A touch of Norway in Van Nuys -- in time for the holidays

Once a year, the Sons of Norway, Norrona Lodge No. 50 in Van Nuys, put on their "world famous" community dinner.

Over the course of two days last weekend, they presented an all-you-can-eat buffet, including Norwegian meatballs made with veal, pork and beef; lefse, which is like a buttery tortilla made from potatoes; and trimmings such as carrots, peas and a traditional cream sauce. Desserts included specialties such as krumkake, which is a thin, sweetened batter baked until golden brown and draped into the shape of a cone, and rosette, which is deep fried and then sugared.

And then there is lutefisk. We'll let Gerald Rowe, vice president of the lodge, describe that:

"It's a boiled fish," he said.

It's also an acquired taste, and no traditional holiday dinner would be complete without it. (When asked whether he liked lutefisk, Rowe answered diplomatically: "Some people eat a lot of lutefisk and some people won’t touch it. I just like to sample it for traditional reasons. I like the meatballs.")

Read the rest of this article at the Daily Dish blog.

-- Rene Lynch

Photo: Los Angeles Times