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After a beautiful first day in Akureyri, horseback riding in the brisk winter air, I was ready for my next adventure! This time, a foodie one. I had only found the Akureyri Food Walk tour days before I left the US. And I was so glad that I found it!
As it turns out, I was the only one on the tour with Armann (solo travel for the win!). Along with being a licensed tour guide, Armann is also a classically trained chef and a former member of the Icelandic national hockey team! He said long winters make you find different hobbies to try out!
Disclaimer: (23 June 2020) I’ve just confirmed that Akureyri Food Walk is no longer operating. However, Reykjavik Food Walk (their sister company) is! There is even a discount code at the bottom of this post! So keep reading for some fun Icelandic food and discounts!
Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Northern Icelandic (Akureyri) food
Icelandic food has come a long way since the days of just salted cod and lamb. Armann said that when he was growing up, all he knew was lamb and cod. To have access now to produce and different kinds of fruits and vegetables was something that was unheard of 20 years ago. Many people complain about the price of Icelandic food, and yes, it is quite pricey, but I can say with confidence, the quality of Icelandic food is also very high. Lamb and cows are raised in the utmost conditions, with little to any antibiotics. They are free range and enjoy nature often.
There is even a dairy farm outside of Akureyri that has mechanized everything, so the cows live in a climate-controlled barn, with little machines that clean the barn (basically, Roomba for barns), and are fed automatically. Armann told a story of taking a group of Indian Hindus to that dairy farm , and it literally brought tears to their eyes as to how well these cows were treated. Happy cows make happy cheese, and apparently 95% of Iceland’s cheese comes from Akureyri.
Icelandic fruits and vegetables are now grown in greenhouses around the country. They are currently trying to perfect greenhouse conditions to grow bananas! I also know there is a famous tomato greenhouse and restaurant located outside Reykjavik (which I will not have the chance to visit).
Alright, back to the Akureyri food tour.
Stop 1: Greifinn Restaurant
Of course, we had to start out with a Viking Beer, a local Akureyri brew. The beer was nice and refreshing and perfect to pair with the langoustine soup and salted cod! The salted cod is from the best salted cod fishery in Akureyri, which has been in business for 6 generations! Really delicious!
The langoustine soup is similar to a lobster bisque – rich and creamy. Langoustine is a small lobster, that people have only started treating as food in the last 10-20 years. And I’m so glad they did!
Stop 2: Strikiรฐ
The next stop was Strikiรฐ, where it was a cod-filled tasting! For starters, the candied cod and tuna tartare were really unique and delicious! Yes, I know that “candied” cod is also pickled, but it would be rude to refuse food on a food tour. I’ve never had a pickled meat before. Have you? yum.. After the starters, we were served a delightful roasted (regular) cod, paired with barley and roasted carrots. Really fresh and tender cod, delightfully roasted.
Stop 3: Blรกa Kannan
I’m so glad this was the final stop on our Akureyri food tour. The big, beautiful, blue building (“bbbb”) is a landmark in town. I walked past it several times earlier, and never really figured out what it was. Turns out, it’s a restaurant, with an extremely cozy interior. This “bbbb” is home to Blรกa Kannan, a local coffee shop and cafe, known for marital bliss.
Sorry, what? Just kidding, not marital bliss, the “marriage bliss” dessert! “Marriage Bliss”, a dessert made of oatmeal and rhubarb jam, served with ice cream. Named so, because if the wife makes this dessert, the husband will never leave!
Parting Thoughts on my Akureyri Food Tour
And that was my first evening in Akureyri, eating my way through their great eats!
Overall, it was a wonderful food tour. I had great conversation with Armann, who was very knowledgeable. I did a lot that first day in Akureyri, haven’t I? The night isn’t over yet!
In my next post… the hunt for Northern Lights and all the misconceptions about Northern Light activity!
For other things to do in Iceland, consider:
- Try hunting for Northern Lights – Akureyri (Northern Iceland) is perfect for that!
- Go horsebackriding on gorgeous Icelandic horses – in summer and winter!
- Visit Lake Myvatn, but also try to have a better trip than me! Check out a Tale of an Awful Tourist.
- Have a spa day at the Blue Lagoon!
Disclaimer: During this food tour, I was posting to Akureyri Food Walk’s Instagram account. I was not sponsored, nor did I receive any compensation. It was just a fun thing to do, and thank you to Egill at Akureyri Food Walk for letting me collaborate with you!
Please note that some products or referrals in this post are affiliate links (in green) and if you go through them to make a purchase or booking, I will earn a commission. I share these product and booking links because they are related to the post and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours whether to click through and make a purchase through these links.
Information on Akureyri & Reykjavik Food Walk
Akureyri Food Walk – sadly no longer operational.
Their sister company, the Reykjavik Food Walk is open and taking bookings.
Cost: 13,900 ISK | $101 USD
Cost after discount code below: 12,510 ISK | $91 USD
For 10% off, use discount code FOODANDFUN
Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.ย She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!ย She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.
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Interesting experience. To be honest, I had no idea about these local cuisines in Iceland. Pickled fish gotta be tried.
I love going on food tours! Such a great way to try new foods and learn more about the culture. I love how the Hindus were so pleased to see happy and well taken care of cows, too cute! Iโd definitely want to try that marriage bliss dessert as it sounds yummy!
Sounds like a great food tour!
We were only in akureyri for a day on the cruise but now we know some of what we missed. Hope to get back there someday.
Looks like it was an awesome food tour to try Icelandic cuisine. It’s a shame that the company isn’t around any longer. I would be interested to try the pickled cod and the langoustine soup – lobster bisque is one of my favorite soups!