denmark in D. C.
BY JAYNE CLARK
On a fall day in suburban Rockville, Md., the line at St. Elizabeth Catholic School snaked through the gymnasium, along the entrance hall, and down the sidewalk into the parking lot. The attraction: Danish.
And we’ re not just talking about pastry. Patrons balanced trays filled with smørrebrød, traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches. Booths displayed Danish-made trinkets, Christmas ornaments, and hardto-find candies. But the clear standout of this popular annual festival was the baked goods— loaves of dark rye bread, marzipan, and custardy coffee cakes. And, of course, numerous varieties of Danish. Ironically, in Denmark, they’ re called wienerbrød, which translates to“ Vienna bread.” But more on that later.
Washington, D. C.’ s Danish community is quite small. But as a design powerhouse and international culinary darling, Denmark’ s influence can be seen throughout the metropolitan area. And with winter in full swing, now is the perfect time to embrace the country’ s hygge spirit— the national ethos that values coziness, comfort, and conviviality.
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WINTER 2025-26 17 FLYWASHINGTON. COM