Iceland, A Foodie Paradise?

A long way to travel…

Jacklyn Swiecicki reports…..

I recently returned from a holiday in Iceland. And, aside from its breathtaking Icelandic terrain and crisp fresh air; the food was amazing! Contrary to popular belief that Iceland imports all of its produce, some vegetables do actually grow within Iceland’s volcanic soil. The vegetables that can be grown are full of great flavour and crunch that I have come to miss whilst shopping for produce at my local Tesco supermarket in Leeds.

Aside from the tasty vegetables, it would be a crime not to mention one of Iceland’s top natural resources and delicacies: fish. Fresh water flows with force through small rivers through to gigantic waterfalls like the renowned Gullfoss. These water conditions make it an ideal environment for praised fish like wild salmon and trout to merrily swim through picturesque ripples of water. In addition to these posh fish varieties, unexpectedly cod is fast becoming one of Iceland’s ‘new’ specialities. This brings me to mention perhaps one of the tastiest Icelandic fish dishes I excitingly devoured on my trip.

Seemingly put off by the eye-watering Icelandic Kronur currency, I managed to find a little restaurant just outside of Rajkovic that appealed to me due to it overflow of fish-hungry locals. Sadly, its name is impossible for me to recall as Icelanders take pleasure in taunting us by utilizing the entire alphabet to spell every single word! However for those of you tempted to visit Iceland, the restaurant I am referring to is just a two minute stroll from the Hilton Hotel in Rajkovic. If you look for it – you will find it.

Back to my fish dish. I was tired and therefore opted to take away, so therefore I won’t bog you down with my opinions about the décor or the staff; this meal was all about the fish. Courageously I ordered the fish of the day without enquiring about its variety. I was pleasantly surprised to discover an immaculately cooked piece of cod that was classically pan-fried in butter with a sprinkle of capers that softly popped in my mouth. This rather large slab of fish was simple, perfect and beautifully falling into mouth-sized chunks.

My meal was a truly unforgettable experience that I enjoyed from a take away box whilst curled up in my cosy hotel room. This was a case of good food overriding all the bells and whistles of restaurant dining.

Although this is not exactly a typical UK-based food review, the reason I have written about this remarkable meal is because I have been craving some well cooked produce, as my last few dining experiences have been far from thrilling and hence justify my literary absence. With this is mind, I am eagerly awaiting the Taste of Leeds Festival to commence on June 5th-8th which promises to boast the best of Yorkshires produce and local culinary expertise.

I really do want to discover some good local talent in Leeds without having to fly to Iceland to entertain my passion for good simple food.

Jacklyn Swiecicki