ICELAND: What We Ate

 

          

*Icelandic hot dog
      You’re probably asking what is so special about the Icelandic hot dog-how is it different
      from other hot dogs? Answer: It is made from lamb meat. What makes it even better is
      the toppings and sauces!! I had one with just the mustard and then the rest of the time, I
      had them with everything (“Ein með öllu”): homemade crispy onions, ketchup (made
      from  apples instead of glucose), sweet mustard [“pylsusinnep”], remoulade, raw onions.
      While we were traveling in the campervan, I was able to get them at some of the N1 gas
      stations (not all are open-some are only self-service pumps). I had at least 3 while
      traveling the Ring Road-in Selfoss, Akureyri & Akranes. When we bought
      groceries at Bonus, we did buy a pack of hot dogs so we could have some at night in the
      campervan. They were also very good, even without the toppings and sauces.

*El Grillo/Kaffi Lara 
      This restaurant and bar are located in the heart of Seyðisfjörður, beside Lon (the
       lagoon). This is actually the first “non-gas station” restaurant we ate in….and it was so
       good! It was also nice to not have to prepare the food ourselves and wash dishes. Win
       win! I had Foilbaked Cod and my mom had Prime Lamb Cut. After eating, we walked it
       off by walking around the lagoon, taking in all of the sights and sounds of Seyðisfjörður.

*Nordic Restaurant
      This restaurant is located inside Hotel Aldan, which is located beside Kaffi Lara. We had
       breakfast here the morning we left Seyðisfjörður. It was a breakfast “buffet”. There were
       little pastries, bread, several “deli” meats, boiled eggs, and a few other things. It was
       not what I would think of in a buffet but it was still a buffet. You could get what you
       wanted and as much as you wanted (within reason I’m sure…I did not test them HA!)

*breakfast at Dalakofinn Laugum
       Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of our breakfast but it was more like what I am
       used to in the southern part of the US. (I’m pretty sure I remember some bacon!) It was
       good!

*Matarbur Kaju/Cafe Kaja Akranes
      This little cafe is in the heart of Akranes and offers coffees, teas, “light meals” and
      desserts. They are certified organic and have vegan and gluten free items. When we
      visited, my mom had rhubarb pie and a latte, 

      and I had cheesecake with blueberry topping and chai latte. It. Was. DELICIOUS!!

*MEZE
       After arriving in Reykjavík and storing our bags at the hotel (our room wasn’t quite
      ready), our first stop was for food. MEZE was across the street from the hotel (and I had
      already looked up restaurants in Reykjavík) so the decision was made to eat here. Their
      food has an emphasis on Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine. It was great! 
      I loved the bottle of water:) 

      I had Fish & Chips. It was as good as better than it looks!! The tartar sauce is
      MEZE’s recipe and it is sooo good! I wish I had some of it here at home in the United
      States. I’m pretty sure I could eat it on almost everything!

*Joylato
       Joylato is a little ice cream shop in Reykjavík. One of the things I loved about it, besides
      the food, was the bright and cheerful colors inside. It also had tables along the walls
      where we could sit by windows and watch the people walk along the sidewalk outside.
      My raspberry ice cream and chai latte was so yummy!!

       My mom had a latte and, if I’m remembering correctly, a crepe. Obviously, it didn’t make the
       picture.

*Penninn Eymundsson 
        This is a bookstore with a small coffee shop inside. If you love coffee
        and books, it’s definitely somewhere you want to check out. It’s like small
        bookstore/coffee shops in America, except better!, because, hello?!, it’s Iceland 😄 I
        know we had coffee notice a theme? ha!

*Grái Kötturinn (“Grey Cat”)
        This is a cute little restaurant close to downtown Reykjavík. It has “American” breakfast
        (like pancakes) but obviously, we didn’t get that because we can get that in America.
        The food at Grái Kötturinn was so delicious!!! My mom had Crocque-Madame, which is
        grilled bread, ham, fried egg, cheese, salad, black olives and virgin oil, and a
        cappuccino.

*Cafe Loki
       This is one of the places you want to go if you want traditional Icelandic food. I’m a picky
        eater so, to be quite honest, it was a little hard for me to find something to eat but I did,
        and it was good! If you are not picky, or are adventurous when trying traditional foods
        for the area, this is the place to go! It is located across the street
        from Hallgrímskirkja church so you have a great view while you eat. I did not get
        pictures of what we ate (the pictures below are from the website) but my
        mom had Icelandic plate Þór, which is rye bread slices,with mashed fish
(Plokkfiskur) & smoked trout, flatbread with sheep-head jelly, mashed
turnips and bean salad.

        This is a candy store. Need I say more? ha! They had candies that they made in the
        store as well as packaged candies, such as Godiva and Lindt, just to name a few. I do
        not have a picture because I ate the candy too fast 😄

*Icelandic Street Food
        This place has authentic Icelandic food. Again, I’m a picky eater but I was able to find
        something that I liked here. I had the Vegan Volcano Soup (yes, it was spicy but so
        good!).

         

       My mom had lamb soup.
        

*Brauð & Co.
        This bakery is very popular:) I did not get a picture but I had the cinnamon bun. I do not
        remember what my mom had but I do know that both were very delicious!!


*Valdís
       It’s ice cream…and it. was. DELISH!!! You can get 1, 2, or 3 scoops, in a cup or cone. I
       got tiramisu, mango, and another flavor (I can’t for the life of me remember what it
       was)…and all three were awesome! I was wishing I had more then. Fact: I wish I had all
       three right now!

*Sandholt
       This is a bakery and eatery. It is a very popular place. We did have to wait a few
       minutes to be seated but it was too bad. The food was worth it too! Sadly, I can’t
       remember what either one of us had, except the coffee (obviously we got coffee A LOT
       ha!)….cafe latte and swiss mocha:)

*Reykjavík Fish
       This is just what it says…Reykjavík Fish. I had fish and chips and an Icelandic Pepsi
       (somehow, it tastes better than American Pepsi)…

*Bæjarins Beztu
       Best hot dogs ever!!!

*Joe & the Juice
       This little area is close to check-in at the airport. It was covered up the morning we were
       flying out but they were getting the orders out quickly. I have no idea what my mom got
       (a sandwich and a coffee of some sort) but I had a “pick me up” smoothie, which is
       strawberry, banana and apple) and a turkey sandwich (nothing fancy but very
       delicious!)

*Mathús
        This place was a “self service”/buffet-type place in the airport where you could
        whatever you wanted. Of course, I had to get one last Icelandic hot dog before I
        left…and an Icelandic Pepsi 😉

…..and now I want to go back!! ég elska Ísland!!



Linking up with Ashley & Erika for this post…