Let’s Talk Food: Iceland Style

Usually, when people talk about Iceland, ourselves included, it’s about the incredible natural attractions the country has to offer. The magical ice caves, the chance to stare in wonder at the northern lights,  the mystery of swimming between two continents or the endless opportunities for breathtaking hikes, these are the common things that pop into people’s heads when planning a trip to Iceland.

And more and more people are planning trips to Iceland.

It’s certainly a popular choice with travel bloggers and with more people turning away from sunny beaches in search of a little more adventure, Iceland is benefiting and rightly so. A country that has so much to offer deserves to benefit from tourism, especially the smaller local businesses who can offer incredible experiences and get the exposure they need through good travel website software.

So while there are all these amazing attractions to see and sights to behold, what are the other key things to think about when visiting a new country? The Food – Everyone’s got to eat!

That’s right, for many people a nice holiday is a chance to quit the calorie counting or exercise routine and indulge for a week or two, so what treats can you expect to dine on in Iceland?

Food of Iceland

Pylsa Hot Dog

Probably not what you expected to see at the top of this list, especially if you’ve never considered what people eat in Iceland before. Is it just a normal hot dog? not quite.

As well as the usual pork and beef, this hot dog also contains lamb giving it a much more distinguishable taste. To enjoy properly, make sure to ask for it served with everything. That includes ketchup, remoulade, both raw and fried onions as well as Iceland’s unique brown, sweet mustard.

Creative Commons Flickr Credit: Tomi Knuutila

Smoked Lamb

You’ve heard of free-range but this traditional farming style takes it to a whole new level. The sheep are left to wander the countryside as they please under no supervision, they feast on grasses and herbs that eventually lead to what the locals claim, is the best lamb you will ever have.

Try it for yourself, think melt in your mouth tender… delicious.

Skyr

This stuff seems to have a reputation outside of Iceland as being one of the only things that everyone eats. Although actually a soft cheese, Skyr looks and tastes more like yoghurt.

It’s eaten pretty much anytime during the day due to the fact it goes with almost anything. So with hundreds of different ways of serving Skyr it’s easy to see why it’s absolutely everywhere. Simply a must eat in Iceland.

Creative Commons Flickr Credit:theimpulsivebuy

Fish (and more fish)

Could this be any more obvious? What do you do when you’re surrounded by ocean? Fish of course.

When you see a restaurant advertising ‘catch of the day’ in Iceland it’s fair to say you can take the term literally (which unfortunately isn’t the case in many places in the UK). Fish is a massive part of the Icelandic diet both at home and in restaurants and if you’re not normally based by the sea then a trip to Iceland is the perfect chance to learn what it is to enjoy fresh fish on a regular basis.

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As you can see, there’s a lot more to Icelandic food than big hearty stews to get you through the cold winter (although you will find those as well, lookout for a great traditional meat soup). If you’re looking to treat yourself then have a look into Mar Restaurant and Kopar Restaurant before arriving in Iceland, both are well worth a little route editing to squeeze in during your visit.

Have you been to Iceland and enjoyed a specific dish? We’d all love to hear about it below!