!"
Butter spoils no meat, and moderation injures no cause.~ old Danish proverb

RESOURCES:

Lisa Anderson Lasher Klein
Useful Danish phrases; http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/danish.php
http://www.copenhagenet.dk/CPH-Denmark.htm

Music;
Northern Lights: Danish Songs
75 Years With Jazz In Denmark An Anthology In Sound
Swiss Movement: Montreux 30th Anniversary Edition
The Danish Song Treasury, Vol. 4
Aqua
Aquarium-1997
Aquarius-2000
Danish Christmas
RCA Red Seal Century: Soloists and Conductors
Jakob Gade: Jealousy - Suites, Tangos & Waltzes

More Links:
Other collections of Danish phrases (some with audio)
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/language/danish-phrases.html
http://www.single-serving.com/Danish/
http://linguanaut.com/english_danish.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/quickfix/danish.shtml
http://www.speakdanish.dk/html/t_phrasebook.htm
http://www.transparent.com/languagepages/Danish/DnPhrases.htm
http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/knowledgesafety/a/danphrases.htm
http://www.101languages.net/danish/basics.html
http://www.denmarkfacts.com/learn_danish_online.html