It all seemed rather rich and decadent, but when I tasted it, I was surprised to find it quite light and not as sweet as I had imagined. It seems others might agree; the Frederik cake sells quickly.
Having survived four monarchs, Conditori La Glace has changed little in its 150-year history. Inside, its pink paneled walls, vintage clocks and gilt-framed photographs transport customers to a bygone era when only the most classic pastries and cakes are served. For a city where cutting-edge bakeries open almost every two weeks, such longevity is remarkably rare.
“This is how we will stay,” insisted Stagetorn Kolos, who has run this Copenhagen institution for 35 years.
The patisserie serves a mind-boggling array of nearly 40 French-inspired desserts, from large, creamy cakes and macaroons to pastries and breads. Other famous Danes have also earned their place on the menu. There’s the Hans Christian Andersen, a white chocolate cake, and the Karen Blixen coffee, while the composer Carl Nielsen has been immortalized as a chocolate and orange truffle.
Behind the glass counter, employees in green aprons hurriedly served customers as the queue stretched toward the door. Among those waiting patiently was Bente Faerch, who told me she had been to La Glace several times before. “It’s a place with a lot of history,” she said. But for her, this occasion was particularly nostalgic. “When Queen Margrethe was crowned, I was here with my parents. So, I wanted to be here today too.”
Sunday’s succession saw the streets of Copenhagen transformed into a sea of people waving red and white Danish flags as they bid farewell to Margrethe and welcomed King Frederik and his wife, Queen Mary.