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76 Comments
BayBreeze
February 26, 2013
I lived in Sandefjord, Norway for 12 months, over 30 years ago. Your description of each dish brought back memories and flavors. Thank you!
fiveandspice
April 8, 2013
Hi BayBreeze! Sorry I missed your comment until now. But, that's so cool because our cabin in Norway is in Kjerringvik (only 20 min. or so away from Sandefjord) and my uncle and a couple of my cousins live in Sandefjord now, so I know the town well! I'm glad I could bring back some memories. :)
Sharon R.
September 23, 2012
This is a beautiful story of food and self-discovery--I was moved to tears of joy reading and seeing the gorgeous photos. You have a great future ahead of you.
fiveandspice
September 30, 2012
Thank you SO much Sharon. You're so kind, and I'm thrilled you enjoyed the piece.
Sharon R.
September 23, 2012
This is a beautifully written story. I was moved to tears by your adventure in food and self-discovery. You are a brave and creative woman.
Miranda R.
September 6, 2012
What is left to say!? Emily, this is stunning. Also, those plates! Too much beauty!
Kitchen B.
September 5, 2012
A thing of beauty is a JOY forever. You are pure inspiration, Emily. From concept to execution, every inch and plate is filled with passion, love and warmth - it makes me glad to be alive. And I thought your moving and starting your distillery was the ultimate inspiration. Alas....there is more. Thank you
fiveandspice
September 5, 2012
That is grand praise KB, and I'm quite overwhelmed. Thank you so much! I'm glad my love and enthusiasm came across, and I am so happy to have been able to share it.
Midge
September 4, 2012
Wow, I'm speechless. What a stunning feast and so beautifully recounted in photos and heartfelt words. You are a wonder Emily!
fiveandspice
September 4, 2012
Thank you so much Midge! I'm so happy you enjoyed it. Hope you guys are doing well!
Kristy M.
September 4, 2012
You are my hero, fiveandspice!
fiveandspice
September 4, 2012
Wow! Thank you Kristy! That means a lot coming from someone who is such a totally amazing person herself!
lazychef
September 4, 2012
I reeeeeeally enjoyed this epic feast - the platings and concepts are beautiful, but I especially enjoyed the introspective earlier post on the intersection of immigrant tradition and modernized cuisine. Well done!
fiveandspice
September 4, 2012
Thank you lazychef! I'm gald you enjoyed them. I enjoyed the cooking and the writing of them!
TXExpatInBKK
September 3, 2012
Wow, it all looks almost too good to eat! Almost. :-) Thanks so much for sharing this journey, I found it totally fascinating.
mcs3000
September 3, 2012
CONGRATS! I think you deserve the Iron Chef award for this series. My friend is from Kristiansand. He'll love this.
fiveandspice
September 3, 2012
Wow! Thanks! And please do share it with your friend from Kristiansand, it would be so fun to know what he thinks!
duclosbe1
September 2, 2012
Oh, I have been waiting to hear this story since I saw it on your blog! What a wonderful, wonderful experience this must have been for you. The menu was so extraordinarily thought out. My mind is blown.
And I am SO excited to try making your Gjetost Semifreddo Bars. They look and sound amazing!
And I am SO excited to try making your Gjetost Semifreddo Bars. They look and sound amazing!
fiveandspice
September 3, 2012
Yay! I'm glad you hung on and waited! And, definitely give the bars a try. They were kind of extremely incredible, if I do say so myself. The recipes I posted and provided links to were the very, very crowd favorites (I forced them to choose, even though no one wanted to), and those were definitely on the top of the list.
Jazzball
September 2, 2012
This is a gorgeous idea you had, what an unforgettable feast! Thank you for a wonderful read. I've saved the recipes you linked to -- is there any chance you can provide the rest?
fiveandspice
September 3, 2012
Thank you Jazzball! I will definitely try to share the rest of the recipes in the next several weeks. My schedule has been just a touch crazy lately, but I'll try to get them up amongst my recipes soon. :)
Burnt O.
September 2, 2012
I can't get over how evocative and personal your dishes and writing are. I really felt like I was in a garden with sheep, or on a hike in the forest among birches, spruce, and mushrooms. Thank you so much for sharing a part of yourself with the Food52 community.
fiveandspice
September 3, 2012
Thank you Burnt Offerings! It was incredibly special to have the opportunity to share, and I'm thrilled you enjoyed the ride.
TaraT
September 2, 2012
So wonderful! I love your recounting of the big day, your summation at the end is just beautiful!
TaraT
September 2, 2012
So wonderful! I love your recounting of the big day, your summation at the end is just beautiful!
calendargirl
September 2, 2012
Just glorious! Thank you so much for the beautifully written and photographed account. Love that there was Freia milk chocolate, too.
fiveandspice
September 3, 2012
Thank you so much! And, of course, there did have to be a little melkesjokolade. Not at all local, but sometimes childhood memories get the ultimate trump card.
darksideofthespoon
September 2, 2012
Are you sure you've never worked as a chef?!
So meticulous, I loved reading your adventure. Photos are breathtaking - simply awe inspiring. Your guests are very, VERY lucky people.
So meticulous, I loved reading your adventure. Photos are breathtaking - simply awe inspiring. Your guests are very, VERY lucky people.
fiveandspice
September 3, 2012
Seriously, never! Though maybe I should since it's what I enjoy most. I'm not good with crazy hours though. :) So, glad you enjoyed reading about the feast process!
fearlessem
September 1, 2012
Beautiful! I also teared up reading your account of The Big Day. Its an experience that will last a lifetime for you and every guest who was privileged to attend!
susan G.
September 1, 2012
I have just read through the entire week, and I am very moved. As I started The Big Day I was tearing up. You have communicated the whole process so beautifully, and as you went through plate by plate, it was like a magnificent crescendo. You and your husband, family and guests will relive the joy of this day as long as memory lasts.
fiveandspice
September 3, 2012
Thank you Susan! I know for sure we all definitely will hold the memory dear.
jenniebgood
September 1, 2012
Emily - I loved reading your story from beginning to end. I think your interpretive recipes could easily appear in the NOMA cookbook. I hope Rene Redzepi reads your posts!!
Congrats on such a huge undertaking (and somewhat of a journey it sounds like). Your meal sounds fantastic and I hope we see some of the recipes on Food 52 - they would all be winners.
Congrats on such a huge undertaking (and somewhat of a journey it sounds like). Your meal sounds fantastic and I hope we see some of the recipes on Food 52 - they would all be winners.
fiveandspice
September 3, 2012
Thanks jennieb! It would be pretty mindboggling to have Rene Redzepi read the posts. Even just having all of the amazing food52 community members reading it is mindbogglingly awesome. Also, some of the recipes are posted - they're the ones whose names are links. I haven't posted all of them yet, though I do hope to find the time to do so.
Sadassa_Ulna
August 31, 2012
Beautiful and really moving. Congratulations on creating such a fantastic meal and tribute to your Norwegian heritage. Thank you for sharing it so vividly over these last five days.
gingerroot
August 31, 2012
I've loved reading your posts all week leading up to today’s finale – what a stunning visual feast! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with all of us. What a memorable gift for your loved ones. You are amazing, Em!
lloreen
August 31, 2012
What a labor of love! Each plate is a work of art and I am sure your guests will treasure the memory. 17 dishes!! I am in awe.
drbabs
August 31, 2012
Oh my, wow, I can't believe you did all that--it is fantastic. Your writing and photography are also wonderful. You have so many gifts...thank you for sharing them with us.
fiveandspice
August 31, 2012
Thank you drbabs! You're too kind. Everyone is, really. These comments are making me tear up. :)
Blissful B.
August 31, 2012
I think that distillery of yours will have a restaurant attached someday. I wish I was part of your party! You're amazing, Emily.
fiveandspice
August 31, 2012
Thanks BB! And, we sure hope that one day we'll be able have a restaurant as part of the distillery. We're dreaming in that direction!
CarlaCooks
August 31, 2012
Holy, holy, holy hell, this was amazing! I am so utterly in awe of your big feast! I love how much gjetost is used. My husband and I fell in love with it when we lived near Solvang. Now that we live in Copenhagen, we eat it all the time. Oddly enough, our Danish friends think it's gross, but all of our Norwegian and Swedish friends here think it's great!
Is 'frokost' Norwegian for breakfast? Odd, in Danish morgenmad is breakfast, and frokost in lunch!
Congratulations on a beautiful, delicious, inspiring meal!
Is 'frokost' Norwegian for breakfast? Odd, in Danish morgenmad is breakfast, and frokost in lunch!
Congratulations on a beautiful, delicious, inspiring meal!
fiveandspice
August 31, 2012
Hahaha, best response ever! Thank you! And, yes, gjetost is bomb. And yes, for whatever odd reason breakfast in Norwegian is frokost, even though that is lunch in Denmark. It confused me a ton when I visited a friend in Denmark once. In Norway lunch is often called lunsj or else middag (but then, sometimes supper is called middag. Who knows.).
Madhuja
August 31, 2012
Emily, this is unbelievable! Each and every plate speaks volumes about who you are and the rich traditions you represent. I have had such a good time reading through your posts for the past couple of days - thank you for sharing your stories with us!
fiveandspice
August 31, 2012
Thank you Madhuja! I feel honored I was given the opportunity to share it with everyone.
thirschfeld
August 31, 2012
Beautiful, gorgeous really, from beginning to end. I would have loved to have been one of the lucky ones at that table!
fiveandspice
August 31, 2012
Thank you so much Tom. I think you would have fit into the group marvelously!
Fairmount_market
August 31, 2012
Your dishes are incredibly beautiful and so thoughtfully composed. Thanks so much for this amazing series.
fiveandspice
August 31, 2012
Thanks FM! It was a lot of planning and thinking, but worth every moment.
meganvt01
August 31, 2012
These are spectacular! So beautiful and I learned so much - great Big Feast Emily!
fiveandspice
August 31, 2012
Thanks Megan! I'm so happy you feel like you learned something. It was super fun to share!
Cristina S.
August 31, 2012
Emily, these dishes (both the food itself and the plating) are gorgeous, as is the photography. Congratulations!
fiveandspice
August 31, 2012
Thank you Cristina! That means so much coming from someone who has such a great eye as yourself.
aargersi
August 31, 2012
Wow, I am absolutely floored by the scope of your undertaking, how thoughtful each and every component on each and every of the 17 plates is, and equally impressive is your writing - this has truly been a Big Feast to remember.
Summer O.
August 31, 2012
I cannot get over the beauty of these plates! Not to mention the work involved. I just love the names of the dishes too. Cheers to you!
Anna H.
August 31, 2012
Emily, this is absolutely beautiful. So many great concepts and beautiful platings. Sign me up for some of that salmon candy!
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