Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Norwegian Delicacies Foreigners Can't Stomach
The Local ^ | 16 Oct 2013

Posted on 10/26/2013 3:50:55 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Norwegian cuisine is generally sneered at by the country's Scandinavian neighbours. This is unfair, as some of it is very tasty. But here's a list The Local has put together of 15 dishes foreigners find particularly challenging.

The list, available here, mixes outlandish dishes made from things like sheeps' heads or fermented fish, with the boring but unpalatable, drawing on a group of Oslo expats for their opinions.

Feel free to comment on any glaring omissions or complain about unfairly maligned favourites.


TOPICS: Food; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: cuisine; fermentedfish; fermintedfish; haha; norwegian
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: nickcarraway
You've gotta remember that some of these "disgusting" foods never go alone, but are accompanied by a shot of strong liquor, for example pickled herring + vodka for the Eastern Europeans.

Anyway, it's all ack-wired taste! Which makes me think of tripe soup. Mmmmmmmm....


41 posted on 10/26/2013 5:35:36 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConradofMontferrat

We used to be able to buy Balut on Magsaysay street in Olongopo City, just outside NAS Cubi Pt. buy three, toss two to the little alligators in the little pool by the sidewalk, then eat the third. Smelled awful, didn’t taste too bad if you were drunk enough on painted-label San Miguel. *sigh*


42 posted on 10/26/2013 5:35:54 PM PDT by Afterguard (Liberals will let you do anything you want, as long as it's mandatory.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: 21twelve

Being of Italian descent there isn’t anything I dont like except scungilli (large snails) and anchovies. Sardines I really like especially as an adult. Recently got adventurous and bought a can of fried mackerel imported from Latvia. Never tried it like that before but it was very good. Most young people wouldn’t care for it however.


43 posted on 10/26/2013 5:46:59 PM PDT by tflabo (Truth or Tyranny)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: tflabo

Sardines are alright on toast.


44 posted on 10/26/2013 5:47:56 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (Why do you need a fire extinguisher when you can call the fire department?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Rides_A_Red_Horse

Yep—toast up some French, Italian or sourdough bread, add the sardines and voila-— maybe some thin sliced tomato as an option otherwise its good to go just on bread.


45 posted on 10/26/2013 5:50:24 PM PDT by tflabo (Truth or Tyranny)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Afterguard

I have watched those alligators being fed. I think they sold little ducklings to toss in the the pit. I could not participate and was more interested in finding the next five star San Miguel beer and watching the gals.


46 posted on 10/26/2013 5:56:40 PM PDT by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Revolting cat!
Norwegian and not blonde? Prolly mid-Eastern or Gypsy. Still want the merchandise, customer?

I'm married to some of that dark-haired Norwegian "merchandise." She's pure Saami. She's gorgeous and I'll bet she'd whip your butt in an IQ contest.

47 posted on 10/26/2013 6:18:38 PM PDT by Bernard Marx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Well, this foreigner would probably enjoy, or at least try, most of those dishes without much reservation. I actually like fiskebolle in cream sauce (both freshly made, not out of a can), and flatbreads and porridge are harmless.

I’d have a bit more trouble with the mutton stew and sheep’s head, but only because I simply don’t care for the taste of lamb. The French still serve calf’s head (tete de veaux, I think it’s called?) and it’s considered a delicacy.

The pig trotters I would try, but I know it would be a bite or two and that would be it.

Lutefisk, however...there’s just no way. I’ve compiled a very short list of foods I know I could never bring myself to try, and lutefisk is 2nd place on the list (just behind Balut).


48 posted on 10/26/2013 6:23:45 PM PDT by DemforBush (Of all the Thompson gunners, Roland was the best.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
I looked up lutefisk on Wikipedia once. Turns out there's a lot of ethnic foods from various places based on deliberately rotted fish.
49 posted on 10/26/2013 6:28:57 PM PDT by Lee N. Field ("You keep using that verse, but I do not think it means what you think it means.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Bernard Marx
She's gorgeous and I'll bet she'd whip your butt in an IQ contest.

You only say it because she's looking over your shoulder. Been there, done that!

50 posted on 10/26/2013 6:44:23 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: exDemMom

Many years ago I knew a directional driller for Dresser that had to go to Stervanger (sp?) Norway. I told him to be sure and try lutefisk. When he got back, he called me a lot of nasty names.


51 posted on 10/26/2013 7:16:45 PM PDT by MisterArtery
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: GeronL

LOLS! Thanks Geron!


52 posted on 10/26/2013 7:16:54 PM PDT by KC_Lion (Build the America you want to live in at your address, and keep looking up.-Sarah Palin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: jespasinthru

I love gefilte fish! It is really quite bland, which is why we eat it with horseradish. I especially like the jellied broth heated and eaten with a nice slice of challah.

And pickled tongue is a delicacy, especially on dark pumpernickle with some mustard. There are no Jewish delis here, so I have actually made it several times. Quite a lot of work, especially peeling the tongue.

I was never forced to eat either of them. I loved them both as a child.

Now, I am married to a Norwegian and he won’t eat any of his own ethnic dishes. My late MIL used to make her husband’s Christmas lutefisk on a separate stove in the basement, with all the doors closed to keep the odor out of the rest of the house.


53 posted on 10/26/2013 7:18:17 PM PDT by reformedliberal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative

I had a lady friend in the 90s that was beautiful, looked like Barbara Eden’s twin, that loved raw oysters. Didn’t marry her but had a memorable five-year daliance.


54 posted on 10/26/2013 7:19:18 PM PDT by MisterArtery
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Cicero

One memorable meal I once had was a thick veal chop served with an oxtail reduction. The earthiness and richness of the braised oxtail elevated that veal chop to something sublime.
It is the ultimate in umami.

You are a lucky man.


55 posted on 10/26/2013 7:23:49 PM PDT by reformedliberal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

Yum. Something I crave in the winter and can ignore in the summer months. From December to February, I can finish off a jar by myself in 2 days. I assume it is high in Vit. D.

The Norwegian spouse would rather starve.


56 posted on 10/26/2013 7:26:49 PM PDT by reformedliberal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Nifster

Ya, but that week and a half is glorious.


57 posted on 10/26/2013 7:40:15 PM PDT by deadrock (I am someone else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: deadrock

I do love the cookies and fruit soup and the sausage and the potatoes and the cheese and the beans and the bread....and all of it except the fish. Sorry I just have never been able to gag down the fish ‘jello’ with white sauce.


58 posted on 10/26/2013 8:01:19 PM PDT by Nifster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Macoozie

“Many ethnic dishes in America are “Peasant Food”.”

100%. The state foods of Texas (or at least they should be), chicken fried steak and enchiladas, are pure low-class fare. German immigrants wanting for native schnitzel made of pork loin took beef cube steak, tenderized it, breaded it like the schnitzel, and, fried it like the schnitzel to make what we know today as chicken fried steak.

The staples common to most every Mexican family in days past were corn and wheat (tortillas), juevos, and, rice. Meat would consist of chicken or beef. You don’t hear much of pork enchiladas but I do know one place that makes them and they are great. Combine them all together and you get what is a No. 2 or No. 3 or No. 4 in just about any diner or Mexican food place in the state. Ironically, some of the best enchiladas I ever had were from a BBQ joint in North Texas.


59 posted on 10/26/2013 9:22:51 PM PDT by FAA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
I can find disgusting things closer to home.


60 posted on 10/26/2013 10:05:00 PM PDT by uglybiker (nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-BATMAN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson