A Taste of Reindeer Meat

Oslo is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Fast food meals begin at about $18 and a coffee in a café is about $6. The supermarket is also significantly more expensive than Wollaston’s. Most students have to cook for themselves because of the prices. Therefore, it is not common to see students eating out all the time, unless it’s at a “cheap” fast food place like the Lebanese chain Kebab House. The times people eat their meals is similar to those in the United States. Norwegians involve bread in almost all of their meals. It is normal to have bread with butter and coffee for breakfast. In fact, they are so big with bread, that you can find over 20 different bread flours to make different types of bread. They look like Betty Crocker Brownie packs, if that serves as any reference. Meal portion sizes are smaller than usual but it might be since they are combined with other small plates. However, Norwegian most commonly will combine their meals with a beer or wine. Most of the time, ordering such drinks is cheaper than ordering a Pepsi!

I eat most meals at Aker Brygge. Most of the restaurants are really fancy and expensive, but since it is a harbor/park, there are a lot of food trucks in the area. They are always changing and the options are diverse. The harbor is beautiful and has many decks to sit on. I usually grab a quick bite and eat on these decks watching the sea and ferries. When it gets colder, I will probably begin to cook more with my friends. I am vegan and sometimes prefer to cook something for myself than trying to find a vegan dish in Oslo where meat is very common. Reindeer and whale meat are sold everywhere, they are usually the most expensive dish on a menu. Other common plates include fishes like herring or salmon which are produced in Norway and is therefore very cheap. Seafood can be eaten for breakfast, too. Bread croissants filled with shrimp and avocado are seen at every café as a staple.