World Recognition for Nordic Culinary Excellence
Scandi sweep the 2019 Bocuse d’Or - At the 17th Bocuse d’Or, a prestigious culinary competition in France, Scandinavian countries swept all three podium spots.
“The Farm” Puts Celebrities to Work
Imagine a competition where you have to milk a cow, wrestle, or build and start a bonfire for a chance to win big. Norwegian reality TV series Farmen Kjendis (Celebrity Farmer) is the celebrity spin-off of another Norwegian reality TV series, Farmen (The Farm).
Chinese Athletes take on Ski Jumping, Train in Norway
As the host country of the 2022 Olympics, China wants to harness the “host country advantage” and repeat their medals sweep from the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. The only problem is that there is not a big winter sports tradition in China … yet.
Unique WW II Airplane Unearthed in Norway after 76 Years
Image Credit: TONY HOSKINS A rare World War II fighter plane, piloted by a Scotsman who was a key figure in “The Great Escape," has been recovered largely intact from a Norwegian mountainside. In 1942, RAF Flight Lieutenant Alastair “Sandy” Gunn, 22, was on a clandestine mission to take photos of a German battleship in Trondheim Fjord when his [...]
Great Norwegian Adventure to Cast its 10th Season
The world’s nicest reality show, Alt for Norge—known in English as The Great Norway Adventure—is about to cast its 10th season. In this heritage-based reality show, a dozen Norwegian-Americans fly to their ancestral homeland to compete in a variety of culture-related challenges. The challenges range from culinary feats such as eating sea urchin, to the adventurous challenge of spending a proper [...]
Celebrate the Cinnamon Roll this Fall
October 4 is Kanelbolledagen, or Cinnamon Roll Day. These beloved pastries are known by many names, such as kanelbolle (cinnamon bun), kanelsnurr (pinwheel), kanelknute (knot) or skillingsbolle (shilling bun). The latter is how they are known in Bergen, named for their original price. Skillingsboller are traditionally a snail shape, with high butter content and granulated sugar on top, rather than glaze [...]
Kvikk Lunsj and the Candy Bar War
Norway’s Kvikk Lunsj and England’s Kit Kat have long been the subject of comparison - Which came first? Which tastes better? Who has cooler packaging?
Sharing the Gift of Genealogy
The box of old letters that unlocks a family connection … an anniversary party photo showing multiple generations … documentation like this can provide priceless clues in tracing your family lineage. People tend to view genealogy as a look back in time, rather than a piece of the present.
Last Call for 100 + 200 Kroner Bills
Do you have any kroner that you’ve been saving for a rainy day? You’ll need to trade them for new banknotes by the end of May 2018. Last year, Norges Bank phased in brilliant new 100- and 200-krone bills, while keeping the old ones in circulation for a year. On May 30, 2018, the old 100- and 200-krone notes will expire [...]
Nineteen Counties to Become 11 Regions by 2020
The Storting (Norway’s parliament) recently passed the most comprehensive administrative reform since 1662. Back then, the country’s administrative units transitioned from len to amt while under Danish rule. In this new reform, Norway’s 19 fylker (counties) are planned to be replaced by 11 regioner (regions) by January 2020. Four existing counties (Nordland, Rogaland, Oslo and Møre og Romsdal) will continue using the [...]