Arctic Bites: Exploring the Cuisine of the Arctic
Northern Europe offers some of the most distinctive and flavourful dining experiences in the world. The cuisine of the Arctic is shaped by the region’s extreme cold climates and abundant natural resources. The long winters and short summers have led to the development of preservation methods like smoking, curing, and pickling, while fresh, local ingredients are at the heart of each meal.
Some key Ingredients of Arctic Cuisine
Reindeer
Reindeer meat is the heart of Arctic Nordic cuisine. It’s lean, high in iron, and deeply connected to Sámi traditions. It’s often smoked, dried, or slow cooked in stews.
Arctic Fish
Salmon, Arctic char, and cod are central to coastal diets. In Svalbard, fishing and seafood play a vital role—fresh or preserved through drying, salting, or smoking.
Wild Berries
The short, intense summer brings an explosion of wild berries. Cloudberries, lingonberries, bilberries, and crowberries are harvested and preserved in jams, sauces, and desserts.
Foraged Herbs & Mushrooms
Juniper, angelica, pine shoots, and wild mushrooms, enhance everything from stews to schnapps. These ingredients add the earthy, aromatic soul of the forest to Nordic dishes.
Hear it from us:
Hannah, our Sales Director, loves this unique dining experience.
- At the ICEHOTEL in Sweden, the Veranda offers an immersive 12-course tasting menu where two chefs prepare each dish right before your eyes. With local ingredients like reindeer, fish, and berries, this Arctic feast blends traditional cooking techniques with the stunning surroundings of the ice hotel.
Charlotte, our CEO, swears by this exquisite meal.
- Located in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, the Funktionærmessen Restaurant at Funken Lodge serves a refined 6-course tasting menu featuring Arctic delicacies like king crab, Arctic char, and dry-aged meats. This modern take on Arctic cuisine offers a truly unforgettable dining experience with stunning views.
Amber, our sales assistant, says this is a must try.
- Livo Arctic, located in Posio has an unassuming restaurant located at the local reindeer farm. It is a cosy, authentic Kota style building. All meals use as much local produce as possible, from fish caught in the local lakes, reindeers prepared at the reindeer farm itself and of course all the wild berries Finland has to offer. The flavours are incredible, you can tell a lot of care and attention has gone into all the food that they prepare in the kitchen.
Why not have a look at some of our employee’s favourites for dining:
Ice Hotel – Add on the veranda for an extra fee
Funken Lodge, Svalbard – Ask our staff about the taster menu!
