Iceland VI

Sunday, November 29, 2015

… another alarm set for 12 noon. My friend that I had gotten together with on Saturday invited me to brunch with his family. Along with Broadway shows, NYC brunches top my favorite things to do on a NYC weekend. So, there was no way I was missing out on seeing what an Icelandic brunch was like. I got myself up and showered (this isn’t a NYC LES spot with my squad after all.) and waited for my friend and his family to get me.

We ended up going to a spot that’s not on the list that’s linked  here. We had brunch at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina Slipp Bar. Might I say ahead of time I unfortunately have no personal photos from brunch (as I didn’t want to stick out like an American (or Asian) tourist.) but you can see many beautiful photos from Reykjavik.com’s piece on the brunch spot. I am happy I didn’t throw on my usual jeans, flip flops, tank, and over sized sunglasses with a messy bun. This place had some class and elegance. I personally love to dress up, so it wouldn’t be out of place to wear a cute and classy little dress and a low heel. In America the big brunch movement is a plate of food and unlimited mimosas, Bellinis, screwdrivers, and/or Blood Mary’s. This is all well and good, but sometimes I miss those days of my younger years on family vacations down to the likes of DC where the brunch was buffet style. Unlimited drinks is good, but unlimited food can sometimes be better, and on a day like that (after the night before), and in a country where there are some dishes I may not have ever actually ordered outright this was perfect. I was able to sample of various fish dishes, the soups, the meat offerings, the desserts, without having to order an entire entree size portion to possibly not like it. Everything I tried however, I loved! For being an island in the middle of the north Atlantic, they aren’t hurting for flavor, presentation, or options.

Post brunch I went back to my room for awhile to relax and try to nap. Afterwards I stopped by the lighting of the Oslo Christmas tree. It was special to see as this is the last year Oslo would be giving the gift of the tree to Reykjavik. (It’s sad the tree had been destroyed so early into the holiday season.) It was a cute ceremony and it reminded me of all the times I sang as a child at my own town’s Tree lighting ceremony.

From there I made my way up to the opposite side of the downtown area from where I was staying and shared a bottle of wine with a local Icelandic, or is it Icelander (Icelandites, Icelandins, Icelandons, Icelandaons?) fellow.  I also like to have a chance to talk with locals and hear about there perspectives on really anything. As everyone in this world has very different personalities, families, experiences, and school systems that have all helped to shape them into the person they are today. But one of the big ones, school, I feel does a lot to really help shape a person during their formative years. Being an American, I often feel many other parts of the world had much better primary schooling than I, and I love to learn, so I love to listen to people chat away about anything.  It was a really lovely time.

I had plans for drinks with my friend’s friend that I met met on Thursday. He was unable to come downtown on Saturday night so we had re-scheduled for Sunday night with a bite to eat ahead of time. He mentioned wanting burgers.

Now earlier in this post I made a big deal about my pizza knowledge. Well, I’m not sure how many people know this, but supposedly the hamburger was invited in New Haven CT by Louis Lassen. Originally being from New Haven County I of course believe this to be true. Even the Library of Congress agrees with me.  But my experience of burgers out and about has not always been a good one. A lot of places worry about people getting sick so they will only cook their burgers med-well done and I’m usually a rare-medium (a little more rare than a medium-rare) kind of girl. So I often feel burgers are dry and chewy. But, I’m not one to turn down an opportunity to try new things, and so I agreed to burgers and beers. We met up at Prikið. They had a lot of different options, but I usually try the “simple, regular, non modified” version of something when it’s my first time and I want to compare it to something I love. So I got a cheeseburger. I don’t remember them asking me how I wanted it cooked.

I do remember having it ordered with fries and cocktail sauce for dipping. Now before you freak out, this cocktail sauce is not like the American cocktail sauce I dip my cocktail shrimp into. It was a creamier base without that kick of horseradish. Apparently  upon further investigation I’ve since learned in Icelandic it is called Kokteilsósa and is part of the “fry sauce” family of condiments. (Which sounds a lot like Fancy sauce to me. There’s a lot of Will Ferrell in this blog post. #sorrynotsorry) This would not be allowed at Louie’s Lunch, as condiments do not exist at Louie’s Lunch. But after dashing the fry spice that’s on the table over my fries and dipping my first fry into the cocktail sauce my heart weeps a little knowing I cannot get this sauce at Louie’s Lunch.

My burger was beautiful. It was cooked to perfection, it was moist (how many of you hate that word?), juicy, and oh so satisfying to this American Girl. I sadly don’t have photos of the burger as I couldn’t stop my hands and my mouth from working against my brain. My brain was saying, “Wait I need a photo for my blog!” but my mouth and my hands were saying “I need to taste you right now!” (That’s what she said! OH!) Well it was worth it, trust me. I would have never expected it. But if you are an American in Reykjavik and missing a taste of home add this to your list of eats. By the way, if you didn’t already know, it all washes down quite nicely with an Icelandic beer.

The rest of the evening was spent with drinks back at BarAnanas where we had previously gone that past Thursday.  At BarAnanas my friend switched to Gin and Tonic and I went to switch to my usual Ketel (One) and Tonic (if I’m going mixed). Well I had three surprises come– two real quick. The first being they didn’t carry Ketel. I was going to start to panic as I am very picky about my vodkas. I think Greygoose is too heavy, and I’m not really a fan of the absolutes and Stolis or anyone that spends too much time on trying to mask their drinks with flavors rather than higher quality products and distillation (I’m looking at you Pinnacle! and Three Olives! Both of which I find gross). The bartender said he had a Icelandic vodka. It was called Reyka and so I thought I’d give it a shot. When in Rome, I mean Reykajavik. (I could have gotten all Will Ferrell there again, and I stopped myself, be proud of me, I am.) The second surprise was that the bartender asked me if I wanted it in the same glass. I stared at him confused. And then he asked me if I wanted to vodka and the tonic in the same glass. I said yes. I learned that gin and tonic is a thing there, but vodka tonic is not. I almost fell over. But it’s obviously an easy enough drink to learn how to make so the bartender had it in front of me quicker than I got over my shock that he didn’t know it was a thing. Well I must say Iceland you keep surprising me. The third surprise was when I touched the straw to my lips and drew a sip in, “It’s so good when it hits your lips!”(That’s what she said! Again? Yes.. And more Will Ferrell, I just can’t help myself.) But Iceland, your vodka is good. I want to be on– okay, I’ll stop.