Where to Eat in Trondelag, Norway

The Trondelag region in the heart of Norway is famed for its jagged mountains and gaping ravines, vast forests and stark fjords with coastal settlements.

And Trondheim, Trondelag's largest city and Norway's historic capitol, offers oft-visited sites such as the 11th-century Nidaros Cathedral, a stunning Gothic masterpiece; and the terminus of the St. Olav Ways, the northernmost pilgrimage route in the world. 

An abundance of unique ingredients, combined with the many new and exciting restaurants popping up in recent years, is why Norway's food capital can rightly claim its new crown, European Region Of Gastronomy 2022.

Recently, however, Trondelag has been buzzing with pilgrims for a different reason: its cuisine. This region has emerged as an epicenter of gastronomic buzz, quickly becoming one of the most riveting culinary destinations in Europe. 

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With its copious local food producers, longstanding traditions and award-winning products, the world is noticing — Trondheim-Trondelag has been recognized as the official European Region of Gastronomy in 2022. 

Here's our inside scoop on how to experience the flavors of Norway, both on and off the menu. 

What's Cooking in Trondelag

Unlike Norway's other regions, Trondelag has substantial nature-based industries thanks to its strong agricultural roots. In addition to the globally recognized city of Trondheim, several smaller towns and villages in Trondelag provide high-quality dairy, vegetables, grains and meat to regional restaurants. 

Trondheim's most discerning restaurants focus heavily on local fare, including fresh seafood caught in the nearby Trondheimsfjord. Even much of the aquavit — that unique distilled spirit primarily associated with Scandinavia — is produced locally and found in Tronheim's hip nightlife scene.

While tradition runs deep in Trondelag, pride may run deeper. Restaurants in the region are eager to share their culture and traditions through shared meals. Roros is a traditional Norwegian mountain town with a UNESCO World Heritage designation due to its pristinely preserved wooden and sod-roofed buildings. A sustainable destination, it is also considered Norway's "local food capital," profiting off a cool climate and long, bright summer nights.

For centuries, the Samis — the Indigenous people of northern Norway with unique culture, traditions and language — have lived and worked in Roros and its surroundings as reindeer herders. Today, the practice is experiencing a modern renaissance. 

Tourists can accompany a local Sami guide on a reindeer farm, but to fully understand any culture requires a seat at the local dinner table. And Rorosrein, a family-run restaurant in a traditional Sami tent, invites guests to do just that. Traditional Sami food, such as reindeer and wild berries, is accompanied by the family's anecdotes of the herding lifestyle. 

Where to Eat in Trondheim

Back in the big city, three Trondheim restaurants currently have Michelin stars: Credo,Fagn and Speilsalen. 

We have great seafood here, and the scallops are extra large and extra tasty — you will not find this quality of scallops anywhere else in the world.

The latter, located in the Britannia Hotel, is a testament to unique Norwegian produce, prepared with care and a creative eye. Speilsalen's dining room is a vision in itself — it is known as the Mirror Hall due to its ornate decor, and it provides a royal backdrop for indulgence. Christopher Davidsen, Bocuse d'Or silver medalist and Speilsalen's head chef, works alongside Britannia's sommelier, Henrik Dahl Jahnsen, winner of the Michelin Guide's Sommelier Award for 2021, to create compelling food-and-wine pairings.

The team makes use of regional ingredients whenever possible. 

"My favorite dish in Speilsalen is our signature dish with scallops," Davidsen said. " We pan-fry them in organic butter from Roros and serve them with celery and caviar, and a sauce made of sea buckthorn, green chili and butter. Scallops from Froya are my favorite produce here in Trondelag. We have great seafood here, and the scallops are extra large and extra tasty — you will not find this quality of scallops anywhere else in the world.”

Where To Stay: Britannia Hotel

Britannia Hotel is quite literally the grand dame of Norway. This five-star property reclaimed its title after a three-year, multimillion-dollar renovation, reopening in April 2019. Standing elegantly in Tronheim's center, Britannia initially welcomed aristocratic Britons for salmon fishing in 1870 and has been a centerpiece of high society since. 

Renovations of the property include the Britannia Spa, complete with an indoor pool and ice bath; and the palm court, Palmehaven, the hotel's iconic centerpiece. Oenophiles will appreciate Vinbaren, Britannia's living wine cellar with more than 10,000 bottles.

An icon in the culinary scene, Britannia takes pride in sourcing ingredients and working with producers from the greater Trondelag area. The hotel currently features six restaurants and bars, including Speilsalen, with plans on building a new test kitchen on a farm located 20 minutes outside Trondheim’s city center. 

"[On the farm], we will grow our vegetables and fruits, as well," Davidsen said. "We will use the test kitchen to develop new menus and new products and also spend a lot of time preserving and testing new preservation methods. We have built our own fermentation room where we can ferment large quantities at the exact temperature we prefer."

Davidsen understands it's more than the Britannia that makes Trondelag exceptional — the entire region is rich in culture, history and, of course, gastronomy. 

"Trondelag is a very diverse region with lots of passionate local producers that provide us with amazing products to use in our restaurants," Davidsen said. "An abundance of unique ingredients, combined with the many new and exciting restaurants popping up in recent years, is why Norway's food capital can rightly claim its new crown,  European Region Of Gastronomy 2022."