Zupperia Torget
Where? Zupperia Torget (Bergen, Norway) Map Menu
When? Sunday July 16, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Asian Fusion
Right across from the seafood market is Zupperia. Their menu is a mix of European and Asian fusion flavours, with elements from Thailand, Hungary, Vietnam, Japan and Norway all listed. I'm pining for seafood again, and since we're so close to the market, I hope it's good quality and fresh. They're also known for their soups, so I went for the triple tester. Their reindeer soup sounds very interesting, but unfortunately has mushrooms.
Entree
Trio of soup
Three soups arrive: creamy fish soup, a tomato soup called Alentejo, and the reindeer soup, with mushrooms, that are definitely visible. I love the fish soup, it reminds me of the seafood chowder you get from Fishermans Wharf in San Francisco. Thick, creamy and sweet with seafood, it's the perfect winter warmer - it may be summer, but it's only 11C outside. The Alentejo is nice too, but definitely doesn't pack the flavour that the dish soup has. Finally, I try the reindeer soup. The mushroom isn't too strong, but it is noticeable behind the red meat taste. It's not too bad, but I just have to avoid the little floaters. I do wish there was more bread though!
Mains
Selection of local seafood in white wine, chili and garlic sauce
A massive plate of mostly mussels arrives. I was not expecting something like this, but it smells heavenly. Apart from the mussels, which are of course the smaller, inferior species to the New Zealand green lipped kind, there's squid, prawns and scallops, all cooked perfectly and swimming with plenty of coriander in a very appetising garlic, onion and white wine broth. A squirt of the lemon and I'm ready to go - delicious! I will say that it is quite the effort to remove all the mussels from their shells; perhaps there should be fewer or they should be deshelled.
Posted by Jeremy at 1:16pm on Thursday July 27, 2017 :: 0 comments :: 
Torget i Bergen - Bergen Seafood Market
Where? Bergen Seafood Market (Bergen, Norway) Map
When? Sunday July 16, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Seafood
The waterfront has the most delicious smelling market, full of great looking, fresh seafood on display. I don't know much about Norwegian cuisine but I had guessed that seafood is very important here. I even see whale on the menu, but today I've gone for a scampi skewer and salmon steak. It's packed with people sheltering from the cold rain.
Mains
Scampi skewer and salmon steak
It tastes fantastic, but it is slightly overcooked - better to be safe in this environment, I guess. Everything is well seasoned and has that classic sweet seafood taste, but the scampi is a bit tough and the salmon is slightly dry. Not enough to make me have a bad time, but not perfection. The potato salad is quite nice though, but the greens are not dressed and are quite unpleasant by themselves.
Posted by Jeremy at 1:12pm on Thursday July 27, 2017 :: 0 comments ::
Timmermans 1857
Where? Timmermans 1857 (Sodermalm, Stockholm, Sweden) Map Menu
When? Saturday July 15, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Swedish
It's my last night in Sweden so I'm looking for some good local food. This one catches my eye because they serve a three course meal for 299SEK (50NZD), which is very reasonable by Swedish standards.
Entree
Toast with shrimps, crayfish, mayonnaise, lemon and whitefish roe
I'm immediately drawn to the word "crayfish" on the menu, so I order the seafood toast. When it comes out, it looks like cheap prawn cocktail mix that you get from the supermarket, but it tastes amazing. It's quite a decent portion and I can taste the crayfish and shrimp inside the mix. The mayo is very good quality, with the lemon juice adding that classic citrus flavour that goes so well with seafood. Even the toast is perfect, crispy and buttery without detracting from the protein. Excellent start.
Mains
Lamb tenderloin, red wine sauce, vegetables and potato terrine
Two small strips of lamb come out. I have to say I am slightly disappointed, but this is probably a decent portion for most people...just not me. I go to cut a piece off and can immediately tell it's cooked to perfection by the way the knife slices through so easily. It's pink on the inside and super tender and succulent, and the sauce is rich and tasty without overpowering the natural taste of the lamb. The potato hash and vegetables are also very good; it's no surprise that the Swedes love their potatoes, because their potatoes are really damn delicious. I like that the sauce goes with everything on the plate, and that there is enough of it to go around. Yuss!
Dessert
Mango/watermelon glass with raspberry sorbet
The dessert comes out and it looks simple, but I actually really enjoy it. Mangoes, watermelons and raspberries are fruits synonymous with summer to me (among others), and it's a great way to round out an excellent meal.
Posted by Jeremy at 1:09pm on Thursday July 27, 2017 :: 0 comments ::
Bakfickan
Where? Bakfickan (Norrmalm, Stockholm, Sweden) Map Menu
When? Saturday July 15, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Swedish
There were two things I really wanted to eat before leaving Sweden. First was the famed prinsesstarta, a sponge cake with a marzipan icing. I got this from Hollandia in Malmö and it was delicious; so delicious that I went back the next day and got another one. The second was Swedish meatballs, which I assumed I could just get from a nearby IKEA. Unfortunately there are no nearby IKEAs in Stockholm so I'll have to get it from a proper restaurant. This restaurant is right by the Kungstradgarden subway station, which is conveniently the first stop on my Stockholm subway art tour, so I gave it a go.
Sweden is pretty expensive. Not like Switzerland expensive, but slightly more expensive than the rest of Europe. These meatballs cost 195SEK (Swedish krona), which is about 30NZD. Ouch. I hope they're good.
Mains
Swedish meatballs in cream sauce
They look excellent and they taste even better. Succulent and meaty, the meatballs are cooked perfectly and seasoned very well. The sauce is super tasty, not overly creamy but there's lots to go around. By itself, it's a bit small for 195SEK...
Potato puree, pickled cucumber and lingonberries
But then the sides arrive. The potato puree is absolutely divine with the meatball sauce and the pickled cucumber and the lindonberry add some nice tartness to the flavour mix. Lindonberry is used commonly in Swedish cuisine and tastes very similar to cranberries. Yum! Great range of flavours and a very satisfying meaty meal.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:54am on Thursday July 27, 2017 :: 0 comments ::
Restaurant PUK
Where? Restaurant PUK (Kobenhavn K, Copenhagen, Denmark) Map Menu
When? Wednesday July 12, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Danish Pub
My travel buddy Theo has returned to London so I'm by myself again. I want some classic Danish food before I leave Copenhagen, so I give this hearty restaurant a go.
Mains
Slices of roast pork with boiled potatoes, gravy and salad of pickled cucumber
The pork comes out very quickly. Too quickly, I think to myself. It hasn't been sliced very well, but I'm willing to forgive that if it tastes good. It sure does, especially with that nice meaty sauce, but the meat is slightly dry and the all-important crackling is not very crispy, contradicting many reviews I've read about this place. I might be here on an off day for the restaurant, but I'm not pleased. The pickled red cabbage, pickled cucumber and potatoes are quite nice though, but not enough to make me happy. How disappointing!
Dessert
Chocolate cake "Marcel" with pickled blackberries
I'm hoping this chocolate cake will turn the meal around for me. It's incredibly dense, almost like fudge cake, but it's so decadently rich. Almost too rich; it tastes much better with a scoop of the pickled blackberry. I think there is too much icing, it's almost a third of the height of the cake.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:48am on Thursday July 27, 2017 :: 0 comments ::