The Fish Market

As you probably know, Norwegian cuisine is heavily based on seafood, which makes sense when you think about how close this country is to the sea. You’re currently standing at Bergen’s famous fish market: the perfect place to sample some local specialties. Cod, haddock, salmon, king crab, and shellfish, if you love seafood, you’re in the right place.The fish market has been part of Bergen’s history since 1276. Thanks to the rise in tourism, it’s been given a modern makeover. It’s now housed in a sleek glass building along with the city’s main tourist information centre. While fish is clearly the star here, you’ll also find plenty of other traditional Norwegian treats, like caramelised brown cheese, reindeer or venison, elk salami, partridge, and the highly controversial whale steak, though it’s rarely eaten by Norwegians. You might be surprised to learn that Norway has an excellent reputation for fine dining, and its chefs have earned more international culinary awards than any other country. But what about everyday meals? Here’s what a typical Norwegian day of food looks like: Breakfast can be sweet or savoury, there’s no set rule, but lunch is almost always cold. It’s called matpakke, the packed lunch that children take to school and adults bring to work. It usually includes slices of wholegrain bread with cheese, liver or fish pâté, lean meats, raw vegetables, a piece of fruit, and traditionally, a carton of milk. Everyone sticks to this simple model, as it’s seen as poor form to have more than your neighbour. That quiet sense of equality shows up even on your plate. Dinner is the main meal of the day, and it’s hot, usually served between 4 and 6pm. That may seem early, but when the sun sets around 3 in the winter and the workday ends by 4, having dinner at 5 makes a lot more sense. Now you know how to eat like a local!