Norway delights...

Overlooking the town of Skien

Delightful, everywhere we went.  The hospitality in Norway, at Gjøvik and Skien made us feel so welcome!  In the photo above (imagine this scene now covered in snow) you'll notice a tower; it's 300ft high and at Christmas time it has lateral stanchions covered in lights coming down in the shape of a tree and is lit up every night, glowing over the town of Skien.  If only we'd been there a little later to see it.

Skien was founded in 1110 and is one of the oldest towns in Norway.  It was originally the site of a monastery and is the birthplace of Henrik Ibsen, the playwright.

Following is the menu; my photo is not clear enough to read:

This menu has been specially made for the visit of the

Australian Fly tying ambassador

Mick Hall

~ Starter ~

Carpaccio de servo selvatico

Raw fillet of wild roe deer served with

Parmigiano Reggiano - roasted pine nuts and

dressed with vintage Balsamico and extra virgin

olive oil

~ Main course ~

Roasted steak of moose served with

wild forest mushrooms

roasted almond potatoes

seasonal vegetables

home made cranberry jam

Game sauce

~ Desert ~

Home made wild berry cheese cake

All raw ingredients used in our game menu are wild in origin and 

harvested by the Clarke family locally from 

the forest in Norway

Prior to leaving for overseas, we received an email from Barry and Agnes with the above menu attached.   What a beautiful idea; an invitation to their home with a menu already planned for our visit!  Check out the 'Raw fillet of wild roe deer served with Parmigiano Reggiano', etc.; that was sensational and the roast moose steak that followed was was amazing, so tender.  I was a Miss Piggy when the wild berry cheese cake was served and the only one to have a second helping!!  Unfortunately, jetlag caught up with me and I was a party-pooper at 10:30pm, leaving the others to party on.  It had been a huge day!

Roe deer fillet

Roasted Moose Steak

Breakfast

After a sound sleep, we arose bright and early for our trip to Oslo airport.  We climbed the stairs and were treated to a hearty breakfast to warm the cockles.  As with Ole's apartment in Gjøvik, the house was so comfortably warm; the morning sun was throwing beams through the trees and we were told that it was -7°C outside.  As I write, it is -12°C, wind 10 km/h, humidity 85% but it has been a lot colder.

A big thank you to Barry and Agnes for a memorable visit and thank you Ole, for showing us just a little of your beautiful country.

A thousand words will not
leave so deep an impression
as one deed.


Henrik Ibsen

Troll

P.S. My second 'Blogiversary' falls on the 19th December.  Thank you to those who have shown an interest in my humble blog!  I value your comments but more so your continued friendship.  Love to you all and Blessings for the coming Season..... and beyond!  

♫♥Love is all you need, love is all you need, love is all you need♥♫