For the food obsessed, weed and anarchy aren't exactly the first words that describe Copenhagen, the Danish city that launched famous restaurants like Noma, Relae, and Kadeau. The family-friendly place is fairly conservative. That is, of course, unless you're inside the gates of Christiania, the autonomous commune in Copenhagen that continues to piss off politicians and grandmothers alike. The freetown exists in an old military base that was converted into an anarchist's wet dream in 1971; the place where weed is legal and cargo bikes, police raids, and space cakes are as frequent as the daily herds of tourists.But for American chef Matt Orlando, Christiania is more than just a novelty. After moving to Copenhagen years ago to work for René Redzepi at Noma–the "seal fucker," Orlando eventually launched his own restaurant, Amass. As a Nordic n00b, Christiania became one of the first places where Orlando found inspiration.On the latest episode of MUNCHIES: The Podcast, Matt Orlando briefs us on the history of this anarchist micro-state—from the weed to the politics—and explains why this Nordic city continues to lure some of the world's greatest chefs into working here.So tune into the podcast, subscribe on iTunes if you can dig it, and tell your friends to do the same. And check back in two weeks for the next episode, because we're taking you on a ride with the world's most expensive milk man to The Farm of Ideas.
Advertisement