Having lunch at the elegant Sofiero Palace Restaurant (Sofiero Slottsrestaurang) in Helsingborg, Sweden was a royal treat. The restaurant is located inside the Sofiero Palace built in 1864 that was once the summer residence of King Gustav IV Adolf.
Visiting Sofiero Palace and Gardens in May 2008 when the gardens were literally bursting with a dazzling display of vivid color was a heady experience that would definitely have justified a trip all by itself to the Skåne region of Sweden if that were the only thing that Edward F. Nesta and I had experienced. Imagine strolling through immaculately kept gardens and over stone stepped woods dotted with sculptures, wooden benches thoughtfully placed throughout the gardens where visitors may stop, relax, and enjoy the more than 10,000 plants and over 500 different varieties of rhododendron in bloom some of which are over 100 years old as King Gustav IV Adolf planted the first rhododendron in 1907.
Sofiero Palace Gardens
The result was strikingly breathtaking, and combined with a tour of Sofiero Palace, throwing coins in the fountain for good luck at the Sofiero Flower & Garden Shop, and a delectable lunch at the Sofiero Palace Restaurant (Sofiero Slottsrestaurang) where Chef Marcus Nemrin’s menu is classic with a touch of magic with his innovative culinary approach, it was an amazing day.
After spending the morning strolling the Sofiero Palace Gardens, and taking a tour of the rooms in the Palace, we had lunch on the verandah of the antiques filled elegant Sofiero Palace Restaurant where we had a view of the water. Tables were immaculately and formally set with ivory linens with a fleur-de-lis pattern, crisp ivory napkins, and tall brass candlesticks with ivory tapers fitted inside hurricane glass globes. The dining rooms featured high ceilings with ornate crystal chandeliers, round backed chairs painted blue grey with burnt orange cushioned seats, Oriental carpets accented the hardwood floor, antique paintings graced the lemon yellow walls, and marble fireplaces were located throughout the restaurant.
Dining Room
Lunch began with a tempting and attractive amuse bouche of chicken liver millefeuille with mixed herbs, followed by a first course of a light and luscious asparagus brûlée decorated with tender sliced asparagus spears and accompanied with a mixed herb salad with diced celeriac, beets, and thinly sliced and marinated red onions.
Asparagus Brulee
We continued with a tasty second course of filets of halibut and pike perch beautifully presented on a bed of grilled white asparagus in a pool of rich and creamy sauce enhanced with a drizzle of herb oil, and accompanied by a small square bowl featuring half of a grilled white onion topping a rich nettle soup covering a potato brûlée. Talk about a mélange of delicious flavors; this course was absolutely stunning.
Lunch ended with on an appealingly sweet note with a dessert of baked quince, called the "fruit of love" that is a nutritious source of calcium and potassium as well as vitamins A and C, topped with a quenelle of lemon and olive ice cream, topped with a jaunty small almond cookie "cap," and garnished with chocolate poppy candies. I really enjoyed the melding of flavors in this course, especially with the savory ingredient of olive and lemon ice cream that left me with fond memories of my time at Sofiero Palace Restaurant.
Sofiero Palace Restaurant
Read other articles on Sofiero Palace Restaurant (Sofiero Slottsrestaurang) in Chefs’ Recipes (in English) and Chefs’ Recipes (in Swedish).
Sofiero Palace Restaurant (Sofiero Slottsrestaurang)
250 19 Helsingborg, Sweden
Telephone: +46 42-14-0440
www.SofieroSlottsrestaurang.se
The Sofiero Palace Gardens are open April through September, with concerts during the summer months, and a culmination of the season in August with a special exhibition. The Sofiero Palace and the Orangery is open from April through September. The Sofiero Flower & Garden Shop is open year round. Admission includes entrance to the Gardens and the Palace.
Read other articles on Skåne in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs’ Recipes, Arts and Antiques, Spas, and Gastronomy sections.
Read other articles on Sweden in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs Recipes, Gastronomy, and Travel News – Sweden a Green Destination sections.
For information on Sweden, please visit the websites: www.VisitSweden.com, www.Skane.com, www.Malmo.se, and www.Helsingborg.se.
For information on SAS Airlines, please visit the website: www.FlySAS.com.
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