Well our first dining out experience in the fair capital of Eurovisionia you remember involved paying near 11 pounds for a pint of Heineken on our first evening in the environs of Majorstuen where our plush apartment is situated at Big Horn Steakhouse. It also involved Norwegians who immediately drifted into English without the least resentment once they realised we were a bit foreign unlike last year’s hosts. They also explained the ordering system which involved writing your menu choice down on a slip indicating how you wanted it cooked, sources included, choice of potato dish and any side dishes we wanted. We were agreed on our choice of rib eye steak which was damn good. Even the Heineken tasted good though I wouldn’t normally touch it with a barge pole in Brit parts let alone take a mortgage out on one. Rolling in at near 400 krona each it wasn’t a cheap dining experience, but then nothing is in Oslo. The Norwegians are so damned organised 🙂 Gotta love em. And the neighbourhood of Majorstuen is ridiculously pleasant for somewhere that we’re staying during Eurovision. We’ve never seen it’s like in all our years doing this.
Upon the arrival of Mr and Mrs Roy on Saturday the famous five ventured into the city centre to walk up around the palace and then go for a curry at the Jaipur Indian Restaurant. A lovely selection of dishes involving my Lamb Rogan Josh and several other Indian staples done in an intriguing Norwegian twist. About 250 krona each it’s good value and we’re all stuffed.
Most nights it has to be said are spent self-catering. You couldn’t eat out every day round here unless you’re a lottery winner. However on Tuesday evening at a loose end and on me todd I decide to continue my gourmet Indian tour and visit the Gate of India. This is a much more extreme dining experience than Jaipur. The chairs for one are deep and wide armchairs and heavy to the touch. I’m unable to pull mine out without yanking it with both hands and dragging it. All good fun. I order mixed pakora starter, chicken curry which comes with pilau rice and a nan. The nan is the biggest I’ve ever seen and stretches half way across the table and together the amassed food is more than enough to send me home bloated. A triumph at 345 krona. I no longer think it strange or even worrying to pay almost 40 pounds for a meal.
More to come later in the week if I can afford it…