What’s the food like in Iceland? We get asked that a lot. I had the good fortune to sample a variety of local, Icelandic foods during my week here with my family. It was fresh, a lot local and organic, innovative and all delicious!
One of my favourite eateries in Reykjavik is the Tapas Restaurant. A 16 year old restaurant set in a cave-like setting it’s warm with the right amount of lighting and is very quiet despite being full of people. An amazing group of the most attentive staff on the planet! Great service and the managers knew absolutely every single ingredient in every dish of an extensive menu.
Serrano with fresh figs and chilled honey Puffin* with blueberry sauce and nuts
*I’m sorry – I know puffins are cute! But, they’re also plentiful (by the millions here in Iceland in the summer) and are a popular food in the Nordic countries.
Tapas – small dishes served when perfectly done. The three of us shared 10 dishes in total and were full by meal’s end. 10 dishes, 4 glasses of house red, a beer and our bill was ISK21,200 (about US$190/CA$250), which we felt was very good value.
And how could we not try the iconic Icelandic pylsur (hot dog), made mostly from fresh, organic, Icelandic lamb mixed with a bit of pork and beef. The casing is natural, giving the hot dog a nice “snap” when you bite into it. Order “ein með öllu” (roughly pronounced “ane meth alt) and you’ll get one with the works – a hot dog in a soft, steamed bun topped with raw white onions, crispy fried onions, ketchup, sweet brown mustard called pylsusinnep and remoulade, a delicious, creamy sauce made with mayonnaise, capers, mustard, and herbs. You can choose to leave off some of the toppings, but we’d recommend you try “one with everything”, just like the Icelanders do!
Food, glorious food, Icelandic style!