Icelandic Cuisine

People do not usually think of Iceland as a culinary “Mecca” but, as I discovered in both my reading and our travel there, it is, in fact, a wonderful destination for foodies and gourmets. From the world famous hot dog stand in the centre of Reykjavik to the high-end restaurants, Iceland offers a variety of fantastic and absolutely delicious bites and fares that will please even the most discerning palate. The following were our highlights:

·      The Reykjavik hot dog stand can’t be missed. I am not a big fan of hot dogs, but I did enjoy this one, called pylsa, made from lamb, beef and pork and served with caramelized onions and delicious sauce.

·      Fish and seafood dishes were all fantastic, freshly caught, and presented in a truly artistic way. Fresh cod was my favourite, as was the traditional fish soup called Plokkfiskur. A separate note: Whale meat is controversial food, and I do feel bad for ordering it. I am assuming that the one we had came from within the legal whaling limit. I’ll be honest, it sort of tasted like beef, and net time I’ll order beef.

·      Bread: I don’t even have the words to describe the phenomenal breads, often served with creative flavoured butters. At our last dinner there, we have tasted their violet butter.

·      Lamb has been an important part of the Icelandic cuisine since the times of the Vikings. We did not try the Svið (boiled sheep head) but the lamb stew meat was tender and very flavourful.

·      Alcoholic beverages are worth exploring.  The most popular are mead and ale, but we very much enjoyed Brennivin, Icelandic signature distilled unsweetened akvavit flavoured with caraway. Keep in mind that it is a “high octane” beverage, hence the skull on the label and the product name of ‘Svarti Dauði’ or ‘Black Death’.

·      We did not have fermented shark (and we refuse to ever eat shark fins on moral grounds), and neither did we try ram’s testicles. But with each breakfast I had a shot of cod liver oil available in our hotel buffet.

To summarize our culinary experiences: I would make another trip to Iceland, just for the food. Don’t get me wrong, I would also go again to see the country, as it is unique and absolutely beautiful. But the food is also spectacular. I highly recommend it for your travels.

Enjoy your meal! Njóttu máltíðarinnar!