Ketchup on Pizza?
When eating in a foreign country and culture, you expect to discover new and different foods. 30 years ago, I spent a year in Norway as a foreign exchange student. I tried everything at least once. I didn’t expect to like everything, but I also learned to enjoy and appreciate many new foods. I won’t write this post about all of the truly odd and different foods I’ve tried around the world, but will stick to some key ingredients and combinations I discovered while living in Norway for a year—and then returning for a visit 30 years later.
What did I try ONLY once? Lutefisk – cod cured with lye. When you cook this your pans turn black. Often served with melted butter or bacon grease (a waste of either in my humble opinion). While fresh (and even salted) cod is delicious, avoid Lutefisk!
Some items are quite traditional and I tried them more than once, but never really enjoyed: pickled herring, herring in sour cream, and herring in mustard sauce. I tried it back then. I tried it again this year. Still don’t like it (I think it’s a texture thing for me, but that might be too much information).
What did I try and enjoy? Geitost – a strong dark brown goats’ milk cheese. Very traditionally Norwegian, served on buttered bread with marmalade (a typical breakfast or lunch item). I will admit this is definitely an acquired taste, as the cheese is very strong (but not at all like stinky French Camembert or Limburger).
What surprised me in 1982 and again in 2013 was the combination of foods and ingredients. In 1982, I discovered strawberry jam on cornflakes, raspberry jam on Jarlsburg (a Swiss-type) cheese (actually both are and they are both really quite good!). But was I surprised to learn that when eating pizza, the Norwegians put not only ketchup, but also sour cream dressing on top! I tried it, but I can’t really recommend it. Give me oregano and red pepper flakes instead.
