Meet The People of The North
Through this incredible journey we’ve taken through the North, we’ve met inspiring people wherever we’ve been. From the strong women like Anita and Venke in Lofoten, harvesting seaweed and an international art gallery, to the Olsen family who keeps a whole island vital with their fish, the sami-inn keepers Lisa and Per Edvard and of course Inger-Anne Tolaas and her husband, Bjørn, who believes and live for the old traditions of Norwegian cooking in a one of a kind pop up restaurant in her grand mothers house. Here you can meet some of the People from our series.
ANGELITA ERIKSEN
Angelita Eriksen is a fishermans daughter who longed for her home turf after many years away from her beloved Lofoten. Together with her friend Tamara, they founded their business - Lofoten Seaweed. They have developed their own brand and products for foodies all over the world based on sustainable harvested seaweed.
TAMARA SINGER
Tamara Singer is the other half of Lofoten Seaweed. She followed her friend Angelita all the way above the polar circle to hunt for treasures of the sea. Tamara grew up in New Zealand with a Japanese mother, which has given her a perfect background for developing international cuisine based on what she finds on the shores of Lofoten.
MIA GYLSETH
Mia Gylseth is the fifth generation in the family business at Sakrisøya, a typical trading post in Lofoten where her ancestors have bought and processed fish from the surrounding rich ocean. Together with mother Anita she has developed their business into a tourist destination with an impressive shop and a wonderful restaurant. They even offer very comfortable accommodation based on the traditional fisher men´s cabins, called rorbu.
TRUDE CAROLINE HALVORSEN
Trude is the the manager of Skjerneset Fisk where they farm lumpfish. She moved to Sørøya because of the richness in fish, nature and the quality of life. Our chef Frida will never forget the wonderful lumpfish roe and the waffles she made with it.
VENKE HOFF
Venke Hoff is the owner and founder of an international art gallery in Henningsvær, Lofoten. Together with her husband Rolf they built an impressive network which draws both art lovers and some of the worlds most sought after artists to this small fishing hamlet. During our visit one of the stars of the art scene, Chinese Ai Wei Wei, was the main exhibition.
INGUNN RASMUSSEN
Ingrunn Rasmussen is one of the impressive and strong women of the North. She grew up in a fishing family at the very end of the Lofoten archipelago. After many years as an entrepreneur abroad Ingunn returned and built a small luxury hotel on the family premises. Today this is the scene of visiting master chefs from Europe exploring the wonderful seafood from the cold, clear and rugged waters. Holmen Hotel is a unique retreat beyond your expectations.
LENA & NICLAS - FAROE ISLANDS
Lena Andersen and Niclas Johannesen is a very popular artist couple in the Faroe Islands. They tour internationally with both traditional music from the rich Faroe music culture and their own songs. Music is a very important part of the life out here in the middle of the Atlantic. Lena and Niclas are fantastic representatives of this tradition.
ROI MIKKJALSSON
Roi is the head chef at Aarstova, one of the Faroe Islands most prominent restaurants. Roi makes it his quest to serve the exotic flavours of the rich supply of exotic ingredients. His favorite is the Faroe lamb. On the islands there are more lamb than people.
OLAVUR GREGURSSON
Olavur Gregursson is a dedicated entrepreneur for the development of more use of seaweed from the Atlantic Ocean. His company Ocean Rainforrest has come a long way in making use of the abundant and healthy vegetables from under the water at The Faroe Islands.
ØRJAN FURØY
Ørjan Furøy is a fisherman who runs his operations together with his dad and his son. Ørjan uses the traditonal method of line-caught fish. He has grown up on these rugged remote islands and has an impressive knowledge of the most valuable fishing grounds.
GRO MARIE NILSEN
Gro is an active member of the historical society of Sørøya. Her mother Kjellaug was one of the brave women who formed the guerilla which fought with arms against German soldiers in the battle of Sørøya.
EVA DANIELSEN HUSBY
Eva has been the mayor of Hasvik - the municipality of Sørøya in over 15 years. The small fishery based community here faces all kinds of challenges and Eva has been the a very popular leader of the 385 souls who trive here. She is also the author of several historic books about the island.
BILAL SAAB
Bilal is a household name in Norway. Not only because he is a very popular fishing-guide at Sørøya. He is also a national pop star. Bilal has won both The Masked Singer and The Ultimate Entertainer on national television. Bilal is the main attraction on the islands summer festival; Sørøyrocken.
MAGNUS BERGSETH
Chef Magnus has probably the most beautiful view of any restaurant in Norway. On the old trading post of Skotholmen, which is out at the sea of Sunnmøre, his view is the complete open ocean. This is where the locals venture to have his very famous crab soup. The recipe is secret but visitors are welcome.
KRISTINE AND CARLOS
Kristine Skarbø and her spanish husband Carlos took over her family farm in Stranda after venturing all over the world. Today their cider has received national acclaim and awards. Carlos adds the thrills of Skarbø farm with his families long cheese traditions.
ANDRE SKARBØ
Andre started as a young man working on fishing farming sites. He is still in his childhood fjord, where he has created a fantastic business for a lot of people with fantastic trout that he sends out from these waters to the whole world.
HARALD STRØMMEGJERDET
Harald is a local distiller in the fjords of Sunnmøre. His vision came after a trip to England where he got the idea that there is no reason why he couldn't make a great gin with the wonderful water and the local juniper from his family farm. At his family farm, he produces more than 16000 bottles of award-winning local gin.
INGER ANNE AND BJØRN TOLAAS
Inger-Anne og Bjørn runs a restaurant out of the ordinary. It’s actually in a small traditional house where Inger-Anne’s ancestors used to live. As a guest you’re seated in the old living room while the couple serves a never ending row of small local tastes. Lovely food and drinks - a proper time travel experience..
DANIEL LAURITZEN
Daniel Lauritzen makes a living as a fisherman on the very brink of the Barents Sea. He was awarded Fisherman of The Year in Norway i 2021. With his traditional small fishing boat, Tinder, He ventures out from the charming village of Kjøllefjord to bring the treasured Arctic cod to seafood lovers all over the world.
TRASTI OG TRINE
International dog musher Trine Lyrek and acclaimed chef Johnny Trasti run a faboulous inn by the Alta River. Trine use to live and compete in the US and Johnny cooked for the Norwegian prime minister. Then the two of them found their own Shangri-la in the far north. At Trast&Trine you can explore the Finnmark plateau with your own dog sled and eat sumptuous sami cuisine prepared by Johnny.
LISA KRISTESEN
Lisa Kristensen is innkeeper at Jotka on behalf of the Norwegian government, keeping the shelter open for travellers on the wild plateau. She grew up here and had to be away all week to attend school in Alta. Lisa could not think of any better place to live.
EVA ANDERSEN
Eva is the fourth generation at the old trading post-Støtt on the magnificent Helgeland coast. The whole island has always been a family business. In the heyday, the sheltered bay was filled with fishing boats and trading ships. Today this is a unique retreat with wonderful rooms restored to the 1800s style and a restaurant in the old general store.
ELISE BRATTENG RØNNING AND MARIUS MARTINSEN
Elise Bratteng Rønning and Marius Martinsen met while they we working on the finest restaurants in the capital. Their dream however was to have something of their own. Elise took her husband to her home village and together they created one of Northern Norway´s best restaurants and a very cozy inn.
PER EDVARD JOHNSEN
Per Edvard Johnsen is a legend on the Finnmark plateau. For generations, his ancestors have found their way of life in these challenging conditions. His lovely inn, Mollisjok Lodge, was originally a hunting and fishing camp for grouse and arctic char. Per Edvard are a great host, cook, and conveyor of the story of the indigenous Sami culture.