UPDATED: Bars and restaurants on Enjoy Food & Travel March 2010

To make it easier for you, I have compiled all the rated restaurants on Enjoy Food & Travel for the year 2010 on this page. Enjoy!!

Rated restaurants 2010

Read about rating system here

1. Armada Sera, Istanbul (Reviewed March 3rd 2010): BBBBB- (4,57 points)
   Armada Sera is located on the top floor of the Armada Hotel in Istanbul. It has a view to die for, and we enjoyed one of the best meals of the year here on the first night of our stay in Turkey.
   Read full story here
   
   
2. Adonin Café & Bar, Istanbul (Reviewed January 6th 2010): BBBB+ (4,42 points)
   One of our many good culinary experiences in Istanbul. Great location and less pushy personell than you can experience when looking for a place to eat in the area.
   Read full story here
   
   
3. COMING: Vognmand Nilsen, Oslo (Reviewed March 24th 2010): BBBB+ (4,40 points)
   
   
4. COMING: Restaurant Le Fes, Marrakech (Reviewed April 7th 2010: BBBB+ (4,38 points)
   
   
5. NEW: Park Lunch, Newburyport MA (Reviewed February 24th 2010): BBBB (4,31 points)
   When I was leaving Northern Massachusetts for Boston's south shore last September, I was taken for a light traditional lunch at Park Lunch in Newburyport. I found that the best American grub is often found in family run diners like this.
   Read full story here
   
   
6. Latitude Bistro, M/F Pearl of Scandinavia (Reviewed January 13th 2010): BBBB (4,16 points)
   I have dined on the ferries between Oslo and Copenhagen countless times, and have had a wide range of meals. For those crossing the Kattegat, do not expect fine cuisine.
   Read full story here
   
   
7. Les Crustacés, Brussels (Reviewed January 27th 2010): BBBB (4,03 points)
   Place Saint Catherine in Brussels used to be the place to enjoy seafood in the Belgian capital. When looking for a place for lunch, we passed a couple of seafood restaurants before choosing Les Crustacés.
   Read full story here
   
   
8. COMING: Yaya's, Oslo (Reviewed May 5th 2010) BBBB (3,97 points)
   
   
9. COMING: Restaurant Chez Chegrouni, Marrakech (Reviewed March 20th 2010): BBBB: (3,85 points)
   
   
10. Bilbao Berria, Barcelona (Reviewed February 10th 2010): BBBB (3,82 points)
    I have visited the popular tapas restaurant Bilbao Berria in Barcelona a number of times these last years, and always decided to revisit, as in June 2009.
    Read full story here
    
    
11. COMING: Far East, Oslo: (Reviewed April 14th 2010) BBBB- (3,79 points)
    
    
12. Menelas, Brussels (Reviewed March 10th 2009): BBBB- (3,68 points)
    
    Excellent service, and reasonable priced lunch and dinners. My Moussaka did not provide me with those strong Greek vibes.
    
    Read full story here
    
    
13. Windsor Garden, Playa del Ingles (Reviewed January 20th 2010) BBBB- (3,62 points)
    Windsor Garden is a place not to try pizza. It has few big assets, all in all. Decent location, and reasonable prices are a few. The rest is best described as mediochre. Windsor is OK for a snack for those of you with low expectations, except to satisfy primary hunger.
    Read full story here
    
    
14. Massimino's Cucina Italiana, Boston MA (Reviewed February 17th 2010): BBB+ (3,39 points)
    Good location, but Massimino's Cucina Italiana is hardly the place for a memorable meal, or an interesting rustic Italian interior.
    Read full story here
    

Other bar and restaurant stories on Enjoy Food & Travel

1. A Touch of class at Café Metropole
   If you want to experience old world charm in Brussels, you'll definitely find it at Café Metropole, located in the hotel with the same name.
   Read full story here
   
   
2. Coffee at Omar
   
   Walking one of the largest cities of the world make you tired and in need for a cup of strong Turkish coffee. The first place we sat down was at Omar a stone's throw away from Hagia Sophia. A really nice place to rest.
   Read full story here
   
   
   
3. Croque at Le Cirio in Brussels
   
   As we arrived in Brussels, I do as I usually do - I take a late night snack at Le Cirio. This time I traveled with friends and we planned to meet at this charming old Tavern by Brussels Stock Exchange, and I knew what I would order - a Croque Cirio.
   Read full story here
   
   
   
4. Gio Bar, Playa del Ingles
   Gio Bar is a giant leap from Norwegian culture to gay culture.
   See story on bars on Playa del Ingles here
   
   
5. In Cod we trust
   
   This Sunday, I went back to M4 Mat & Bar for Sunday dinner. They had fried cod with mash, grated carrots and remoulade on the menu. What a dainty dish!
   
   See full story here
   
   
6. COMING: Les Terraces de l'Alhambra - a bar with a view
   
   
7. Maghreb cuisine in Oslo (February 24th 2010)
   Longing back to sunny North Africa, I and my good friend Per went to Marrakech, the only Moroccan restaurant in Oslo.
   Read full story here
   
   
8. New Years dinner at Le Florimond in Paris
   I got this mail from my good friend John Wroughton. He and his partner, Øystein, had been to Paris over the New Year. Theu had their New Year's dinner ar Le Florimond. Here is his account of their meal.
   Read full story here
   
   
9. No Hooter's in Stavanger
   
   An overwhelming majority in the city council of Stavanger voted Thursday to deny license to serve alcohol to the first Hooter's restaurant in the city, but the politicians avoided all controversy in their discussion.
   Read full story here
   
   
   
10. Paddy's by the sea, Playa del Ingles
    If you are looking for a beach side bar, I will strongly recommend Paddy's by the Sea by the Faro lighthouse at Maspalomas.
    See story on bars on Playa del Ingles here
    
    
11. Sosialkontoret Bar, Playa del Ingles
    
    This bar seemed like a kind of a joke. Its name refers to the Norwegian State Social Security bureau.
    
    See story on bars on Playa del Ingles here
    
    
12. Top five restaurants on Enjoy Food & Travel 2009
    
    Enjoy Food & Travel has reviewed 30 restaurants in 2009. We've had great culinary experiences in 7 countries. Here are the five best restaurants visited in 2009.
    
    Read full story here
    
    
13. Will Hooter's conquer Norway in 2010?
    
    American Hooter's is a chain of restaurant that may seem incompatible with the politically correct culture found in the Scandinavian countries. It is therefore a surprise that it has applied the city council of Stavanger, Norway's oil capital, to open its first restaurant in Norway
    Read full story here
    

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Enjoy Food & Travel - main index 2006-2010

Mariakyrkan - Sigtuna

Sigtuna is the oldest city in Sweden, with a history spanning more than 1000 years. There were many churches in the city, and all except one, are no in ruins. The only church still standing is dedicated to Virgin Mary.

The Church is a basilica in red brick built by Dominican friars in 1230-1255, partly in Romanesque, partly in Gothic style.

In 1255 the local archbishop - earls were buried in the choir, and their burial niches are still visible today.

The convent connected to the church was torn down after the reformation. Bricks were used in castles in nearby Venngarn and Svartsjö.

In 1641 the church was in such a bad condition that the Swedish government demanded that the community to renovate it, thus saving it from the fate shared by all the other churches in this old Medieval city.

It has been extended and changed during the centuries, but it has retained its Medieval character. It is dark and mysterious.

The interior is beautifully decorated with elaborate paintings that were found during large restoration works 1904-1905.

On the walls you find painted Crusader crosses, as well as ornate floral patterns. On one wall you see a depiction of Christ on the cross with his mother and disciples.

More on Sigtuna

Sigtuna - the city by the water - read story here

UPDATED: Sights on Enjoy Food & Travel March 2010

View Sights on Enjoy Food & Travel 2010 in a larger map

To make it easier for you, I have compiled all the sights on Enjoy Food & Travel for the year 2010 on this page. Enjoy!!

A

• Almoravid Qoubba , Marrakech (February 16th 2010)
  Close to the impressive Ali ben Youssef Mosque in Marrakech you find the Almoravid Qoubba. It is the oldest building in the city, going back nearly 900 years.
  
  
• Arasta Bazaar, Istanbul (February 23rd 2010)
  The Arasta Bazaar complex was built in the first decades of the 17th century, at the same time as the Blue Mosque.
  
  
• Arche de Triomphe, Brussels (January 26th 2010)
  Close to the headquarters of The European Union, you'll find the Parc Cinquantanaire and the Arch de Triomphe that King Leopold II of Belgium erected at the 50th Anniversary of the formation of the Belgian state.
  

B

• Berlaymont Building, Brussels (March 2nd 2010)
  The iconic, cross shaped, Berlaymont Building is the symbol of the European Union and is the main building of the European Commission.
  
  
• Bunker Hill Monument, Boston MA (January 12th 2010)
  Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston to its end, you end up by the Bunker Hill Monument.
  

C

• Charlemagne Building, Brussels (March 2nd 2010)
  The Charlemagne Building is a seemingly new, avantgarde building located at 170 Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat. The building is in fact over 40 years old, but it has been given a contemporary facelift in steel and glass.
  
  
• Clough House, Boston MA (March 9th 2010)
  Walking through Boston's North End you find yourself in one of the oldest city areas in the United States with a history going back nearly 400 years.
  

E

• European Quarters, Brussels (March 2nd 2010)
  The European Quarter is not the most charming area in Brussels. Still it is the nerve centre of an expanding European Union, and should be on the list of sights for any politically interested visitor in Brussels.
  

G

• Great Mosque of Brussels (January 26th 2010)
  The Great Mosque of Brussels is also found in the park. In 1967, King Baudouin gave a building built in 1880 to King Faisal ibn Abd al-Aziz of Saudi Arabia,
  

J

• Justus Lipsius Building, Brussels (March 2nd 2010)
  The Justus Lipsius Building is named after Justus Lipsius, Joose Lips or Josse Lips (1547 — 1606) - a famous Flemish philologist and humanist.
  

K

• Kongelige Priviligerede Assistence Huus, Copenhagen (January 5th 2010)
  This beautiful house in Nybrogade in Copenhagen was built by the mayor Wilhelm Bjerregaard in 1728, after the fire that left much of the city in ruins.
  

M

• Mariakyrkan, Sigtuna (March 18th 2010)
  Sigtuna is the oldest city in Sweden, with a history spanning more than 1000 years. There were many churches in the city, and all except one, are no in ruins. The only church still standing is dedicated to Virgin Mary.
  
  
• Musee des Beaux-Arts, Lyon (January 19th 2010)
  At Musée des beaux-arts de Lyon, they have an impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts. I was captured by the mysterious eyes of Osiris, reminding us of our Mortality.
  

P

• Parc de Cinquantanaire, Brussels (January 26th 2010)
  Park Cinquantanaire is beautiful in winter, as in summer. All year the lawns are beautifully green, lined with evergreen shrubbery.
  
  
• Puerto de Mogán, Gran Canaria (January 5th 2010)
  To experience a little of the original Canarian life, a trip to Puerto de Mogán is recommended.
  

R

• The runic stones of Sigtuna, Sigtuna (Februar 2nd 2010)
  Sigtuna is the oldest, still populated settlement in Sweden. The long dramatic history spans over 1000 years, and has left a rich heritage of historic monuments.
  

S

• Skinny House, Boston (February 16th 2010)
  When I walked the Freedom Trail to its end in September, I stopped at Copps Hill Burial Ground. When I turned around, I looked into this strangely looking wooden building, squeezed between two large red brick buildings.
  

Find other stories on Enjoy Food & Travel - see our new page:

Enjoy Food & Travel - main index 2006-2009

Rating airline experiences 2006-2010

Do you love flying? My experience is that every flight is different. We here on Enjoy Food & Travel has rated airlines since 2006, and I have compiled a list of different flights these last four years. Enjoy!

1. BBBB+ (4,38 points): Turkish Airlines (Oslo-Istanbul, December 2009)
   Flying Turkish Airlines is what air travel used to be. Good service, food and drink included, no handling, luggage or booking fees. Only thing lacking was duty free sales on flights, but this was not greatly missed. Enjoy Food & Travel highly recommends Turkish Airlines when service is available to your destination.
   Read full story here
   
   
2. BBBB (4.13 points): Icelandair (Oslo-Boston, September 2009)
   Some of the Icelandair glam is gone. No free food and wine/beer, a little pricey compared to other airlines, but still the most comfortable way to travel Oslo-Boston. Smooth boarding and disembarking and top punctuality
   Read full story here
   
   
3. BBBB- (3,68 points): Brussels Airlines (Oslo - Brussels, October 2009)
   Reasonably priced ticket, good punctuality, but we were seated like potted shrimps. This is the most unpleasant flight since my South African Airways experience in 2007.
   Read full story here
   
   
4. BBBB- (3,54 points): Norwegian Air Shuttle(Oslo-Marrakech, January/Februar 2010)
   Great price for ticket and good service. Low seating comfort on flight to Marrakech, but satisfactory on way back. Delays on departure and/or arrival both ways, confirming that Norwegian Air Shuttle struggle to meet demands on punctuality.
   Read full story here
   
   
5. BBBB-: Lufthansa (Oslo - Barcelona, December 2006)
   Lufthansa is still a reliable and good airline and it deserves its score. The biggest potential to become an even better airline is definetely the food, if it has the overall standard we met on the trip. But still - a good airline experience!!
   Read full story here
   
   
6. BBB+: South African Airways (London - Johannesburg, September/October 2007)
   South African Airways is a once in a lifetime experience. As comfort goes, it is one of the worst experiences I have ever had. I strongly warn passengers choosing South African Airways flights to South Africa.
   Read full story here
   

A culinary shopping bag

This weekend my sister is traveling to Copenhagen, without me! We've had a tradition these last years, that is to have at least one trip to Copenhagen during spring. When in Copenhagen, I love to do some serious food shopping.

When traveling on the DFDS ferries between Oslo and Copenhagen you have access to both freezer, as well as cold rooms to store both frozen and fresh products.

Where to go and what to buy

As Denmark is connected to the common market, and Norway's not, you find a wide selection of international food at very reasonable prices in Copenhagen.

I used to do my shopping in the food hall at Magazin du Nord, at Kongens Nytorv. Then I discovered Irma, the delicatessen located in the basement of of Illums, the second large department store in downtown Copenhagen.

The prices are much lower at Irma, as this shop belongs to a large chain of low-price food stores. Now I always end up there when traveling to Copenhagen.

My culinary grocery bag - April 2009

Succulent and tender berberi duck breast

Berberi refers to the Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata).

Duck breast has become a favourite among many amateur cooks. Easy to prepare, and extremely tender, but very expensive here in Norway.

So if you buy 4 breasts In Denmark priced at 139 DKK (€18,70) per kilo, compared to what you have to pay in Norway NOK 399 (€49,80), this is a meat worth buying when going grocery shopping in Copenhagen.

Duck breasts are so wonderfully easy to prepare, and have an extremely tender and succulent meat.

Here is my way to prepare a perfect duck breast.

• A perfect Duck Breast

Berberi duck thighs

Duck thighs are equally delicious when prepared correctly. Whereas a breast is prepared in the pan and served pink in the middle, a thigh needs to bake in the oven for a long time at a low temperature.

Back in April 2009 you could buy duck thighs at 25% of the price you would have to pay in Norway. I bought 4 fresh French berberi duck thighs to be placed in the freezer and prepared later.

What did I make from them? Here are a few dishes made from the duck thighs from Illum.

• Stress-free home made duck confit
  
• Crostinis with duck confit and truffle oil
  

Bresaola

Most countries have a domestic production of cured and smoked meats, including Norway. Few, however, make this products with success commercially. One of them is Italy.

As we are excluded from the European food market, imported cured meats are heavily taxed to protect the Norwegian domestic production, that sadly is inferior to high quality European products.

So products as this Bresaola is well worth buying for us Norwegians when traveling into the European market.

Parmacotto is a Parma based firm producing boiled ham, mortadella, fresh and cured meats.

See company website here

Bresaola is air dried salted beef left to cure for at least 2-3 months. It is seasoned with salt and spices as juniper berries, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Delicious served on a freshly baked, still warm focaccia and pesto. Yum!!!

Kelda soups

These soups are hardly worth buying from an economic point of view. They are relatively cheap, but I buy them for their taste, as Kelda soups are probably of the bests I have ever tasted.

The spicy Thai soup is surprisingly pungent, and have that fresh citrus character derived from lemon grass and lime leaves. The chicken Carib soup is equally tasty.

Recommended for those of you traveling to Copenhagen.

Butter bean stew with merguez sausages (Serves 4)

I suddenly craved for butter beans the other day, and decided to create an improvised stew containing a wide range of ingredients from my kitchen. It had a hint of North Africa, as I used merguez sausages, and harissa and Ras el Hanout, spices from the soukhs of Marrakech.

To make my butter bean stew with merguez sausages, you'll need:

1 large red onion, diced
3 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 merguez sausages, sliced
300 grams (11 oz) of mushrooms, sliced
25 cl (9 fluid oz) stock
½ glass of tomato sauce
2 cans of butter beans
Ground pepper
Spices (I used Moroccan as Harissa and Ras el Hanout)
2-3 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
10 cl (3 fluid oz) single cream 20%
Grated cheese

Fry garlic and onions in the oil, and then add the sliced merguez and mushrooms. Fry for a few minutes.

Add the stock and tomato sauce. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes.

Open the cans of beans, pour out brine and rinse in cold water. Add to the stew. Season according to your taste. I used harissa, a strong North African chili mix, Ras el Hanout, another African seasoning. Check salt level and add more if necessary. Use Thai chili sauce or sugar for additional sweetness.

Allow all ingredients to infuse for 15-25 minutes. Add cream at end of boiling time. Cool down.

Pour stew into a baking dish. Sprinkle grated cheese on top (I used a cheddar / mozzarella mix), and place in a hot oven (200C / 400F) for 20-30 minutes, or until cheese is golden.

More beans on Enjoy Food & Travel

• Fava beans (and what you can do with them)
• Stress free chicken stew
• Barbeque pork chops with Ah-So sauce

The Slammer - a real hit!!

Last weekend I bought a bottle of The Slammer, an American Red wine from Big House Wine producer. That was a great hit......

I fell for the Big House The Slammer Syrah 2006 due to its funny label, and from the fact that I love wines made from Syrah grapes.

The Big House Wine Co, it produces a wide range of wines from different grapes. Winemaker Georgetta Dane's goal is to produce wine and wine labels that "will scintillate the most jaded imbiber."

The name is explained on the site as:

Our Soledad Winery in Monterey County, is a mere ankle iron’s toss from the Soledad State Correctional Facility, aka The Clink, The Slammer, The Hoosegow, The Cooler.

The Slammer Syrah 2006 is made from 85% Syrah and 15% Petite Sirah grapes and is recommended to beef, lamb, pork and game.

This is a full bodied Syrah, with a dark ruby, blue-red colour, and rich fruit aromas from dark berries and spices, and a hint of camphor. Though a great wine, it may, in my opinion struggle to match some game meats.

Bergen has the most expensive hotels in Scandinavia

(Source: Dagbladet, March 2nd 2010) If you want to visit Norway, and need cheap accommodation, avoid Bergen. The capital city of Western Norway is on top of the list of expensive Scandinavian cities if you need a bed for the night.

Hotels.com has checked average price of hotel rooms for a number of cities in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Surprisingly three cities along the scenic western coast of Norway are among the most expensive to stay in. Bergen, Ålesund, and Stavanger are ranking over all capital cities on average price for a hotel room.

Bergen A-Z 2007-2009 - see all stories here

Copenhagen the most expensive capital

If you consider visiting one of the four capital cities and are looking for reasonable hotels, Helsinki is definitely the place to go. The average price is around NOK 200 lower (25 EUR) than in Copenhagen in Denmark, followed by Oslo and Stockholm.

That Copenhagen is the most expensive of the Scandinavian cities is absolutely no surprise. I've checked hotels in the Danish capital several times, and found that even a room in a tourist class hotel stretch your bank balance.

Last time I stayed in Copenhagen, I ended up at Hotel Sct. Thomas in the neighbouring borough of Frederiksberg. Priced at DKK 599 a night (€75) it was a rip-off considering the low standard of the hotel.

Copenhagen from A-Z 2007-2009 - see all stories here

Average price of room per night in a selection of Scandinavian cities

Here is average price of a hotel room in a selection of 7 Scandinavian cities.

1. Bergen 1.122 NOK pr. night
2. København 1.096 NOK pr. night
3. Oslo 1.069 NOK pr. night
4. Tromsø 1.032 NOK pr. night
5. Stockholm 1.020 NOK pr. night
6. Trondheim 1.010 NOK pr. night
7. Helsingfors 904 NOK pr. night

Read these reviews on Trondheim, Bergen, Oslo and Copenhagen hotels

Bergen Travel Hotel, Bergen
Hotel Sct. Thomas, Fredriksberg (Copenhagen)
P-hotel, Trondheim, Trondheim
Quality Hotel Edvard Grieg, Sandsli (Bergen)
Radisson SAS Hotel Oslo Airport, Oslo
Radisson SAS Royal Hotel Bryggen, Bergen
Thon Hotel Bergen Brygge, Bergen

Move all long-haul flights to Oslo and Stockholm!!

Danish trade unions are pushing Scandinavian Airlines towards the abyss. They demand Danish crew only on all long-haul flights from Kastrup Airport. This as their colleagues in Norway and Sweden have agreed to demands from the Governments in the three countries on drastic cuts in order to get additional financial aid to save the air carrier.

Norwegian travelers find it unfair that we shall travel to Copenhagen in order to get to destinations in the Far East and the US.

Today there are no long-haul flights from Oslo airport operated by Scandinavian Airlines. Stockholm have non-stop flights to Chicago O'Hare and Newark, whereas Copenhagen has flights operated by Scandinavian to the following destinations.

• Bangkok
• Beijing
• Chicago O'Hare
• Newark
• Tokyo-Narita
• Washington-Dulles
  

Why should Copenhagen remain the main hub for Scandinavian's international flights? Scandinavian Airlines should abandon Kastrup and move all long-haul flights to Oslo and Stockholm. That is the way to save the crisis-ridden Scandinavian air carrier.

It would furthermore be a lesson for the Danish trade unions that have lost all sense of solidarity in a common effort by all groups to save Scandinavian Airlines. To uphold such privileges is highly irresponsible, when colleagues in the other Scandinavian countries may loose their jobs.

Let the Danes be fully responsible for the bankruptcy of the airline, as their stubbornness will mean no government deal to keep it afloat.

(Photo: Magnus Manske)

Ryanair - status flights March 11th 2010

Ryanair is expanding its activity from Norwegian airports. Here are the latest news on Ryanair's non-stop flights from Norway to destinations in Europe.

New direct flight to Newcastle upon Tyne May 2010

Ryanair has previously had direct flights from Torp Airport to Newcastle upon Tyne. Flights were canceled due to low interest in 2007.

The company recently announced that they will try again, with 3 non-stop flights every week from Rygge Airport to Newcastle starting May 19th 2010.

More stories on Rygge Airport

Ryanair makes Rygge its Norwegian base

(Photo: Tagishsimon)

More flights Rygge - Alicante

Ryanair's flights from Rygge to Alicante are popular. So popular, in fact, that the air carrier will increase number from 2 to 3 flights a week.

Keep track of non-stop flights from European destinations to Rygge Airport

See all non-stop flights from Rygge to European destinations here

(Photo: Lobo de Hokkaido)

Non-stop Haugesund - Malaga from June 25th

Ryanair will start two weekly flights from Haugesund Airport from June 25th 2010. Flights will go Monday and Fridays during the peak season.

This is the second Spanish destination for travelers from Haugesund. Ryanair is already operating all year flights to Alicante.

See all non-stop flights from Haugesund to European destinations here

Latest Ryanair story on Enjoy Food & Travel

Ryanair flights from Haugesund 2010 season

(Photo: Tyk)