A Norwegian Dish That Surprised Me in One Bite

📍 Den Glade Gris St. Olavs Gate 33, 0166 Oslo, Norway To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations for Nordic cuisine before arriving! But the first meal I had was at this place! This traditional Norwegian restaurant, themed around pigs, really gave me a vivid lesson. 🍧 Lettrokt hval fra Norskehavet (Smoked Whale Jerky) The internet says that smoked whale is a delicacy comparable to pickled herring, and this place’s version was truly astonishing‼️ The smoked whale from the Norwegian Sea is both stinky and fragrant, moist and chewy! It’s served with red onion, rocket, dry bread/biscuits, and lingonberry yogurt or berry jam (you can always trust the berries from the subarctic region). Langgrillet svineknoke (Roasted Pork Knuckle)🍧 Their version is a bit different from German or Korean-style pork trotters! The Norwegian (or rather, this restaurant’s) pork knuckle is smaller in size (but not lacking in quantity)! Over 5 hours of preparation gives the pork knuckle a unique texture, with a very crispy skin (almost like a fried, fluffy texture), almost no fat layer/layer of fat, and firm lean meat that’s very flavorful on its own! It’s served with homemade mashed potatoes, mustard sauce (similar to Dijon mustard but stronger!), and rustic vegetables (which reminded me of Sichuan’s “pickled vegetables”). Dagens dessert (Today’s Dessert) It’s probably vanilla ice cream with peanut crumbs and bacon bits, which reminded me of Five Guys’ vanilla milkshake with bacon! But their homemade ice cream has a texture similar to cream cheese. Hiemmelaget Svine-Sour (Fried Pork Rinds) It seems like everyone in the world loves fried pork rinds/fish skin, but this place’s version is exceptionally good‼️ It’s a bit greasy but not oily! The dipping sauce made with sour cream and bacon bits is really great—this might be the legendary “delicious even if you dip your shoe sole” dish. 💡 A Little Fun Fact: Lingonberries are the most productive berry plants in Finland, containing various vitamins (A, B, C, E, K) and Omega-3 fatty acids, with the benefits of blueberries and cranberries. 🪴 Ambiance: The street view is nice, with candles and small lights on each table. There are many pig-themed elements and merchandise both inside and outside! The washroom features Rituals toiletries (the wallpaper and decor even have a bit of a chinoiserie vibe). 💰 Cost: Average cost per person is 25-30. ⏰ Reservation: It’s recommended to book in advance (Google Maps). Summary: This place really knows how to make the most out of pigs! They excel in various ways to serve pork! Highly recommended (even though my friend and I aren’t usually big fans of pork). #NorwegianCuisine #SmokedWhaleMeat #NorwayTravel #OsloFood #NorwegianFood