Chef Todd Gray held an exclusive Nordic Cuisine Tasting for journalists on October 8^th at his DC restaurant, Equinox.  The theme:  Nordic food from Norway with a heavy emphasis on sustainable fish.  It was an eclectic and interesting group, but the main thing was the delicious food!

So why Nordic food?

Chef Gray recently joined the Norwegian Seafood Council’s Chef’s Culinary Board along with five other chefs from across the country.

The tasting was held in an intimate room at Equinox with 12 people.  Two of the people were from the Royal Norwegian Embassy and one from the Norwegian Seafood Council.  I made the blunder of asking if ABBA was from Norway…they are not.

This tasting was fit for a princess.  I was given red wine at my request and two other white wines to go along with the fish tastings.  We were then given a mixed Nordic drink that went down smoothly to start off the tastings.

Next were the canapés.  Chef Gray described them to us.  All three were delicious.  The fish canapé looked like sushi.

First Course was warm risotto with crab, artichoke hearts and mushrooms.  I couldn’t taste the mushrooms and the dish was warm and soothing.  I love crab.

The Second Course was Halibut from Norway encrusted with sweet peppers.  Delicious.  I loved the crunch of the pepper.

The Third Course was Norwegian Salmon.  It was a sweeter dish, but smooth as butter.

The Fourth Course was the Honey Apple Cake with a slice of ice cream. Delicious.

The Menu (Available through October 31st):

Cocktail & Canape Reception

Nordic Cocktails

Beet-Cured Norwegian Salmon Gravlax

Norwegian Salmon Crudo

Hot-Seared Tataki

First Course

Risotto with Norwegian Red King Crab

Artichoke hearts and black trumpet mushrooms

Second Course

Whole Roasted Deep-Water Norwegian Fjord Halibut

Confit of sweet peppers, lemon thyme butter and focaccia tuille

Third Course

Riso Nero-Crusted Norwegian Salmon

Cider-glazed Brussels sprout petals

Winesap apples and Kobocha squash zabaione

Fourth Course

Honey Apple Cake with a slice of ice cream.

Chef Gray will be focusing on Nordic fish at Equinox starting now.  The food is incredible and you don’t want to miss his take on how Nordic fish is served at his restaurant.