Darra Goldstein’s Mussels in Aquavit in The Norwegian American
Mussels always take me back to that summer in Oslo, the first time I visited the country where my dad was born. Norway had been a place with almost a mythical quality, someplace alive and real in my mind but…
Norwegian Bacalao Stew with Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Onion
The end of June, beginning of July. The calendar marks the month but also the moment. It was just about this time, when one month rolled into the next, when I stepped foot in Norway for the first time. “We’ll…
Midsummer Picnic in the Meadow (and Thoughts on the Writing Life)
I sip my tea as I sit down to write, the aromas of rose petals and cardamom pods wafting up from the steaming mug. The floral spiced black tea, purchased at Samovar Tea Lounge during a New Year’s trip to…
Bergen Fish Soup (Bergensk fiskesuppe)
Everyone has their own idea of a place, a snapshot memory encapsulating the scenes, smells, and moods they experienced there. One person’s Paris is different than another’s. A visit to Seattle might be dreary for one and vibrant for another. With…
Returning Home & Reflecting on Kauai
After three weeks, nearly 20,000 air miles and roughly 40 hours of flying, I am home. During the month of March, I spent more time traveling than I did in Seattle—first a whirlwind trip to New Zealand followed by a…
Travel: New Zealand
Here at Outside Oslo I try to stick to the focus of Scandinavian food but every once in a while something calls to me, asking me to digress. Since I’ve been pretty quiet over here on the blog in recent…
Just a Note to Say Hi
Hello friends. It’s been rather silent here at Outside Oslo in the past few weeks, so I figured it’s time to say hello. I’ve had wonderful adventures since I wrote last, a hint of which you’re seeing in these few…
