Norwegian cuisine

You’ve probably passed by so many restaurants in the Aker Brygge district by now that it’s time for a little food talk! Salmon is definitely Norway’s star ingredient. The country is a paradise for seafood lovers, cod, haddock, salmon, king crab, and shellfish, you’ll be spoiled for choice here! While fish is clearly under the spotlight, you’ll also find plenty of other Norwegian specialties. Game meat is very popular around here, whether that’s grouse, elk, deer, or reindeer. Lamb is also a staple in many traditional dishes, and since these animals roam freely across vast pastures, their meat is particularly tender. The lush pasture grass also makes for some excellent dairy products, including a caramel-brown cheese that’s unlike anything you’ve tasted before. Norwegians slice it with a special cheese grater they’re quite proud of having invented. They love brunost, a whey cheese that makes up a quarter of the cheese consumed each year in Norway. Norway has a stellar reputation when it comes to fine dining, it’s home to the highest number of Bocuse d’Or medalists in the world, won by participating in one of the world’s most prestigious cooking competitions. That said, you’ve probably noticed that eating out can get expensive, and you might not want to do it every day. Luckily, Norwegian street food is also tasty. Locals will likely tell you to try their famous spicy hot dogs wrapped in a sort of wheat tortilla. If you’re craving something sweet, be sure to try Norwegian waffles! You’ll find them everywhere, in streets, cafés, restaurants, on trains, at sports events, and of course at home. They’re a staple of Norwegian culture, so give them a try. As for how Norwegians eat in a typical day, here’s the rundown: breakfast can be sweet or savoury, there’s no strict rule. Lunch is usually a cold meal called matpakke, a packed lunch that children take to school and adults bring to work. It usually includes whole grain bread with cheese, liver or fish pâté, lean meats, some raw veggies, a piece of fruit, and traditionally, a small carton of milk. This tradition is widely kept across generations because in Norway’s egalitarian, anti-elitist society, it’s frowned upon to have something fancier than your neighbour. Dinner is the main hot meal, usually eaten between 4 and 6 pm. Since it gets dark by 3 pm and everyone’s off work by 4pm, eating around 5 or 6pm makes total sense! If Norwegians stay up later, they’ll typically have an evening snack. Now you know how to eat like a local!