Klippfisk -- literally "cliff fish" -- is dried and salted cod, in a tradition dating to the 17th century.
Klippfisk -- literally "cliff fish" -- is dried and salted cod, in a tradition dating to the 17th century.
Tina Stafren/Visitnorway.com
A Western Norwegian Christmas treat, smalahove is a whole sheep's head. To prepare, burn off the wool and skin, remove the brain and salt the head. Servings are half a head each, so it's perfect for couples.
A Western Norwegian Christmas treat, smalahove is a whole sheep's head. To prepare, burn off the wool and skin, remove the brain and salt the head. Servings are half a head each, so it's perfect for couples.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
The delicacy known as cod tongue is actually the underside of the cod chin. A popular way of serving them is to toss in seasoned flour and then fry in butter.
The delicacy known as cod tongue is actually the underside of the cod chin. A popular way of serving them is to toss in seasoned flour and then fry in butter.
M.Wendt/media-army.de/visitnorway.com
Norway's cold waters mean seafood takes longer to grow, making the flesh extra plump and tender.
Norway's cold waters mean seafood takes longer to grow, making the flesh extra plump and tender.
Maureen O'Hare
Seagull eggs are a delicacy in northern Norway. Locals like to eat them hard-boiled and washed down with a pilsner beer from Tromso's Mack's brewery.
Seagull eggs are a delicacy in northern Norway. Locals like to eat them hard-boiled and washed down with a pilsner beer from Tromso's Mack's brewery.
Anders Gjengedal/Visit Norway
A number of tour operators offer king crab safaris to Kirkenes, on the border with Russia, between December and April.
A number of tour operators offer king crab safaris to Kirkenes, on the border with Russia, between December and April.
Terje Rakke/Nordic Life - VisitNorway.com
Lutefisk is a gelatinous mix of dried fish and caustic lye soda, eaten at Christmas. When we visited the Lutefisk Museum on a sunny day in May the entire building was empty of staff and customers, but a stack of letters to Santa lay in the corner.
Lutefisk is a gelatinous mix of dried fish and caustic lye soda, eaten at Christmas. When we visited the Lutefisk Museum on a sunny day in May the entire building was empty of staff and customers, but a stack of letters to Santa lay in the corner.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
Lutefisk might only be a Yuletide treat, but the Skipperstuen restaurant opposite the Lutefisk Museum serves a summer-light and frothy fiskesuppe (fish soup) with tender chunks of salmon and white fish.
Lutefisk might only be a Yuletide treat, but the Skipperstuen restaurant opposite the Lutefisk Museum serves a summer-light and frothy fiskesuppe (fish soup) with tender chunks of salmon and white fish.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
Gamalost is a hard, crumbly brownish-yellow cheese with a sharp, intense flavor and a pungent scent to match. If it was good enough for the Vikings, it's good enough for us.
Gamalost is a hard, crumbly brownish-yellow cheese with a sharp, intense flavor and a pungent scent to match. If it was good enough for the Vikings, it's good enough for us.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
Norwegian's soft heart-shaped waffles are often eaten with brunost, a goat's cheese made from caramelized whey, with a sharp, sweet-savory dulce de leche taste.
Norwegian's soft heart-shaped waffles are often eaten with brunost, a goat's cheese made from caramelized whey, with a sharp, sweet-savory dulce de leche taste.
Terje Rakke Nordic Life
Salty licorice is an acquired taste, but if you like your aniseed strong and your gustatory receptors tingling in tandem, it might just be the candy for you.
Salty licorice is an acquired taste, but if you like your aniseed strong and your gustatory receptors tingling in tandem, it might just be the candy for you.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
Elk has a "dry, more wild taste," says Fenaknoken's Eirik Braek, but reindeer is a "much smaller animal so it's much sweeter."
Elk has a "dry, more wild taste," says Fenaknoken's Eirik Braek, but reindeer is a "much smaller animal so it's much sweeter."
GREG BAKER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The crowberry is a black cold-climate berry found in northern Europe, Alaska, Canada, Greenland and beyond. Oslo's Fuglen cafe-bar serves crowberry cocktails.
The crowberry is a black cold-climate berry found in northern Europe, Alaska, Canada, Greenland and beyond. Oslo's Fuglen cafe-bar serves crowberry cocktails.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
"This is a map of Norway," explains Eirik Braek, holding a vacuum-packed leg of lamb and using it to explain the variety in the country's regional cuisine.
"This is a map of Norway," explains Eirik Braek, holding a vacuum-packed leg of lamb and using it to explain the variety in the country's regional cuisine.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
Torrfisk, or stockfish, is unsalted air-dried fish, usually cod. It even got a mention in a 13th-century Icelandic saga.
Torrfisk, or stockfish, is unsalted air-dried fish, usually cod. It even got a mention in a 13th-century Icelandic saga.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
Cloudberries are golden-yellow and only found in the wild. Their rarity earned them the nickname "Arctic gold."
Cloudberries are golden-yellow and only found in the wild. Their rarity earned them the nickname "Arctic gold."
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
Rakfisk is salted, fermented trout, and it packs a pungent -- and delicious -- punch. Fenaknoken makes Norwegian-Japanese fusion sushi with rakfisk and wasabi.
Rakfisk is salted, fermented trout, and it packs a pungent -- and delicious -- punch. Fenaknoken makes Norwegian-Japanese fusion sushi with rakfisk and wasabi.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN
Norway is one of the few countries that still practices whaling. The meat has a gamey taste, similar to venison.
Norway is one of the few countries that still practices whaling. The meat has a gamey taste, similar to venison.
Maureen O'Hare/CNN