Where to eat Christmas food in Stavanger!

It is not that easy to get Norwegian food in Stavanger restaurants but when we get closer to Christmas, you can get a taste of some of the traditional Norwegian Christmas dishes. Here is a short list of the traditional dishes and restaurants where you can find this!

A lot of people in Norway eat ribbe. This a pork belly dish where the focus is on the meat and on the crispy crackling. To get the crispy crackling, you need to serve it quite fresh and that is why I prefer to make this at home. Traditionally it is served with meatballs, small sausages, sauerkraut (or the sweeter red cabbage), potatoes and sauce. There are also various vegetables that can be served with this.

 

The western parts of Norway has more of a tradition for pinnekjøtt – salted and dried lamb ribs. It is served with a good meat sausage, mash of rutabaga and some potatoes.

In some parts of Norway, juletorsk is the preference. This is fresh cod served with boiled with vegetables and a butter sauce. Leading up to Christmas, quite a few people also enjoy eating lutefisk. Lutefisk is usually made from skrei (arctic cod) that has been dried (tørrfisk) and then treated in lye. The fish is then put in fresh water for a few days and then it is ready to be prepared. It can be baked or boiled and is usually served with bacon pieces, mash of green peas, potatoes and maybe even some brown goat cheese.

 

The most special dish is also the hardest to get at restaurant. Smalahove is half a head of lamb that is salted/smoked/dried and then steamed to prepare it again. It tastes like Pinnekjøtt and is served with some of the same condiments (like good meat sausage, mash of rutabaga and potatoes). Remember to enjoy the eye of the lamb as well 😉 After a good (and heavy) Christmas meal, don’t forget to taste the typical dessert. Riskrem is made from rice porridge and mixed with whipped cream. It comes topped with a berry sauce and it is delicious but stay away from it if you have problems with lactose.

 

So where do you go to taste Christmas food in Stavanger? Here are some of the places – and note that I have not tried the Christmas food at all of these places.

Skagen Restaurant: a charming restaurant at the harbor of Stavanger. Located in a very old house, this place has a lot of character. Skagen can serve ribbe, pinnekjøtt, lutefisk and juletorsk so here you get a full spread of the traditional food. Location is Skagenkaien 13

NB Sørensen is also on the harbor and can also serve the same as Skagen – ribbe, pinnekjøtt, lutefisk and juletorsk. Location is Skagen 26.

Bevaremegvel is also located in the Skagen area. Again, a cozy restaurant with character and they can serve ribbe, pinnekjøtt and lutefisk. Location is Skagen 12.

City Bistro is one of the most popular places for lutefisk in Stavanger but it seems like it is more targeted at groups. Here you can also get pinnekjøtt and I have also had smalahove there – but to get this you must get in touch with them in advance and pre-book this! Location is Madlaveien 18.

Where do you go to get your fix for Christmas food? And what do you prefer to eat?