We’re heading to Norway’s third-largest city, Trondheim. Also known as the Viking capital, Trondheim boasts abundant culinary traditions, particularly at Christmas time. Monocle’s Oslo correspondent, Lars Bevanger, takes us on a taste-filled tour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hello and welcome to Food Neighbourhoods on Monocle Radio.
I'm Monica Lillis and once again we visit the places locals love for their food and drink.
Today we're heading to Norway's third largest city, Trondheim.
Also known as the Viking capital.
Trondheim boasts abundant culinary traditions, particularly at Christmas time.
Monocle's Oslo correspondent Lars Bavanger takes us on a taste filled tour.
Trondheim and I go way back.
This is where at the tender age of five, I had my first restaurant experience.
It was a pizzeria, which in the 70s was extremely exotic.
Today, the culinary map of my home city is Transformed.
Just over 200,000 people live here, but Trondheim punches well above its weight when it comes to culinary excellence.
In recent years its food and drink credentials have been cemented through a range of international events.
It hosted the 2020 Nordic Michelin Star reveal.
It was 2022 European Region of Gastronomy.
The city hosted the 23 World Cheese Awards and earlier this year the Bocuse d'or Europe.
Because it's December, I thought I'd start by strolling through the Christmas market.
It's nestled around the central statue of Viking king Olav Tryggvason, who founded Trondheim more than a thousand years ago.
Back then, people here soon discovered the fertile soil, a fjord full of fish and mountains rich in wild animals.
This largely unspoiled nature still provides excellent local produce to today's Christmas market and Trondheim's restaurants.
To get properly into the Christmas spirit, quite literally, I crossed the river Nied Elva and and enter the old Bucklane neighborhood.