Oslo says » Shopping

Oslo’s secret of bread

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:19:58 +0000

To be honest, tourists haven’t come rushing to Norway for the bread. Norwegians turned their back to old fashioned bakeries many years ago, preferring to buy their bread in industrialized grocery stores on-the-run from work to home.

Lately, we have seen a few signs of recovery for the very idea of a bakery. You can even find bakeries that could be mistaken for at french boulangerie. Not many of them, of course – but have a try at Åpent Bakeri (yes, you are right, it means Open Bakery). You will find the original one behind the Royal castle, in Incognito terrasse. They also have a few stores around the city, but this is the place to be for a pain-au-chocolat and a nice cup of coffee, and for the bread to bring home afterwards.

And, yes – the people in charge are French, of course.

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Farmers’ market in Oslo

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:28 +0000

Now it is season for Farmers’ market in Oslo. Last weekend a big fair was taking place at the Karl Johan. In October you will find new fairs in Vibes gate and in Birkelunden. More info here.

Be a Harry, too!

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:30:10 +0000

Oslo says: My apologies to readers named Harry: In Norway the name has for some reason been associated with being a bit off comme-il-faut, caracterizing a way of living that is not up to the standards of the higher middle class. Which means, of course, that it is the upper middle class which is completely out-of-touch with everday life.

So when a loudspeaking minister of trade dared to call it ”harry” to go shopping for cheaper beer, cigarettes and food stuff at the other side of the Norwegian/Swedish border, it came out all too wrong. Instead of being ashamed, people took pride in their ”harry trips”, bringing the border business to new heights – much to the grievance of Norwegian shop owners.

A favourite destination for people living in Oslo is the picturesque little town of Strømstad, 130 kilometers south of the Norwegian capital. Thanks to thousands of Norwegian guests, of whom quite a few got their own vacation houses in the area, Strømstad is as Norwegian as Sweden can be. Actually, it was a Norwegian area until a Danish king had to let it go to Sweden in 1668 (yes, this is a bit complicated. I will explain later in another post…).

In Strømstad you will find whatever you are looking for in the shops, generally to a significantly lower price than in Norway. But you should go there first and foremost for a pleasant trip. You will find reminences of the typical wooden villages of Sweden, and you can eat well – for example at Røkeriet. And if you have time – you should take the boat to the Koster Islands, a small hour outside Strømstad – a place where time is moving very slowly. I will tell you more later – I promise.

Your car will take you comfortably to Strømstad in 90 minutes, with the bus it will take you an hour more.
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One place – all about jazz

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:01:26 +0000

Oslo says: You would probably never find it, if you didn’t know it was there. The CD-shop and cafe in Grensen 8 gives you jazz all day long, and sometimes late night live concerts, too. Bare Jazz – means Only Jazz – is run by the saxofonist Bodil Niska and her enthusiastic friends. You will find all the jazz CDs you long for, lots of knowhow behind the desk, and a decent range of drinks and sandwiches. It’s a real treat.

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