Bonjour and happy Friday!
It’s been a week since I returned from Norway, and what an experience that was! It was my first time visiting the country, so the whole trip (not just the unforgettable Norwegian Supper Club evening) was quite exciting. Nothing thrills me more than discovering other culinary cultures and meeting people who are truly passionate about food and committed to using our planet’s resources with respect. People like Hanne N. Berentzen and Tom Sørensen from Ostehuset who have not only given Stavanger two awesome cafés with excellent food, but also a place where you can source fantastic Norwegian cheeses. Like Jærosten, for example, made by Hanna and Ingvar Kjøllesdal at Voll Ysteri, the first farm in Norway to delight the palate of curd connoisseurs with unpasteurized cheese (I’ll tell you more about them in Culture next year!). Or Ingrid and Joakim, mushroom mavens at ToppSopp, whom I was thrilled to feature in yesterday’s newsletter.
Before rounding off this series of posts on Stavanger and its surroundings, I’d like to introduce you to Kristine Enger, who is enthusiastically bringing back the forgotten tradition of foraging to the region. She has even shared her knowledge with local chefs, who are keen on working with the amazing herbs and flowers that are practically growing on their doorstep.
Amidst the beautiful landscape surrounding Randaberg’s Tungenes Lighthouse (located approximately twenty minutes to the northwest of Stavanger), Kristine guided me on a memorable afternoon of picking and tasting a variety of nature’s edible gifts. As the waves pounded against the rocks, we set off on an invigorating walk, battling heavy winds and filling our lungs with crisp, saline air.
It was such an exhilarating experience to be at one with the elements and to revel in Mother Nature’s glory. But the best part was learning about all the delicious (and often healing plants) that abundantly grow in this region. From the warming angelica, which can be used to treat ailments such as digestive issues or poor circulation, to daisies (I had no idea they were edible!) and nettle leaf (one of my favorite herbs for tea). During the walk, Kristine would stop to pick something for us to taste, explaining its uses and medicinal properties.
Before heading out, she even let us taste her ‘wild juice’, made with zingy elderberries (not only delicious but so healing for colds and flus) and treated us to two little jars of syrup, one made with pine cones and the other with angelica. Kristine is so much more than a knowledgeable guide; her energy and zeal will definitely get you excited about heading outdoors and learning more about (edible) plants. When I told Tony Martin, chef at Bellies, that I had met with Kristine, he said: “Wow! So did you get the hype?” Boy, did I ever!
A big thank you to Visit Norway and Region Stavanger for taking me on this brilliant culinary journey!
And to my husband, Hans, for putting together a video which hopefully captures its essence.
Bon week-end!
A taste of Stavanger