Good food is a big part of celebrating Christmas, and we spend more time cooking during the festive season than at any other times. Many of us also spend more money on food than usual in order to get hold of the best ingredients available. We’re lucky in Østfold as there are several very good local producers here. I’m not just saying this: Østfold was the county that received the most nominations in the last Det Norske Måltid konkurranse, a national competition aiming to find, and reward, the best Norwegian products up and down the country.

Here are some local products worth checking out:

- Crayfish and prawns from Fjordfisk AS, Utgårdskilen, Hvaler. Available at the reception warehouse on the pier in Utgårdskilen, or at the Fjordfisk AS outlet in Båthavna 12, Skjærhallen (both on Hvaler). www.fjordfisk.no (Norwegian only)

- Crème brûlée (and other egg-based desserts) from Ek Gårdskjøkken, Onsøy. These guys recently won the ‘product of the year 2009′ award at the Det Norske Måltid competition (see above) with this yummy dish. www.ek-as.no (Norwegian only)

- Villsauen Fredrikstad: Organic lamb and mutton meat from small flocks grazing and roaming freely on the Søster Islands, Hvaler. The islands have a rich and varied plant life that gives the meat a distinctive flavour.

- Norwegian smoked salmon (and other similar fish products) from Troll Salmon, a kosher-certified salmon producer. Based in Engelsviken. www.troll-salmon.com (info in English)

- Chicken breasts and whole organic Livèche-chickens from local producers in Trøgstad and Hærland (in cooperation with Nortura).

For more information on these producers, and others in the region, visit www.culinary-heritage.com (info in English)