Just 8 minutes’ walk from the shopping street Markensgate in downtown Kristiansand, you’ll find Hotel Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda (City Beach). It opened in February 2013 and has become one of Southern Norway’s most popular hotels. It’s an obvious choice – your beach hotel in Kristiansand – Norway.
The hotel is located next door to the Swimming-hall Aquarama Center, which includes a water park, gym and a spa. Guests can use the gym for free and can get discounts on the waterpark tickets.
Hotel Scandic Bystranda is located by the beach in Norway’s fifth largest city
Located by the beach
Located by the beach in Norway’s fifth largest city, the location is certainly ideal. The hotel has also a restaurant taking advantage of being right next to the beach offering the finest local delicacies from the sea in tasteful dishes. While Hotel Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda is looking to attract tourists and business people from around Norway and abroad, the restaurant has been popular among local customers on a regular basis. Spectacular views of the sea can be enjoyed from the hotel terrace.
The restaurant located right next to the beach is offering the finest local delicacies from the sea in tasteful dishes
You can also satisfy your appetite between meals with a hearty snack in the hotel’s adorable bistro-café.
There are four types of rooms at Scandic Bystranda.
Rooms There are four types of rooms available at Hotel Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda; Standard, Standard Family Four, Superior and Superior Plus.
For couples, pets and business people
According to booking sites, couples particularly like the location. Pets are permitted in this cozy hotel. During the summer most of the guests are tourists. During the rest of the year the hotel attracts business clients visiting Kristiansand’s vibrant industry. The hotel also offers facilities for meetings and conferences.
According to booking sites, couples particularly like the location
Easily accessible
There is ample parking available for the visitors, so parking is no problem. The train station is within 1.5km of the hotel, and Kristiansand Kjevik Airport is a 20-minute drive away. Kristiansand zoo and amusement park is 15 minutes’ drive away.
It looks like a golf cart, but has become a workhorse and quite a Norwegian industrial adventure. Royal Mail is now testing the Norwegian Electric Parcel Delivery Vehicle Paxter.
Digitalization and eCommerce have changed the make-up of what is being delivered. The volume of parcels is growing rapidly. The number of small parcels with individual delivery addresses is increasing the most in the delivery mix. Last mile logistics are so complicated that the final leg often accounts for about half the cost of a package’s entire journey.
The small Norwegian electric vehicle Paxster EDV for delivery of mail and parcels is now used by a number of companies, including the Norwegian Postal Service.
Paxter is produced by Loyd’s factories in Sarpsborg, which originally produced compartments for utility vans for the automotive industry. It produced ompartments for brands such as VW, Toyota and Renault. In 2013 the first version of the Paxter was launched, and so far, more than 3,000 vehicles have been produced.
Time-consuming process
It was time-consuming, not least in the first development phase, to change from a parts supplier to a car manufacturer. A lot of new knowledge was required to develop, test, approve and produce a vehicle, particular in the context of functional electronics.
Paxter is produced by Loyd’s factories in Sarpsborg
By 2030, almost 60 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas. Traffic congestion, noise and air pollution are pressing problems, calling for safer, greener, more efficient solutions for delivery of post and goods.
Norwegian Mail’s test lab
Loyd has long been Norwegian Mail’s test lab. For a number of years, the factory has worked to adapt cars, mopeds and bicycles to mail-distribution in harsh environments. Paxster is specifically designed for last-mile distribution of goods – that is, delivery from a transportation hub to a final destination in the home. Produced in Norway, the vehicle can withstand rough road and weather conditions. The small size of the vehicle makes it efficient in traffic and easy to park. Its small environmental footprint makes it an ideal delivery vehicle for cities.
“It’s really exciting to see these micro electric vehicles making their way into our daily deliveries”, says Simon Thompson, CEO at Royal Mail
Royal Mail committed to reduce environmental impact
Simon Thompson, CEO at Royal Mail, said, “It’s really exciting to see these micro electric vehicles making their way into our daily deliveries. At Royal Mail, we’re committed to keeping on reducing our environmental impact and we intend to leave no stone unturned in trialing new technologies and new ways of delivering to help us do that. As our fantastic posties make most deliveries on foot, this already means we have the lowest reported CO2 per parcel of major UK delivery companies. From drones to electric vehicles, fuel-efficient tires to bio-CNG trucks, we’ll keep on innovating to reduce our environmental impact even further.”
Once the trial period has ended, Royal Mail will make a decision on whether to roll out this category of vehicles more widely across its fleet to complement more conventional vehicles.
Royal Mail is Testing Norwegian Electric Parcel Delivery Vehicle, written by Tor Kjolberg
The gluten-free diet is gaining more and more popularity around the world. Fortunately, there is no problem with enjoying delicious and healthy gluten-free food when traveling. Stockholm, for example, offers a wide range of cafes and pastry shops where you can enjoy delicious and even gourmet dishes that will help you forget about gluten intolerance. Which cafes are worth visiting? Below you will find the 8 top gluten-free places to eat gluten-free in Stockholm.
Stockholm is a great choice for travelers. This is a city with an aristocratic touch that impresses with its elegance and well-established traditions. You can feel this atmosphere at every corner of the city, and modern cafes do not lag in this issue. At the same time, they are guided by the latest trends. That’s why there are cafes that offer a gluten-free menu as well.
Stockholm is ready to delight its residents and visitors with gluten-free diet places. Here you can forget about all the restrictions and not ask the waiter about the ingredients of each dish. Feel free to choose a cafe from this list and satisfy your gastronomic preferences. Also, don’t forget about medical insurance plans for safe trips.
If you walk in Stockholm’s Old Town, this cafe is hidden behind a large chestnut tree in the square. Photo: Wikipedia Commons
Under Kastanjen If you walk in the Old Town, this cafe is hidden behind a large chestnut tree in the square. This is a baking paradise for those who know what allergies are or are trying to avoid gluten. All food, bread, and desserts are made in a specialized bakery with an emphasis on a gluten-free diet.
There are options here for vegans and for those who love less-than-standard healthy food choices. Therefore, this place will become universal for all people with any food preferences. Well, there are gourmet options here that will undoubtedly change your opinion on gluten-free food.
There is not only gluten but also refined sugar-free dishes at Eat Your Garden. Photo: Thatsup
Eat Your Garden This is another place to look for if you’re searching for a gluten-free spot. There are a variety of dishes here, including but not limited to cakes and pastries. At the same time, there is not only gluten but also refined sugar-free dishes. This cafe’s menu offers vegan dishes made with organic and local ingredients. There is also gluten-free bread here if you want to find a place to shop for baked goods.
In Dirty Coco, you can satisfy all your needs for delicious and sweet desserts without worrying about gluten. Photo: Thatsup
Dirty Coco If you are a real sweet tooth, then a gluten-free diet is not a sentence for your addiction. In this place, you can satisfy all your needs for delicious and sweet desserts without worrying about gluten. By the way, this place has a very interesting interior, which creates an atmosphere of chic and flirtatiousness. This is a real fairy tale for those who love sweets and gluten-free food. It is also recommended to pay attention to the assortment of drinks, among which there is an interesting selection of coffee. You will also love the eco-design of the cafe Dirty Coco
Cafe Så Gott Are you looking for a place where you can forget about your special nutritional needs? Here you can enjoy a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you are having a party, this is not a problem, this place is great even for those with no diet restrictions or special preferences.
It also has a great range of delicious pastries and desserts. This cafe is very cozy and will undoubtedly become a favorite of those who want to eat healthy food in a great atmosphere.
Mahalo prioritizes organic ingredients taking care of both the health of the visitors and the environment. Here from S¨dermalm. Photo: Mahalo.
Mahalo Food allergies are not a reason to skip dining out, and this place is proof of that. This establishment prioritizes organic ingredients taking care of both the health of the visitors and the environment. The restaurant’s menu includes salads served in modern acai bowls.
There is also a good assortment of vegan treats such as cheesecakes, nutballs, and so on. All of these desserts are free of refined sugar and are made with safe ingredients. At the same time, you can take food with you, which is very convenient if you want to eat something tasty during lunch at work.
Healthy street food is a rarity these days, but The Green Queen breaks those stereotypes. Photo: Thatsup
The Green Queen If you are one of those who like to have a snack on the go, then this is the place for you. Healthy street food is a rarity these days, but The Green Queen breaks those stereotypes. The only drawback is that you can only taste the food there during the summer season. But in summer, you can enjoy organic food that doesn’t contain refined sugar or gluten. There are amazing quinoa salads, grilled quesadillas, wine, and much more to brighten up your summer days without worrying about the quality of the food.
Enjoy various salads, raw cakes, pastries, and smoothies at BodyBuddy. Photo: Thatsup
BodyBuddy Delicious food can bring not only pleasure but also benefit. Think differently? BodyBuddy will change that mind forever. There are various salads, raw cakes, pastries, and smoothies. At the same time, this place focuses not only on those who suffer from gluten intolerance but also on vegetarians, who suffer from lactose intolerance or allergies.
Here, there is an opportunity to enjoy food for everyone who cares about their health or has any restrictions. This place can become a favorite choice for those who are worried about not only “spiritual food”.
Freshly baked bread and other pastries are sold at Happy Atelier. Photo: Happy Atelier
Happy Atelier Bakery and desserts are the pain point for those with gluten intolerance. But, this place solves the problem of such people and allows you to enjoy pastries and desserts without fear for your health. Freshly baked bread and other pastries are sold here.
You can either buy bread and other products here or stay for a while with a cup of coffee. Therefore, in this cafe, gluten intolerance is not a problem for those who love pastries and other desserts.
8 Top Places to Eat Gluten-free in Stockholm– Final Words Stockholm is a great choice to travel and live in. This city has learned to be warm from the inside despite its northern geographic location. Even the presence of food allergies or gluten intolerance can be solved in this city easily. There are many cafes open for you that offer amazing food for those who are on a gluten free diet.
Isabelle Jordan
8 Top Places to Eat Gluten-free in Stockholm, written dedicatedly for Daily Scandinavian by Isabelle Jordan. Isabelle is a business and marketing journalist at Ekta insurance company. She writes for different news portals and thematic blogs that helps her stay at the heart of the travel and insurance news. Such work gives her the opportunity to write articles on the most relevant topics of today.
The Norwegian illustrator, graphic designer and writer Kari Stai(47) was awarded the Brage Prize in1912 for children’s literature with her Jakob og Neikob. Tjuven slår tilbake. Her recent book “Passe Happy” (Moderately Happy) seems to have an international appeal. It will be published in Danish next month. Read more about the fascinating story about a moderately happy Norwegian boy.
The book Passe Happy is about Juri who is 12 years old and feels insecure about absolutely everything. By himself he tries to figure out love, football and how far his tongue should go into a kiss before one cannot breathe. Because, Sofi is so nice that Juri loses his breath. Juri, however, does of course not want to die. He just wishes that everything was as before. That Dad did not have to leave. That best friend Evy did not become so weird.
The book Passe Happy is about Juri who is 12 years old and feels insecure about absolutely everything.
Why does he have so many feelings? Now, the globe is spinning too fast. If only it could stand a little bit more still.
Good reviews
The book has received good reviews. Klassekampen’s Jonas Bals writes, “Stai writes about feelings I had almost forgotten” and adds, «Kari Stai writes with warmth and humor, in short sentences that make some of the pages reminiscent of a long poem, many of them beautifully illustrated by the author herself. In a surprisingly short time, she manages to establish a credible and real universe».
“Stai writes about feelings I had almost forgotten” wrote Jonas Bals in the Norwegian newspaper Klassekampen
The book will be published by the Danish publisher Straarup & co. next month, titled «Fint nok» (Nice enough).
Published in Denmark in February
“Fint nok” is a present and nice story about what it is like to be 12 years old and completely confused about life. The book is written with lots of humor and empathy by Kari Stai and is especially aimed at children from 10-13 years.
Kari Stai comes from Inderøy municipality in Nord-Trøndelag
About Kari Stai
Kari Stai comes from Inderøy municipality in Nord-Trøndelag. She has studied at Telemark University College (1996-1999), Oslo School of Drawing and Painting (1993-1996) and Oslo Academy of the Arts (2000-2005) where she majored in visual communication.
The book is written with lots of humor and empathy by Kari Stai and is especially aimed at children from 10-13 years.
Kari has since worked especially with illustration in magazines and books. In 2008, she debuted as an author with the picture book Jakob og Neikob, “a humorous and surrealistic tale about friendship, unfriendliness and foreign countries”. In 2010, came Blodrik and Blodfabrikken. Both books are written in New Norwegian and published by Det Norske Samlaget.
The illustrations are characterized by clear lines, smooth surfaces in a few, coordinated colors, stylized figures, geometric shapes and a graphic expression.
A Moderately Happy Norwegian Boy, compiled by Tor Kjolberg
Horseradish is to the Scandinavian kitchen what chili is to the south and east. Its hot flavor, high vitamin content and very potent anti-inflammatory effect have probably done more to keep us alive than any other food in the north during cold or wet winter months when there are few other greens to choose from. Learn more about Scandinavian horseradish below.
How it grows Horseradish is a perennial that grows wild all over the northern hemisphere in fertile soil. It’s a handsome, big-leaved plant to cultivate in a wild corner of the garden. It spreads vigorously by seed, but young plants are easy to remove – and eat.
Both the fragrant, white flowers and the roots are edible. The only problem when growing it is harvesting the roots if you want them whole. The taproots are up to 60cm long, and you may have to settle for smaller bits of it, unless you grow it as the professionals do: at a sharp angle, almost lying down, in extremely loose soil. But less will do – a short piece of horseradish root is enough for paper-thin shavings for a whole family. There are no cultivars available, but even wild plants show huge variation.
Horseradish is a perennial that grows wild all over the northern hemisphere in fertile soil. Photo: Asmund Asdal/Nibio
Appearance and taste Horseradish, as a spice, is primarily a huge root, and the fresher it is, the more powerful the flavor. Grating horseradish can make you weep as the volatile oils are very pungent. The one growing in your garden or gathered from the wild is bound to be more flavorsome than industrially grown horseradish. The outer layers of the root are generally milder, the core more pungent.
Health benefits This hot and spicy vegetable contains lots of vitamins and a very potent anti-inflammatory. In fact, it kills gems so effectively that it’s always included in pickles, doing the job perfectly while adding pungency and flavor.
Celery soup with horseradish and chives. Photo: Kiwi
Buying and storing Fresh horseradish can be very difficult to find in shops, but beware of the convenient, ready-grated kind. This has absolutely no flavor, which is not so convenient after all. Fresh roots will keep for weeks in a plastic bag in the fridge.
Culinary uses Horseradish is either grated very finely to go in a cream or sauce, or shaved extremely thinly to top sandwiches, fish or meats, or to make a relish. The shavings tend to be sweeter and mor flavorsome the finer the root is grated. As with chili, you have to wait a while after adding it to a dish to taste the full effect, especially in cold sauces such as the classic horseradish cream for smoked fish. It may be mild to start with, but given half an hour the flavor will develop.
Rye bread with egg, caviar and horseradish. Photo: Mills
Horseradish is cherished as an accompaniment for plain baked or boiled lean fish with butter sauce. It is served with all kinds of cold cuts, with smoked meat and fish, for steak tartare and for the lovely traditional sweet-sour horseradish sauce eaten with the boiled meats from the festive soup, hønsekødsuppe.
Horseradish is also the classic dance partner for all kinds of beetroot preparations; in salads, relishes and with pickled beetroot, the earthy sweetness of the beet is perfectly balanced by spiky horseradish.
Horseradish has only one flaw, its taste and effects do not stand up to high temperatures. Therefore, it should be added at the very last moment to a sauce or dish, or simply shaved on top – otherwise the taste will vanish, leaving drenched and bitter wood-like shavings.
Smoked salmon with horseradish. Photo: Norwegian Information Office for Bread and Grains
Smoked salmon with horseradish cream
200ml crème fraiche
4 tablespoons finely grated horseradish
A pinch of sea salt
A pinch of sugar
8 slices cold-smoked salmon (preferably wild)
1 bunch of fresh dill
4 slices sourdough bread
SERVES 4
Mix together the crème fraiche, grated horseradish, salt and sugar. Ideally, let the sauce sit for half an hour to bring out the flavor.
You can serve the dish in two ways. Either spread the horseradish cream directly on to four plates, put the slices of salmon on top and decorate with dill, serving the bread on the side. Or spread some of the cream on the bread, arrange the salmon on top and put another blob of the horseradish cream on top, followed by a sprinkling of dill.
Siri Hustvedt was 13 when she got the writing bug. Her father, a professor of Norwegian, had taken his wife and four daughters with him to Reykjavík, where he was studying the Icelandic sagas. Hustveit is best known for her book ‘What I Loved (2002) which became an international bestseller. Here, the
Norwegian New York-based author, feminist and philosopher talks about art and gender.
Siri Hustveit was born in Northfield, Minnesota in 1955. She has written 17 books, among them “What I Loved” (2003) and “The Summer Without Men” (2011). “The Blazing World (2014) was longlisted for the Man Booker Award and won the 2015 Los Angeles Book Prize for Fiction.
Her essays on art, sex and the mind “A Woman Looking at Men” were published in 2016 and bridge the gap between the disciplines
A woman looking at men
Her essays on art, gender and the mind “A Woman Looking at Men” were published in 2016 and bridge the gap between the disciplines, inviting us to look at the world anew. This is her fourth collection of essays, and the same theme is often repeated in her novels, of which she has written seven and which are read by a large audience all over the world. One of the central themes in the collection of essays is which prejudices affect how we perceive art and the world as such. And especially prejudice and discrimination based on gender.
Mothers, fathers and others
Among her best essays are the ones in which Hustvedt skillfully weaves her personal stories (about her mother, her daughter and her own childhood) with the state of the world, academia and technology. Her collection of essays, “Mothers, Fathers, and Others”, is described as “a 21st-century Virginia Woolf” in the Literary Review (UK). Hustvedt displays her expansive intellect and interdisciplinary knowledge in this collection that moves effortlessly between stories from her own family background to artistic mothers, Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, and Lousie Bourgeois, to the broader meanings of maternal in a culture shaped by misogyny and fantasies of paternal authority. Mothers, Fathers, and Others is a polymath’s journey into urgent questions about familial love and hate, human prejudice and cruelty, and the transformative power of art.
“Mothers, Fathers, and Others”, is described as “a 21st-century Virginia Woolf” in the Literary Review (UK).
An elegy for Louise Bourgeois
One of the female artists Siri Hustveit values the most is Louise Bourgeois. When Hustveit arrived in New York, no one was interested in Bourgeois at all. The men on the board of the Museum of Modern Art only looked at her as a little girl from Paris, who on top of that carried the burden of three children. This despite the fact that she was in her 30s and had already created works that surpassed most of her contemporaries. She eventually broke through as a 70-year-old. About 80 percent of the artists who have had solo exhibitions in New York in the last ten years are men, Hustveit writes in “A Woman Looking at Men Looking at Women”
The essays range from the personal to the critical, and they often encompass the clinical. Hustvedt brings a surprisingly scientific approach to her artistic and literary subjects. In “What Does a Man Want?,” on the origins of misogyny, she argues that a fixation on DNA and the genome (and the stance that life begins at conception) overlooks the essential influence of gestation. “By assigning a godlike role to genes,” she writes, “the ‘right-to-life’ forces have adopted science in their service and effectively denied the reality that a female body is crucial to fetal development.”
Siri and her husband Auster have been married for 40 years
The placenta is the least understood of all human organs She illustrates the erasure of the female body through the example of the placenta. “How can a human organ go missing in plain sight?” she wonders as hers is whisked away after the birth of her daughter. “The placenta is the least understood of all human organs. It has been called forgotten, ignored, overlooked, mysterious, underappreciated, and even the ‘Rodney Dangerfield of organs.’” Not to mention that birth itself is a “subject missing from the canon of Western art.” Here is Hustvedt’s unique contribution and genius: By bringing a placenta into a fight about misogyny, she fortifies her argument with physical evidence.
“Men and women are connected from the start,” says Siri Hustveit. «We all come out of a woman’s body.»
New York, 2008. Siri Hustvedt photographed outside her home in Park slope, Brooklyn i New York. Photo: Sveinung U. Ystad/ Aftensposten/Store norske leksikon
An early bird
Siri Hustveit is a passionate reader and therein lies the secret of her books – in the act of reading, rethinking and reconnecting. She has spent her life carving out a career as a writer of intellect in a world still dominated by men.
Her days start early, at 5.30am with some meditation; she is at her desk by 7am. “Morning brain is the best brain,” she says cheerfully. “I can feel my sharpness declining after six or seven hours.” Hustvedt spends the afternoons reading, mostly academic papers that form the basis of her many lectures on neurology and psychology. She and her husband Auster have been married for 40 years, and still read aloud to each other. They are great lovers of fairytales, as is their 33-year-old daughter, Sophie, a singer of slinky, soulful pop songs. There are other writer couples, of course, but few that have stayed together so long.
Norwegian New York-Based Author, Feminist and Philosopher About Art and Gender, written by Tor Kjolberg
In 2019, Norwegians spent NOK 85 million on renovating their homes. Most of these were used to renovate kitchens and bathrooms. How have we ended up at the top of this list? And what do you do if you want to renovate, but can’t afford it? Read the article Home Renovations: Norwegians Still Hold a European Record and find out more about how to find a proper loan here.
The fact that Norwegians in general have a better economy, doesn’t mean that everyone feels like they can afford to renovate their homes in the way they want to. For some it can take a long time to save money for the changes you dream of in your home. If you don’t want to wait until you’ve saved up, some people take out a loan instead. If this is something that you’re considering, you can find a loan for renovation here. There are several ways to take out a loan, when you want to renovate.
There are several ways to take out a loan, when you want to renovate.
Different types of loans for renovations If you’re taking out a loan for smaller projects, then a small loan is probably the best solution for you. When it comes to such small projects, it perhaps doesn’t make sense to take out the loan in your house but is maybe better to take out a loan on your credit card or in an online money institute.
If you’re taking out a bigger loan, for example, if you want to renovate your bathroom, kitchen, or another big project, it can be a good solution to simply take out a loan in your house. It is always very important to consider which type of loans suits the type of projects that you’re loaning money for.
Since 1991 Norway has been at the top of the European statistics counting how much money is annually spent on renovating private homes.
Consider these factors when borrowing money Since 1991 Norway has been at the top of the European statistics counting how much money is annually spent on renovating private homes. You easily become a bit curious about which factors are causing Norwegians to spend this much on renovations. The reason for this is primarily that Norway has a very high number of privately owned homes. When you own your own home, you’re more likely to spend money on your house as an investment.
Most people who rent, don’t throw money in their home probably because they feel like it is a waste of money. Also, Norway has seen a significant economic growth, which means most people in Norway have more money than they used to. This extra money can be spent on things like renovating their homes.
No matter which type of loan you choose, it is important to consider whether or not you can afford this type of loan. It is also really important to read the terms and conditions as to make sure you choose the loan that fits your renovation project and your budget.
Extra money i9n private households in Norway is often spent on things like renovating their homes.
To take out a loan should never be a hasty decision. It is always a good idea to take some time to consider whether or not this type of loan is the right one for you. When you take your time deciding, the chances of choosing the right loan now and in the future is highly increased.
Home Renovations: Norwegians Still Hold a European Record, written exclusively for Daily Scandinavian by loanscouter.com.
José Cerdá’s restaurant Hoze in Gothenburg serves only six guests simultaneously – so, the waiting list is three months. But if you’re a sushi-lover, the wait is worth your while: You’ll enjoy the best sushi in Gothenburg – Sweden.
José Cerdá has been serving exceptional sushi here for more than a decade. Don’t expect strong alcoholic beverages at Hoze. Here the focus is on food. José says he doesn’t want foodies who have travelled from afar to be bothered by tipsy neighbors. However, this minimalistic restaurant offers an ever-changing sushi menu prepared to perfection.
José Cerdá has been serving exceptional sushi here for more than a decade. Photo: YouTube
Six seats only A restaurant with only six seats that does not serve alcohol may sound like a bad idea. In addition, Hoze is only open four days a week. Nevertheless, since 2009, there has been no shortage of sushi enthusiasts who are looking for intimate experiences of Japanese snacks and sushi here. The White Guide describes the restaurant as “a Japanese microcosm where nothing is left to chance.”
Seated in a row
The setting – with guests seated in a row at the counter, facing the lit-up kitchen – is not at all unlike an intimate theatre. Chef José Cerdá, however, is no natural verbal entertainer, preferring instead to let the craftsmanship speak. He serves an exclusive take on Japanese sushi under the concept of omakase which is Japanese for “It’s up to you” – meaning that you leave it up to the chef to create the best culinary experience possible.
In Hoze it is allowed to eat exactly the way you want it, and it is allowed to ask about anything. But for the most part it is very quiet here. But It should be mentioned that José’s cooking really is of the sort that deserves reverence. He is using only the best ingredients – 90% of the fish is caught in Scandinavian waters – and Cerdá is ambitiously combining interesting flavors.
Passionate about Japanese cuisine
José Cerdá has been passionate about Japanese cuisine ever since he was apprenticed to a respected chef who had worked for the Emperor of Japan. Over the course of three years, the young chef learned the most about putting together the right ingredients.
For instance, a horse mussel from the Faroe Islands, steamed on the half-shell for twenty minutes and divided lengthwise, tastes like a cross between brown crab meat and sea urchin. A fillet from the fattiest part of a bluefin tuna has been tenderized for three weeks and tastes like an entire universe. However, José uses careful cooking methods and develops his sushi skills by continuous trips to Japan.
Caught “in front of” Scandinavia A sign outside the restaurant says in Japanese “in front of Scandinavian sushi Hoze” – because the fish he uses is caught “in front” of Scandinavia. For instance, fresh sea urchin is mixed with cuttlefish in a nigiri with a few drops of sudachi and salt. A handful of aged crimson glass shrimps from Smögen are grilled just briefly enough to still feel raw, but have gained a rich fire flavor.
“Working in this way is a bit like standing on a stage,” says José. It’s an intimate experience, just six guests, my father (75) and I.»
The Best Sushi in Gothenburg – Sweden, written by Tor Kjolberg
The NASDAQ-registered company Illumnia is supporting a new national precision medicine study in Norway to assess the efficacy of blood-based comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in cancer therapy selection testing. Learn more about the pioneering cancer precision medicine study in Norway.
During 2019, Oslo Cancer Cluster hosted a series of workshops with public and private shareholders in cancer. The joint goal was to accelerate the implementation of cancer precision medicine in Norway. The initial idea for IMPRESS emerged in one of these workshops, and a large national study on precision medicine against cancer started in the beginning of 2021.
Selecting treatments that are most likely to help patients
According to the National Cancer Institute, Precision medicine is an approach to patient care that allows doctors to select treatments that are most likely to help patients based on a genetic understanding of their disease.
CGP testing can help match patients to the most appropriate clinical trials for cancer therapy selection. Photo: Illumnia
The study will also evaluate the cost-effectiveness of implementing blood-based CGP in the public healthcare system. The overarching study is called IMPRESS-Norway (Improving public cancer care by implementing precision medicine in Norway) and is designed to match already-approved cancer medicines with other tumors, depending on their molecular profile, to drive a precision medicine approach to cancer therapy selection across the country.
In the newly released Norwegian state budget, an additional NOK 30 million is allocated for personalized medicine. NOK 25 million is earmarked for the implementation of genetic precision diagnostics at Norwegian hospitals. This demonstrates a commitment from the Norwegian government to advance the implementation of precision medicine for Norwegian cancer patients.
From left: Sigbjørn Smeland, Gro Fagereng, Åslaug Helland, Kjetil Taskén and Hege Russnes (photo: Per Marius Didriksen, OUS)
All Norwegian cancer hospitals participate
National infrastructure for precision diagnostics is needed and is currently being set up at all Norwegian cancer hospitals. Cancer patients who are eligible for clinical trials can soon be tested and selected based on their specific genetic profile.
Illumina is supporting a sub-study of 500 patients comparing solid tissue biopsies with easier-to-obtain blood samples to see if regular blood testing can provide additional information on the genetic changes within a patient’s cancer which may be relevant to the choice of treatment. If so, less invasive CGP testing of blood samples could potentially replace tissue sampling, substantially increasing the number of patients able to have their tumors profiled and be included in clinical trials for cancer therapy selection. The CGP analysis will be done using Illumina’s DRAGEN software.
Patients can be matched to the most appropriate therapy
“Using CGP testing on a blood sample, which is less invasive and able to be performed when tissue is limited or difficult to obtain, means that a patient can be matched to the most appropriate therapy, and its impact on the tumor can be tracked at the molecular level over time,” said Phil Febbo, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Illumina. “As a result, CGP testing of a sample can assess many mutations and biomarkers simultaneously and improve outcomes.”
“The impact on the tumor can be tracked at the molecular level over time,” said Phil Febbo, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Illumina.
“Securing high-quality tissue biopsies can be both challenging and time-consuming,” said Dr Hege Russnes, Senior Consultant in Pathology, Oslo University Hospital and Head of the Infrastructure for Precision Diagnostics for cancer (InPreD). “The use of blood sample analysis could offer a powerful diagnostic tool for determining relevant biomarkers in advanced cancer patients so that we can match them effectively to clinical trials. We are grateful to Illumina’s support of this project and excited about the opportunity to investigate the match towards the CGP results from the tissue samples.”
Bjørn Klem, general manager, and Janne Nestvold, laboratory manager, are excited to continue developing Oslo Cancer Cluster Incubator and its infrastructure for cell therapy research.
Learning from the Netherlands
IMPRESS-Norway is modelled on a precision medicine study called DRUP, which is currently ongoing in the Netherlands. Similar studies are being planned in several European countries and IMPRESS-Norway plans to collaborate on data sharing with the other Nordic countries. This is especially important since it’s known from experiences with the DRUP study that individual molecular profiles are so rare that it is difficult to fill the cohorts in a single country and therefore it becomes important to compile data from similar cohorts across studies.
About Illumina Illumina is improving human health by unlocking the power of the genome. The company’s focus on innovation has established it as the global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies, serving customers in the research, clinical and applied markets. Its products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture and other emerging segments. To learn more, visit www.illumina.com and connect Illumnia on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
Pioneering Cancer Precision Medicine Study in Norway, based on press releases from IMPRESS-Norway and Illumnia.
Stranda in the fjords of Norway is nicknamed the “Powder Paradise” and some say it is Northern Europe’s best destination for freeriding. Learn more about the Norwegian off-piste skiing destination that rivals the Alps.
In 2002, Filip Christensen gathered a group of skiing friends to make the first ever skiing movie. Christensen built a monster jump that has been behind several of the Field Production’s successful sport documentaries and series.
The Stranda ski resort in the Sunnmøre region on the northwest coast of Norway offers over 25km of world class skiing. Despite being known for having the best off-piste skiing in Scandinavia, Stranda is not just for the pros. When riding and touring here you get an amazing fjord view from the mountains closest to the fjord. Here is good riding for everyone.
In 2002, Filip Christensen gathered a group of skiing friends to make the first ever skiing movie.
Located not far from the coast and surrounding Hjørundfjord, not only does it provide a dramatic beautiful backdrop, it also means skiers have the opportunity to ski from 1,500 meters above sea level down to the level of the fjord in one run.
In 1957, there was only a T-bar above the little village of Stranda, the center of the small municipality and famous for the Geiranger and Sunnylvs fjord. In 1970 the nearby Grandiosa pizza factory was established, and today the factory chums out more than 25 million frozen pizzas a year. Nobody thought about Stranda as a ski paradise before 2002.
Today, there are seven lifts and 18 pistes in Stranda. Photo: Visit Ålseund
The variety of the mountain range there is quite amazing. You can ride mellow runs with nice windlips, fun tree runs, couloirs and steeper short big mountain lines. There you will stay in the peaceful mountains of Norway where the Northern Lights comes out dancing on the sky during some clear winter nights. You get really close to nature with mountains, fjords, waterfalls and wild nature everywhere!
In 2009, a new four-seater lift and restaurant was built on the “Furset” side of the valley, followed in 2011 by a state-of-the-art Telemix (chairlift/gondola) and restaurant on the Roald side, with the lift’s 618m elevation the longest in Scandinavia. Today, there are seven lifts and 18 pistes, even if the main selling point is still the free-ride skiing, which is easily reached from the lifts. You can strap on your skis at the top of the Roald lift, at1,062m, and ski all the way down to the fjord, possibly making your own tracks all the way.
Free-ride skiing in Stranda. Photo: Møre folkehøgskule
Cross country skiers will also have access to 15km of expedition tracks. One challenge has been to house all the visitors. Today, there are more than 500 beds at the resort and village in Stranda and campsites, with 62 rooms at the Stranda Hotel. Located in the small town of Glomset, the 29-room log cabin hotel Storfjord, part of the experiential travel group 62ºNORD, boasts uninterrupted panoramic views of the Storfjord and the Sunnmøre Alps.
Filip Christensen. Photo: Fri Flyt
Another challenge is Mother Nature. In a good season, you can get 5m of snow there, at least the double the large Scandinavian ski resorts of Åre, Hemsedal, Trysil and Sälen.
There is nowhere else you get this mix of fjords and great skiing. There is really nothing like it.
The Norwegian Off-Piste Skiing Destination That Rivals the Alps, written by Tor Kjolberg
Feature image (on top): Axel Svindal. Photo by Field Productions.
