On Saturday July 14th ETEs guests were - in all secrecy - guided to The French Salon at The National Museum in Oslo. In cooperation with both the museum and chef Isabella Lösch Danneborg we had planned an evening out of the ordinary.
All photos by Morten Harnang.
Like on our opening night in Capella Johannea we kept our guests from knowing where the event would actually take place. Our 24 guests were told to meet in front of the Norwegian Parliament building, where they were greeted with cold gazpacho in small cups. All while tourists and the inhabitants of Oslo rushed past, wondering what this was all about.
Central Oslo are full of potential places! Walking to our destination, speculations were flowing in all directions. And as we’re finally about to ascend the stairs of The National Gallery, we sensed a collective gasp among our guests; We knew we had succeeded in our secrecy - again.
The National Museum holds, preserves, exhibits, and promotes public knowledge about, Norway's most extensive collections of art, architecture and design. The National Gallery - established in 1837 - is one of the museums several venues. In addition to a collection which mainly emphasise on Norwegian paintings and sculptures from the 19th century, The National Gallery also holds an extensive collection of paintings by international artists.
The foyer of The National Gallery was where our guests were greeted and served small sandwiches and cups of green tea punch. And just as we hoped, countless variants of wow! were whispered when entering the sumptuous French Salon. On the grand table, Anette Krogstad’s beautiful small ceramic bowls were filled with beet roots, rye bread, horseradish cream, salt and pepper - just a hint of what to come.
With its polished marbled stucco and gilded ornamentation, the French Salon is one of the National Gallery’s most sumptuous rooms. Originally designed by Arnstein Arneberg in 1924, the French Salon was restyled by interior designer Kristin Jarmund in 2002. The room’s name and design reflect its original purpose, which was to house a rich collection of plaster copies of French 17th and 18th century sculptures, a gift from the French state.
Chef Isabella had prepared a delicious five course dinner for the guests, and was eager to share what the two starters were all about. First up was a tartar of tuna served with quail eggs, beet roots, horseradish cream and rye bread.
Our guests seemed to enjoy both the food and the company. As for most Supper Clubs, the social aspect is important. We sensed a lively atmosphere on the rise...
Next up were scallops on a salad sauce vert, beautifully arranged on Anette Krogstads large ceramic tiles.
How many of us can say that they’ve experienced a private guided tour of The National Gallery - on a late saturday evening - in the middle of a five course dinner? Guide Ingvild Hammervold invited our guests up the majestic stairs into the gallery. With her charisma and warmth in her way of communicating, the works of art were complemented with a new dimension. The tour started with Norway’s greatest artists within the Romantic Nationalism period, before the main theme of the evening: the world of Christian Krogh and the Kristiania Bohemians.
After the grand tour, our guests were ready for more of Isabellas delicious menu. It was time to serve the main course; Cod loins in a reduction of saffron, tomato and Pernod. Sprinkled with romanesco, jerusalem artichoke chips and sun dried olives.
The conversations were flowing, and just like last time we are relieved to hear all the laughter, the cheerful voices and glasses clinking from our place at the kitchen and back room. Chef Isabella and Anette has everything in control in the kitchen. Their teamwork and energy is admirable. Nothing is left to chance, everything is well thought through, nothing is cooked a second too long. As they lay their finishing touch on the colorful courses laid out on Anettes beautiful ceramic tiles, their sense of aesthetics are striking.
It’s time for desserts. And the first dessert is Isabellas passion: Cheese. Different cheeses are served accompanied with honey, nuts and quince marmalade.
Lastly it was time for the sweet finale. And as a tradition, both the chef, assistants and the ETE team joined in around the table. And what a treat it was: Chocolate mousse with a sorbet of sea-buckthorn. Decorated with edible flowers. We couldn´t have asked for more.
The artist Christian Krogh and the Kristiana Bohemians had 9 commandments. One of them said: You should never regret. A fitting commandment to remember from an evening where one dived in with curiousness and an open mind, an experience that can never be recreated, new acquaintances across a long table which only appeared for a few hours, a handful of pictures that can be shown to them who didn’t experience this evening, because every ETE Supper Club is unique - who knows what happens next time?
A BIG THANKS TO:
- The National Museum, Chef Isabella Løsch Danneborg and artist and assistant Anette Krogstad. For giving us the opportunity to host a dinner at the fabulous National Gallery, an unforgettable guided tour, a magnificent dinner and beautiful ceramics to present the menu.
- Fiskeriet. For the super-fresh seafood
- Rørosmeieret. For the organic high quality dairy products
- Podium Wines. For expert guidance on the wine menu and for lovely ecological dessert wine.
- Morten Harnang. For all the beautiful pictures