So Thursday I walk into the canteen all unsuspecting, only to see that it is Fårikål Festdag, or something like that. The last Thursday of September, Norway celebrates mutton and cabbage stew! Sounds like as good a reason as any to celebrate. Fårikål was voted the Norwegian national dish in some radio poll, as I understand it. It tastes good!
Ed and I went to visit his coin-collector friend, William, who lives in Bergen but has a house down the coast toward Stavanger. It's amazing how it can be raining in Bergen, and a few miles down the road, you break out of the clouds and get a nice day! We walked around the area admiring views. His house was there in 1848, and may have been older. Isn't that a mind-blower for us Americans?
I have to mention another Norwegian tradition, or at least a Bergen one. That is racing up mountains in all kinds of weather. You just HAVE to look at the elite runners finishing in these pictures: link to Stoltzekleiven.
That stew sounds great! Can you get a recipe?
ReplyDeleteYup, and it is SIMPLE. Layer equal volumes of cabbage and mutton slices (bone in) in a casserole dish or dutch oven, sprinkling salt and peppercorns between layers. Then add a little water, cover, and simmer for a couple of hours, till the meat falls off the bones.http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/1452/f-rik-l.aspx
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