ViaMichelin om Oslo: A capital in sync with nature
Saturday, 25th April, 2009
Michelins har i sitt nyhetsbrev ViaMichelin denne gang valgt å profilere Oslo under overskriften Oslo — a capital in sync with nature.
Before leaving to explore the fjords of the Northern coast, which are amongst the most spectacular landscapes in Europe, take time to visit Oslo! The oldest Scandinavian capital captures the quintessence of the nation’s culture and gastronomy in exceptional settings.
Jeg må nok medgi at det var nytt for meg at Oslo er “The oldest Scandinavian capital”. Så vidt meg bekjent er både Stockholm og København eldre — i alle fall som hovedsteder og ordentlige byer. Men det er ikke noen grunn til å henge seg opp i det. De anbefaler folk å bruke tre dager på Oslo.
Går man inn i detaljene finner man nok et og annet som ikke stemmer. Det er f.eks. helt nytt for meg at folk tar ferje eller drar med sine seilbåter til Hvervenbukta, Katten, Ingierstrand og Fiskvollbukta om sommeren. Men det stemmer litt bedre for Langøyene og Hovedøya, selv om heller ikke disse er noe typisk mål for seilerne.
I disse tider med Røkke-bråk merker en seg også at de ikke helt har fått med seg detaljene her, når de skriver:
“including the office of Norway’s most famous businessman, the ex prawn fisherman Kjell Inge Røkke; in the summertime you can buy prawns from the fishing boat from which he made his fortune.”
Det var nok ikke i reketråleren ved Aker brygge Røkke skapte sin formue.
De skryter at musikken. “Oslo is now musically one of the most exciting towns in Europe”, skriver de, og fremhever (selvfølgelig) Operaen.
I spalten om restauranter fremheves og omtales Bagatelle, og skriver følgende i ingressen: “In Oslo you will come across one of the most exiting chefs in Europe: Eyvind Hellstrøm (two stars in the 2009 Michelin Guide.)” Overskriften på artikkelen er “Bagatelle restaurant: Eyvind Hellstrøm, Genius of the Fjords”.
For en matinteressert nordmann som synes det er veldig gledelig at norske kokker har hevdet seg så godt internasjonalt er det fristende å sitere mye:
“The last few years there has been a lot of talk (perhaps too much?) about Spain’s “culinary revolution” which took place in the 1990’s and beginning of the 2000’s, a revolution which should be attributed to the genius of a handful of charismatic chefs. The best known of these are Ferran Adria, Martin Berasategui, Juan Mari Arzak, Pedro Subijana and the Roca brothers (just to name a few!)
There has, however, been very little interest in Scandinavia’s sudden emergence at the forefront of the world gastronomic scene. What good can come from these Nordic countries apart from gravelax (salmon marinated in salt and sugar), rakfisk (fermented trout) and whale steak, not forgetting the traditional grilled pork belly served at Christmas?
Yet one has to just look at the figures to discover that, in this part of Europe, something out of the ordinary is taking place. In Norway alone four chefs have carried off the famous Bocuse d’Or prize: Geir Skeie in 2009, Charles Tjessem in 2003, Terje Ness in 1999 and Bent Stansen in 1993; two others received the Silver Bocuse: Tom Victor Gausdal in 2005 and Lars Erik Underthun in 1991; and one Bronze Bocuse: Odd Ivar Solvold in 1997. In 2009 Sweden won second place and Denmark were fourth!
This new generation of Nordic chefs owes everything to one man: the great Norwegian Eyvind Hellstrøm.
Litt lenger nede står det:
“Eyvind Hellstrøm is considered by Paul Bocuse (who made him Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur in 2007) to be “one of the greatest.” Hellstrøm has managed to make his Bagatelle restaurant in Oslo one of the finest dining experiences in Europe, which is no mean feat. To pull this off he had to carry out the patient work of educating his compatriots, hitherto experts only in snacks and frozen foods.”
Til alle Oslo-folk som liker å lese litt skryt om sin egen by (og andre), les de to artiklene.
