elusive moose » Shopping

Shopping in Moss city centre

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:03:57 +0000

Gallery Kraft and Metallum, Moss

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:55:36 +0000

Two galleries under one roof, in a building opposite the Amfi shopping centre and right next to the Moss Avis building. Established 26 years, Gallery Kraft and Metallum represents dozens of artists from all over Norway, and is a real Ali Baba’s cave, with some beautifully crafted gifts. Glass, ceramics, pottery and jewellery are all well represented. There is also a good selection of hand-made cards. All in all a great place for anyone looking for an original gift, or something a little bit different for the house. Andrew Weinstock, the owner and a goldsmith by trade, is a friendly chap not adverse to a chat, and will be happy to advise you if you need any help.

Theodor Petersonsgate 6. Tel: 69 25 77 45.

Say cheese…

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:34:07 +0000

A Norwegian invention: The cheese slicer

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:29:15 +0000

The cheese slicer, the brainchild of Thor Bjørklund, a carpenter from Lillehammer, turns 85 this year. Bjørklund came upon the idea on a hot summer day back in 1925, when he found out the cheese in his packed lunch had all but melted. He took a sheet of steel, bent it and cut it, and bingo – the cheese slicer was invented. Soon friends and family, who could see a good use for this new kitchen utensil, were demanding their own too, and later that year Bjørklund got his invention patented. Mass production started in 1927, and the rest, as they say, is history. Well, at least in Scandinavia, where the cheese slicer can be found in every kitchen drawer. Norwegians eat a lot of cheese, particularly hard cheese, hence the popularity of Bjørklund’s invention, which over the years has become a bit of a national icon. The appeal of its sleek design has not been confined to Norway though – the ubiquitous cheese slicer has become a popular souvenir to take home with foreign tourists. It is also sold in 20 countries in Scandinavia and Europe. Thor Bjørklund & Sønner AS in Lillehammer was until last year Norway’s only producer of cheese slicers. It had manufactured 50 million of them. The company was taken over by GIAX in 2009. More info at www.bjorklund-1925.no

Shopping in the archipelago

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:54:42 +0000

På låven, Hvaler

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:51:40 +0000

Hvaler is not reknown for its shopping, but there is one place worth checking out if you’re after original clothes and gifts – På låven on the island of Vesterøy, the first island you come to after crossing the bridge over Puttesund. Ideally located in a restored barn (hence the name), this charming shop has a great selection of clothes and footwear for both children and women, as well as gifts big and small, and a range of home decoration items in romantic, rustic style. Don’t be all that surprised if you encounter a hen roaming freely in one of the rooms while you browse, they belong to the nextdoor neighbour, and in common with locals and tourists alike, they seem to enjoy stopping by to have a good look around too.

På låven, open Tues-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm during school holidays, after that weekends only until Christmas. Hauge, Vesterøy (take it right at the Esso station and follow signs for Hauge. You’ll see the shop on your right at the crossing for Papper about 3km on). Tel: 93 00 06 09, http://paalaaven.blogspot.com (Norwegian only)

The best raw ingredients

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:32:45 +0000

Hvaler prawns

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:30:36 +0000

Did you know that Hvaler was famous for its prawns? Many argue they indeed are the best in Norway. The prawns are cooked on board the boats before they return to shore, in big pans of seawater to which salt has been added – this is what gives them their distinctive taste.

You can drive to Utgårdskilen and buy them straight from the fishermen when they return from their day at sea. At Utgårdskilen you’ll find Fjordfisk’s wharehouse and shop, which receive the largest delivery of fish and shellfish in Eastern Norway. 400 tons of the prawns brought in every year are sold ready-to-eat as fresh Hvaler prawns, while a further 600 tons are delivered to the industry for processing (freezing mainly).

Fishing has always been a mainstay of Hvaler’s economy, be it cod, herring, makrell, lobster or oyster. Around 1900 the first attempts to fish prawns with trawlers were carried out in the Oslofjord, and by 1914 all the fishermen in Utgårdskilen on Hvaler used this method. Business was good, and Hvaler prawns were even exported, tinned, to Germany.

The day started early for prawn fishermen, typically 1am or 2am, and it was not unusual for them to be out at sea until 5pm-6pm. The price of prawns varied from place to place, and year to year, but in 1934 the average price per kilo was 62 øre! Today fishermen on Hvaler still work long hours (particularly when the catch is good!), but the price of fresh prawns has gone up somehow – around 150Kr per kilo. Frozen prawns are much cheaper (no doubt because they are easier to handle), and sell for as little as 30Kr a kilo when on special offer – although 60-70Kr is more common.

Try fresh Hvaler prawns in one of Skjærhalden’s restaurants (Første Reis on the harbour serves them with aioli and its own special shellfish sauce), or eat them au naturel, like most Norwegians do, on white bread and butter, with just a dash of lemon juice. Great for a summer dinner with friends, or why not, a posh picnic by the sea – perfect with a glass of chilled pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc.

Art and history in the Old Town

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:53:22 +0000

Focus on Gamlebyen: Bastion 5

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:48:16 +0000

Bastion 5 in Gamlebyen is a complex run by local artists and craftsmen, consisting of a cafe, exhibition galleries and workshops. The building furthest from the river was originally a bakery, while Cafe Magenta is where Gamlebyen’s slaves were kept when they were not working in the fields outside the city. The Provianthus or storehouse, the largest of the three buildings, is also Gamlebyen’s oldest. The wall facing the river is an impressive 4m-thick in places. The building was completed in 1691, and today houses the main exhibition space. Here you will find pottery, sculpture, jewellery, paintings, and other arts and crafts for sale. A great place to browse, and maybe find an unusual souvenir to take home.

Bastion 5 is open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat-Sun noon-4pm. Toldbodgaten, Gamlebyen. Tel: 98 63 91 49, www.bastion5.com