Atlantica - 01.06.2001, Page 96

94 A T L A N T I C A
i-site DINING OUT❍
Country restaurants in Iceland are worth making detours to visit as they offer simple fare
quite different from the sophisticated nouvelle cuisine found in major cities and towns.
Such is Vid Fjörubordid, a rustic splendour found in the tiny village of Stokkseyri on the
south coast, just 60 km from Reykjavík.
Set back from the road, Vid Fjörubordid is an unprepossessing, low-level building with
its back facing the sea. In summer, the turf walls built to withstand tidal floods make won-
derful dining areas sheltered from the wind. An annex is used for art exhibitions.
Inside the restaurant, the long room is sparsely decorated with simple wooden tables
and chairs. On the walls are photographs dating from Stokkseyri’s years as a major fish-
ing port, aided by Danish merchants during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The menu is simple and centres around the Vid Fjörubordid speciality: lobster (although
sizzling lamb is also a good option). The lobster soup is delicious; the lobster feast - vast
quantities of the crustaceans in big metal bowls - cooked to perfection. There are starters
of couscous and salads which are generally eaten with the main course. Wine tends to
be of the house variety, served in simple carafes. Service is unpretentious and impecca-
ble.
Cakes, pastries and ice cream are offered as dessert and the perfect digestif is a walk
along Stokkseyri’s famous black sandy beach.
Vid Fjörubordid, Eyrarbraut 3b, Stokkseyri, tel. (+354) 483-1550.
Open daily from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Booking is advisable.
Hot Dog Heaven
Deciding on the best place in Reykjavík
to get a hot dog always makes for
fierce debate, but the stand outside the
outdoor pool at Laugardalur has, with-
out question, the best selection of top-
pings. There's no hunger quite like the
one that hits you on the way out of the
pool, and Icelanders have the answer
to that on nearly every pool's doorstep
- a hot dog stand. The hot dog is as
much a part of this nation's culinary
culture as liver sausage - more so
actually. It's the perfect snack with
some ketchup, fried onions and mus-
tard. At the stand at Laugardalur, you
can choose from a variety of toppings
including pan-fried vegetables and
pickles. You can even throw away the
good old bun in favour of toasted
wholemeal bread, making for a more
haute cuisine hot dog than most places
serve. Most snack bars you'll find here
serve tasty hot dogs, and you'll even
find some that throw fizzy drinks and
chocolate bars into the offer.
Vegamót
This cafe has a great patio space out-
side and it’s a sun-trap in the height of
summer. It’s a nice place to stop for a
couple of glasses of white wine or to
pour over the paper with a coffee.
When the sun’s out, you’ll find it diffi-
cult to get a table here because it’s a
popular spot. But if it’s really busy, you
could always take a wander round the
nearby shops or pick up some post-
cards at the bookstore on the corner,
until a table frees-up. A good spot for
people watchers and sun worshippers
alike.
Vegamót Bistró & Bar,
Vegamótastígur 4, 101 Reykjavík.
Pride of the Country
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063-082 ATL 4/01 i-site 20.6.2001 20:29 Page 94