Norwegian Culinary Delights: Lunch Time

Norway is a country of interesting cultural habits and quirks. Many a visitor to the land of the midnight sun has witnessed these habits that make Norway such an interesting country to visit, and the Norwegian people such an intriguing group.
One the food culture phenomena is the Norwegian "mat pakke" or "food pack" if translated directly. Before departing to return to Canada I rose extra early to allow enough time to be able to prepare one of these portable meals. A true Norwegian would never think of leaving the house for a journey, day at work or school without one of these. Perhaps it is a direct adaptation of the extremely high price that prepackaged and prepared foods come at.
Items in my food pack clockwise from upper left; Farepolse (lamb sausage), Brunost (caramelized goats cheese), Leverposei med agurk og mayonnes (liver pate with cucumbers and mayo), Gulost med paprika (white cheese with red pepper). All of these are served on traditional "Kneip" bread. The slices are stacked on top of each other face up with thin sheets of wax paper seperating them to keep the toppings from getting on the other slices. Notice this means that they are served and consumed open face, no bread on top. The main reason for this open face concept is to maximize the eaters enjoyment and taste experience of the palegg (topping). In North America we see it fit to "Sandwich" our bread, but this also means that in order to actually taste your toppings you need at least twice as much of the toppings. This is completely unnecessary if you go open face. Less topping with all the taste means less of the stuff you dont need so much of such as milk and meat fats and more of the good stuff that gives you the lasting energy which is the bread. Another advantage with open face is that you can have much greater variety in your mat pakke, making lunch far more interesting from day to day. I encourage all of the readers of this post to give the open face experience a chance the next time you pack a lunch for school, work or where ever you may travel.
Finally, the stack of bread is carefully wrapped in a sheet of wax paper and is placed in the very typical Norwegian backpack or in your purse for example.
Ready to replenish your body with top grade fuel.

Norwegian marketing in action...kids love the canned liver pate.