Aaron Hathaway
August 19th, 2017

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Safe to say there will be a little bit more than beans on toast! (photo: David Martyn Hunt)

Denmark may be a land merciless on the checking account, but the scrupulous penny-pincher can yet find their quarry with the right amount of know-how.

If you’re planning on heading to the Copenhagen Cooking and Food Festival, we’ve got that know-how right here.

Listed below are a hand-picked selection of highlight events that will allow you to fulfill your gastronomic inclinations while treading lightly on the pocketbook.

Seed Exchange
Aug 19-20, 12:00-21:00; Brobjergvej 13, Kirke Såby; free adm
This might be the only ‘free seed exchange’ that isn’t organised by truck drivers on Craigslist. If you can brave the trek out to the Farm of Ideas (located some 10 kilometres west of Roskilde), you’ll be rewarded with a generous shower of seed, entirely free of charge. The event offers events for both child and adult, Danish-speaker and exclusive Anglophone alike. Drop by to learn more about the connection between the agricultural and culinary arts, and head home with a pocketful of seeds for your own garden.

Swiss Alpine Market
Aug 25, 14:00-18:00; Richelieus Alle 14, Hellerup; 60kr
Did you know they have food in Switzerland too! Or at least that’s what those scheming Swiss would have you believe. Find out for yourself at the Swiss Alpine Market, a delightful evening hosted at the Embassy of Switzerland, at which these neutral-claiming swindlers will try their best to convince you the Swiss have also discovered the secrets of sustenance. A paltry entry of 60 kroner grants access to this grand culinary hustle – including heaping plates of Swiss signatures (we’ll see you in court) such as cheese, sausages and wine.

Copenhagen Bug Fest
Aug 25 & 26, 13:00-18:00 & 10:00-18:00; Gothersgade 128, Cph K; 50-70kr
In the desert hellscape of the near future, insects may be our only viable source of protein. So why not get used to it while it’s still fun? The Copenhagen Bug Fest takes place at the intersection of gastronomy and entomology – with an eye for bugs on the dinner plate, the festival also examines insects from an aesthetic, scientific and cultural perspective. The bargain-priced bug bazaar takes place in Copenhagen’s scenic Botanical Gardens – conveniently across the street from the Geology Museum, where visitors can check out an exhibition of Levon Biss’ stunning insect photography.

Spit-Roasted Ox
Aug 19, 11:30-15:00; Gråbrødretorv, Cph K; 95kr
The event page says ‘Fit for English speakers’, as though the language of delicious meat wasn’t universal. The practice of spit-roasting an ox in Denmark dates back to the late 16th century, when Christian IV punctuated his coronation by spit-roasting a number of the beasts all over town. Today, Copenhagen culinary staple Peder Oxe carries on the tradition, and all are invited to grab a bite of the 300-kilo animal.

Sound Toll Fair
Aug 19, 10:00-16:00; Strandgade 91, Helsingør; free adm
Helsingør’s Sound Toll Fair lets visitors experience the sights and flavours of the Old World, or at least the savoury ones, so no public hangings or tooth rot. The festival taps into Helsingør’s history as a buzzing trade hub, enlisting costumed re-enactors, period wares and 18th century fare to create an immersive trip through time. Taste fresh-baked bread drawn from a centuries-old recipe, stroll past the oak-hulled frigates moored in the harbour and fetch a draught of ale (now cholera-free) from a wig-clad vendor at this historic street fair.