Noma, the globally renowned star in the culinary world, is embarking on a collaboration with the London restaurant Kol and Lyaness Cocktail Bar. Ideas for the European (and beyond) expansion of Noma Projects are also announced.
The news
Noma, the Danish 3-Michelin-star restaurant, has surprised food enthusiasts worldwide by announcing that it will close in its current form at the end of 2024. But for those who know chef and owner René Redzepi, the end is just the beginning. As he and his team refine new projects, the itinerant experience of pop-ups and collaborations with other venues continues. In particular, on September 10th, there will be an opportunity to taste the restaurant's dishes in the British capital.
Thomas Frebel, the creative director of Noma Projects, will arrive in London with six team members for a day, hosted by the Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant Kol and the cocktail bar Lyaness, run by the famous bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana (better known as Mr. Lyan). The result? A "synergistic" tasting experience with five courses and accompanying beverages. The fortunate 60 who manage to secure a ticket for the 90-minutes experience will also receive a complimentary bag with various Noma Projects kitchen products.
However, the collaboration with Kol is just a taste of what Noma has in store after the closure of the Copenhagen restaurant. As Frebel told The Guardian, the team is planning to open several fermentation labs across Europe, and possibly in America as well. "With Noma Projects, we want to share the innovation and ideas of Noma with the world." This involves creating "research centers inspired by local traditions" in different countries to "celebrate indigenous flavors and the culinary heritage of each region." Another plan could lead to the establishment of "an authentic seaweed farm in one of the Scandinavian fjords."
"We want to encourage people to cook more, in a slightly healthier and plant-based way," Frebel said, noting that the range of sauces and fermented products will be expanded, and "there might even be small Noma stores worldwide." Redzepi's culinary style, which played a key role in shaping New Nordic Cuisine, is known for spotlighting traditional food preservation techniques, which now need further development.
