In September, the Danish Food Minister, Dan Jørgensen, asked the Danes to help decide which meal deserves the title 'Danish National Dish'.

Many Danes contributed with various suggestions for a national dish, on Facebook, Instagram and in daily papers.

After a review process, which included suggestions by a number of recognized Danish chefs, Mr Jørgensen called upon the Danes to choose between a final selection of eight dishes.

On 20 November, fried pork with parsley sauce and potatoes was named as the Danish National Dish. Danish open sandwiches received the second-largest number of votes.

Mr Jørgensen, who initiated the process of choosing a national dish to have a debate on Danish meals and eating habits, said: “The New Nordic and Danish Kitchens are famous all over the world. People from New York and Tokyo catch flights in order to dine at the restaurant noma in Copenhagen. But Danes tend to forget about local quality food and food traditions.

“The National Dish campaign has put a new focus on our eating habits. I am very pleased about that, and my hope is that we will all eat a little healthier; that we will buy more sustainably produced food - and enjoy it together with friends and family.”

Besides fried pork and open sandwiches, the selected dishes are: fried herring with potatoes; Danish hamburger with fried egg and onion; mashed potatoes with bacon and onion; pork chops with stewed cabbage; meat rissoles with stewed peas and carrots; and fried apples and pork.