Rock Star Chefs Who Don't Scream

Since the SconeLady is a traveling fanatic, I like to (from time to time) introduce readers to unique opportunities you will find if you travel. The following is one such opportunity:

He is 36 years old, and grew up hunting for food in his own Yugoslavian back yard. This is Rene Redzepi, the Danish chef that simply EVERYBODY is talking about. The dishes he produces at his restaurant in Copenhagen reflect those childhood 'finds'. In fact, he now has a crew of foragers who know exactly what to look for - and these things make their way to the tables of Noma, the place where simply everybody is wanting to eat.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sifu_renka/5074002212/

I didn't used to know about Mr. Redzepi. But one day, while walking away the miles and listening to NPR, his voice suddenly came through on Desert Island Discs (dear Readers, Desert Island Discs is something every true Brit-lover will listen to. I do it to remind myself of the gracious and sophisticated programming one is sure to find there. It is a giant step upward from E! Entertainment and I highly recommend it!).

On that day, Rene was saying that he could not believe he was a so-called Celebrity Chef. He said that no one had thought of the celebrity-ness of his profession until someone on E! (or something) mentioned it. 

Americans have heard that celebrity chefs are generally known for their screaming, their tantrums, and their shriek-ish demands. Rene, too, used to scream. He screamed until suddenly his voice and his heart couldn't take anymore screams, and his doctor said he'd better stop it. It was making his blood pressure go crazy.

And so one day on the road to a meltdown, Rene stopped it. A conscious decision, he made enormous changes in himself and in his restaurant, with the result that he remains sane - and people come there in droves. He and his chefs do not perpetually shout and curse and act like the devil's stepmother. 

So, knowing as I now do that Rene's foragers search locally and find whatever will be on the menu, I wanted to see what some of his servings look like.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sifu_renka/6245576301/

Er - the servings are rather petite, to be honest. The need to go in hungry and come out full? That may not be fulfilled, but I am convinced the food itself is delicious. Stupendous, even. You don't get voted the best restaurant in the world four years in a row, for no reason. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sifu_renka/6245610669/

I may not reach Copenhagen, nor get to enjoy a unique dinner at Noma anytime very soon. But I can still dream, can't I? I can still hope to one day walk through those doors and taste Mr. Redzepi's unusual fare. 

After all, the SconeLady cannot live by scones alone. 


See you along the way!
the SconeLady
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sifu_renka/6245576301/">Renée S. Suen</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sifu_renka/5074002212/">Renée S. Suen</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sifu_renka/6245610669/">Renée S. Suen</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>