I came down here for the Scandinavian Bazaar courtesy of fellow Yelper Lard Belly E. notifying us of the event that was held here earlier today. I didn't get to see other fellow Yelpers, but it wouldn't have been easy given how packed the place was. The entire main hall was filled with vendors displaying the rich culture of Norway, Finland, and Sweden. There was a wide variety of arts & crafts, winter-style attire like boots as well as thick sweatshirts, novelty items with the national flags like pins, stickers, or Christmas ornaments, and my personal favorite, the food. There were various candies and chocolates imported from Norway and Finland. Some of the items I picked out were two milk chocolate bars, one with hazelnuts, a chocolate horse with punch filling on the inside....(can't wait to try that one...), and Swedish gummy candies.
In addition to the vendors, there was also a dining area in one corner next to a food booth that offers traditional dishes from the region. Two of the items on the menu were sold out, hardly a surprise with the amount of people that were seated at the chairs and tables. I was fortunate enough to get the last order of Risengrot, a Norwegian rice porridge very similar to American oatmeal with a thick consistency. One of the employees behind the counter recommended adding sugar and cinnamon. It was very delicious and made for a great afternoon snack. Risengrot is a holiday staple during Christmas time in Norway. In addition to the candies, I came across a 2020 calendar that showed the beautiful countryside and picturesque towns with a backdrop of the fjords in the distance. I had a great time meeting and talking to everyone here, some of them locals who own businesses here in town. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back for the next one. read more