Vi·king [vahy-king]
noun ( sometimes lowercase )
1. any of the Scandinavian pirates who plundered the coasts of Europe from the 8th to 10th centuries.
2. a sea-roving bandit; pirate.
3. a Scandinavian.
4. U.S. Aerospace . one of a series of space probes that obtained scientific information about Mars.
Probably not the last definition in relation to the dinner.
I tend to feel a connection to Nordic countries through the half Finnish Mr NQN although from all reports his family were the opposite of Scandinavian pirates. Rather they were a several generations long vegetarian family who treaded gently on the earth which is quite the opposite image of a Viking really. And even though Finland isn’t technically part of Scandinavia nevertheless Mr NQN and I are making our way to our first Crave event of the month – a Viking Feast chosen because I wanted to try an event that was unusual and something that was unique to Crave.
And where do Vikings dine? Well tonight they dine at a photography studio, Studio Neon which also has a liquor license and a commercial kitchen where chef Bec Chippington is busy preparing the food. There’s a large rustic share table fit for a longship of Vikings and because it is a photography studio, a range of props that the stylist inside me covets.
Two old model tvs are on the visible blink and there’s a range of chairs in every which style you would want. There are candelabras with dripping white wax as well as imposing and intricate cast iron chandeliers. And I almost expected someone with a horned helmet to greet me although it seems the Viking theme is only lightly referenced at this dinner (probably a saner idea than the Swedish dinner party we held with friends years ago where we ate Swedish food, drank Swedish drink, listened to Swedish music and got dressed up as famous Swedes).
We take a look at the menu on our tables which features smoked salmon, sardines, venison and lamb with five courses in total and for the price of $140 you also get four drinks included. Studio owner Matt Lee explains that the menu was more a homage to what Vikings would eat if they lived in Australia because once they researched Viking food, it wasn’t as appealing as once thought. I am sitting next to a Swede and he says that if it were a modern day Swedish feast the first three courses would be herring!
Cucumber pickles, lemon myrtle smoked salmon, cured sardines
We’re asked to sit down and they make their introductions and chef Bec explains the food for the evening which starts coming out straight away. They are placed on round wooden Lazy Susans perfect for sharing (me wanty!). The thin, round sliced cucumber pickles are sharp and tangy and a nice contrast to the lemon myrtle smoked salmon which doesn’t really have much of a lemon myrtle flavour to it and needs a little salt. Also on the platter are cured sardines-and I’m not a big sardine eater but they are good and meaty with a robust saltiness.
Beetroot carpaccio with buttermilk, potato salad
The servings were on the generous side (appropriately Viking sized I suppose) and I really liked the paper thinly sliced beetroot carpaccio with a foamy buttermilk sauce which had a generous kick of chilli although I hear another guest saying that the chilli is too hot for her and the platter closest to Mr NQN has no chilli in it at all so there may have been an uneven chilli distribution. The potato salad had smoked duck eggs which imparted a distinct smokiness to the kipfler potato salad and there was a bit of crunch from the thinly sliced radishes. There was said to be brie and fennel in this but I couldn’t see either of those ingredients.
Braised venison shank
Onto the main courses and they are quite meat heavy with two main meat courses. Bec explained that she took the meat off the bone because everyone was sharing with strangers but left the bone for display purposes. It’s certainly Viking looking insofar as your image of strapping Swedish men in horned helmets eating food with their knives goes. The enormous venison shank is slow braised with tomatoes and the venison meat, usually served rare, obtains a gamey flavour from the slow cooking. It is filling and at this point I start to get quite stuffed. Which is a shame because we have another meaty course, sides and dessert to come!
Sorrel and snow pea shoot salad with hazelnuts
The salad with sorrel and snow pea shoots had a light, creamy dressing and roasted whole hazelnuts. I always find snow pea shoots quite grassy but when the salad is combined with the meat and the leeks then it becomes quite nicely balanced.
Charred spring onion leeks with prunes
The charred spring onions with sweet prunes were sweet and went very well with the braised venison and sorrel and snow pea shoot salad.
Roast leg of lamb with ale, honey and thyme
The roast leg of lamb is sliced thickly and is flavoured with ale, honey and thyme which is a nice flavour combination although at this point I was too full to contemplate more than one slice especially as I had filled up on the addictively sweet corn and chestnut salad below as that came out first.
Char grilled corn on the cob and braised nettle, chive and aged cheddar
The char grilled corn on the cob is sweet and juicy cut straight from the cob with a cleaver and has rough halves of chestnuts in it as well as a whole corn cob but most people leave the whole cob behind perhaps not wanting to appear greedy as you can’t really share a corn cob with a stranger (well you can, but you know what I mean 
). The braised nettles with green lentils and chives and a creamy dressing are quite gritty although I quite like the flavour but the grittiness lets it down.
Apple and almond cake with cinnamon custard
It’s 9pm and dessert time. The Swede sitting next to me did say that this cake was certainly something that would be served up in Sweden. You can smell the buttery cake as it is brought to the table and even though I reached satiety several courses back I have to have a second helping It’s a moist buttery almond cake topped with apple slices and then drenched in a smooth, silky cinnamon custard. And yes I asked Bec for the recipe which she promised to share. It is about 9:30pm when the food has all come out and been eaten people eagerly scraping of the last bits of the luscious apple cake.
So tell me Dear Reader, do you like or hold country themed dinners? And have you been to any Crave events so far this year and if so, what have you enjoyed?
NQN and Mr NQN dined as guests of Destination NSW and Studio Neon
Viking Feast
Level 2, 136 Raglan Street, Waterloo, NSW
Tel: 0404 555 098
http://www.studioneon.com.au/restaurant-bookings/
Tickets to the Viking Feast are $140 per person, the next Viking Feast will be on the 13th and 14th October, 2011
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now? 
NQN on Facebook
RSS
46 Comments | Add your own
This looks like it would have been a lot of fun. I love a good theme
No Crave events for me as yet, despite circling about 20 events from the programme initially.
You do get to some lovely events Lorraine. Yes, JT and I often theme our dinner parties; we recently had a Moroccan dinner party. And when I do tapas, I usually serve a theme per course, consisting of 3-4 small dishes each course!
Much of this food is quite exotic to me. I’ve never eaten nettles, for example, though I have consumed my share of venison! I must say that the long table in the photo is just fabulous. I love the idea of a Crave dinner!
Cheers to a wonderful feast! I haven’t been to or held a country themed dinner.
When I was younger and travelled a lot, I often did country themed dinner parties, using crockery, dinnerware etc bought home from those countries. Nowadays the kids and I will do country-themed nights, but a bit simpler – Mexican, French, Asian etc.
What great hearty food!
I tend to have themed weeks more then just one dinner. I’ll go italian food for a week, then japanese or spanish.
I’ve never held one before and never dined at one before so I can’t really say much.
This post is enlightening by the way.
I do try if I am cooking food from a specific Country to have all the dishes from that Country.
What, no reindeer?
The meal looks lovely, I suppose I expected a smorgasbord of rye breads and pickled fish, but this looks delicious.
I love themed meals, food and props included of course!
Look at that shank! What a feast! Love the look of a lot of those vegies, but you’re right – the Viking-ness seems a little light on…
Ha! Ha! Ha! Good Monday morning, Lorraine! Methinks you know what is coming from this Viking daughter
? No, Finns and Estonians are not strictly speaking Vikings [the Swedes and Danes would strongly object 
!, but we KNOW we also belong!! And we still eat 'Viking stuff' all the time and I meet up with it every day here in the Village 
! Beautiful food you are showing us, but Scandinavian/Viking: ships nodding to each other in the night! Corn, leg of lamb, snowpeas etc . . . ?! No, no! Am so out of touch, don't know where a decent smorgasbord can be had in Sydney - the best ones I have enjoyed were at the Opera Cellar in Stockholm [26 different herring dishes to begin!] and near Hamlet’s Castle, Elsinore, in Denmark!! Yes, I oft have ‘country-themed’ dinners: these days Thai, and provincial Chinese and Indian from various parts of the respective countries. But could still put on a ‘mean’ Viking dinner . . . 
!
I’ve never held a country-themed dinner party but I do have it on my list of things I want to do. My list isn’t quite as adventurous though so far I only have Italian, Indian and Mexican.
That looks great. What a feast. I think the venison shank is the dish that looked most Viking to me.
Oh…and I do themed events all the time. Last one I did was a ‘G’day USA’ farewell party for my son who was leaving for NYC and I’m thinking my next one will be a Titanic dinner party with me cooking dishes that were served on the ship, James Horner music from the movie playing in the background, come as Jack and Rose if you dare!
–Lorraine,
We have LOTS of Scandivavians living in MN!!
—The Leg of Lamb looks utterly delish & so does the apple and almond cake. Mmmm. I have a question for you: How do you stay nice and thin when you are surrounded by all of this gorgeous food?
Ps. What series are you watchin at the moment? xx
the beetroot and lamb looks amazing… gosh im hungry!
HI Kim-I’m currently watching Dexter and loving his return. How about you? xxx
This event caught my attention when I was looking through the guide, but as you know you can’t go to everything, as much as you would like to. Thanks for sharing as I was wondering what it was going to be like.
I love sardines but have never tried cured sardines. Sounds yum!
Now that certainly is something a little different. I had no idea what to expect after the introduction.
@ Hotly Spiced: you won’t forget to send me an invitation, will you? Methinks you and I think along the same lines! Love the ‘Titanic’ idea!!
I love places like that with great communal tables. You meet such interesting people over food! I like the idea of it.. like you, I think the real Viking food would have been pretty bleak… better to dream of what it should be like and let imagination work its magic. I’m loving the beet carpaccio and prunes with spring onions is a super idea!~~
WHO can go wrong with lamb?
I wonder is Vikings did ham?
Love country theme parties and other themes galore!
Isn’t THAT what a “food fun” life is for?
WHOO HOO!
*shakes head, disappointed to the core*
Lorraine. Oh, Lorraine. How could you? How could you write this post without referencing our beloved Eric? It’s enough to make a girl forget how good the salmon dish looks.
Everytime I think of Vikings I think of that Kirk Douglas movie that was made back in the 50′s. They were a wild bunch, unlike your husband’s family. Oh, Lorraine, when you talk about them, I get such a laugh.
I’m going to this event this coming Friday with a bunch of friends. We’ll have to see…
Love the sound of the leek with prunes, yummy!
My friend is a Viking from times past. He is Swedish and proudly so. He even has the build! Tasty looking food.
tasty and hearty! Just vot I thought Vikings would eat. thank you for sharing this meal with us.
We have done a Japanese themed dinner and just recently did a Chinese Banquet (I just published my blog post on that one).
Next up we plan to do a Mexican night.
This looks like such fun! I love hosting themed dinner parties – it’s such a fun way to come up with a menu for the night.
That cake does look amazing and a cinnamon custard would be to die for!!!! It’s my absolute favourite spice. Please do share when you get the recipe.
Oh how romantic! I love the set up with the candles and all! How lovely
And what a hearty looking meal! When I was in Stockholm with my mum in 2008, we stayed with friends who took us to eat reindeer!
Great post Lorraine , not really a fan of ‘heavy’ meals but that cake sure looks and sounds delicious.
When I have the time and inclination, I love to theme my dinner parties , cooking all of the food, dressing myself and the table accordingly. It’s a lot of effort but really worth it in the end. I particularly get excited after coming back from visiting another country and feel inspired to duplicate the food along with it’s culture .
As for the Crave festival so far I’ve been to BBQ madness at the Pyrmont markets, Mushroom Tunnel tour in Mittagong, Masterchef Live, High Tea at the Shangri-La and would love to go to Night Noodle markets but hubby doesn’t like it, it gets very crowded and the queues are long, ie: he has to wait too long for his food! Lol.
Wow COOL! Never read abt anything like this before haha… Not only does the food look good, LOVE the viking portions! Heee… The dishes look very tasty and filling, my fav kinds of food to eat. Nice one!
I swear you always get to go to the most interesting places and dine at the most quaint.. not that this is quaint but you know what i mean
Hi Brydie-me too! I’m crazy for a theme I must admit
Oh I know what you mean!
Hi Eva-Thanks, yes there are lot of fun events around nowadays
Yes I’ve seen your dinner parties-they’re very impressive! 
Hi Victoria-We don’t get them that often to be honest! Isn’t it a lovely table setting?
Hi Cakelaw-I’m surprised! You cook so much delicious stuff from all over!
Hi Bronnie-Oh how did I know that! You creative thing you!
Hi Apple-Oh that’s a great idea!
Hi Michelle-Oh right fair enough
Hi jenny-I’m like that too! I love themes
Hi Rebecca-haha no reindeer!
Yes I think I expected that too although I wasn’t quite sure! 
Yes props are important!
Hi Tina-I know, it’s massive isn’t it!
Hi EHA-Good morning Eha!
I know, but many assume that Finns and Estonians are Scandis! 
Oh that sounds like an amazing Smorgasbord! 
And 26 kinds of herring too? :O I bet an invite to your dinner would be a sought after invitation!
Hi Claire-I bet you’d throw an amazing one!
That’s a great list!
Hi Charli-Yes it looks very rustic and Viking doesn’t it! And it’s like reindeer! Oh yes your Titanic dinner party sounds amazing. I would love to throw one!
Hi Kim-Oh cool! Yes I’ve heard that!
Haha it’s hard trust me! 
xxx
Hi Dolly-I loved that beetroot! I might make it like that next time!
Hi sara-I know, so many events so little time and I just froze in the headlights at the end
You’re very welcome!
Hi Jen-they are seriously good!
Hi Julie-Haha I had no idea what to expect too!
Hi EHA-I’m with you!
Hi deana-You’re so right!
Yes I think that’s what they found 
isn’t it a nice combo! 
Hi Joanne-haha I love your rhymes, they’re very cute!
Hi Hannah-haha well I did mention him to the Swedish guy next to me and he poo poohed him! What the?
Hi angela-Haha yes they’re not the pillaging Vikings are they?
Aww thankyou! 
Hi JoE-oh cool, well now you know what they’ll serve!
Hi Lizzy-that was really good!
Hi Aurelia-Oh cool! I wonder if he would have approved of this meal!?
Hi T.C.-you’re very welcome indeed!
Hi Em-Your Chinese themed dinner was great! So much delicious food!
Hi thelittleloaf-I know what you mean! It definitely gives you something new to work with!
Hi Jadey-She has kindly sent me the recipe so I can’t wait to make it!
Hi Ashley-It’s lovely isn’t it!
What did you think of it? We had some in Finland and it was delicious!
Hi Matilda-That cake was amazing!
I can’t wait to make it! I bet your dinner parties are amazing Matilda and yes I know what you mean about being inspired and wanting to recreate the experience 
Oh I was going to go to BBQ madness and Masterchef Live but things have been so hectic! But it sounds like you’ve been having fun!
Hi Winston-yes it’s an unusual event isn’t it! quite different!
Hi msihua-hehe thanks! I like slightly left of centre places to eat
We used to hold themed dinner parties and they were so much fun. Hopefully in the future we will have more. This meal looked interesting.
What an interesting event! I’ve been so busy making jellies and other creations for the Royal Selangor mould challenge, I haven’t even looked at the list of Crave events this year! *sadface*
This makes me want to wear a helmet with horns and yell a lot.
Oh wow – I love the idea of themed meals but I wouldn’t want to do the planning!
Looks fabulous and I love the communal table with the setting.
Lorraine: Thank you, thank you, thank you for asking for the recipe!
It sounds like you had a lovely evening, and that you mostly enjoyed the food.
Hi Charlie-Bec was kind enough to send the recipe and it sounds great. I’ll make it as soon as I get a chance I promise!
That cake looks delicious. Look forward to the recipe for it!
One Trackback/Pingback
[...] dinner is one of Studio Neon’s themed dinner for Crave (the previous one we attended was A Viking Feast) but this time they’ve really brought the theme to the fore which I am ecstatic about. At [...]
Post a Comment