Norway has a reputation for fish, brown cheese, and wild game, but the plant-based scene has grown up fast. From oat lattes in every café to solid vegan options in supermarkets and city restaurants, eating vegan in Norway is easier today than it has ever been. Whether you are visiting for fjords and northern lights … Read more
Eating vegetarian in Norway is easier today than it has ever been. You will find plant-forward menus in the cities, clear food labeling in supermarkets, and plenty of hearty Norwegian staples that happen to be meat-free. At the same time, we are a seafood-loving country and many traditional cafés still lean on meat or fish. … Read more
Norwegian brown cheese, known as brunost, is one of the most distinctive tastes you’ll meet in Norway. It looks like a block of fudge, slices like chocolate, and tastes sweet-savory with a gentle tang that reminds many people of caramel. You’ll see it on breakfast buffets, in hikers’ lunch packs, and melting into sauces for … Read more
Eating out in Norway has a reputation for being pricey, and yes, you will feel it more than in many other European countries. That said, you can eat well here on different budgets if you know where to look, when to dine, and what is usually included in the bill. As someone who grew up … Read more
Norway is a country of clean flavors and simple, honest food, but we also have a proud streak of culinary curiosity. From fermented fish that perfumes the room before the plate hits the table, to whole roasted sheep’s heads and salty licorice that shocks unprepared taste buds, Norway offers plenty of foods that might look … Read more
Norwegian brown cheese, or brunost, is one of those foods that confuses visitors at first bite and then becomes the thing they pack in their suitcase on the way home. It is caramel-sweet, gently tangy, and made from whey that has been cooked until the sugars caramelize. In Norway it shows up at breakfast, in … Read more
Nothing says “I went to Norway” quite like a block of brown cheese tucked into your suitcase. We call it brunost, and many of us grew up with it on our bread from kindergarten onward. Tourists often fall in love with its caramel flavor, and bringing a piece home is a simple, delicious way to … Read more
If you ask a Norwegian what our national dish is, the answer comes quickly and with a small smile. It is fårikål, a simple pot of lamb and cabbage that shows up every autumn when the air gets crisp and the mountains turn copper. This is not fancy food. It is the kind of meal … Read more
Norway’s national cake is the beloved Kvæfjordkake, a layered dream of soft vanilla sponge, crisp almond meringue, and silky vanilla cream. We call it Verdens beste, which literally means World’s Best. Big claim, I know, but once you taste the contrast of textures and the light, not-too-sweet flavor, you will see why this humble northern … Read more
Christmas Eve in Norway is when the holiday truly happens. Families gather early, candles are lit, and the house smells of roasting meat, spices, and butter. Gifts are opened after dinner, so the meal has a special weight to it. For most households it is the most carefully planned dinner of the year, rooted in … Read more