Local food specialities in Østfold

Have you heard of the concept of a “Blåtur”? I know it from my time in Bergen, where many company outings where trips where the destination was unknown. The Norwegian expression is “Out in the blue” hence the shortened “Blue-trip”. I really like the excitement of not knowing where we are going and what we are doing.

We gave away one of these local “Blåtur” experiences to a couple who, like us, love food and drink. They had no idea where we were headed but were in good spirits when we picked them up on a Saturday morning, embarking on a trip to discover some local specialities not too far from home in Oslo. They got a little “goodie-bag” in the car to wake them up.

First stop – Cheese

We drove from Oslo, and after about 45 minutes, we arrived in Rygge. Right at the train station, in a beautiful brick factory building, we found the Dairy named Rygge Meieri. There used to be a dairy here before, between 1879 and 1947. The current owner and cheesemaker, Sølvi Gammelsrød, started a modern dairy adventure in 2020.

I had arranged a tour, and Sølvi welcomed us warmly, making sure we were properly attired to enter the sacred cheese-making area.

First, we learned a bit about the history, especially how Sølvi uses milk from her own cows at Bjølsund Farm. They practice organic farming, and the fresh milk is sent directly to the dairy, where it’s turned into the most delicious cheeses.

We saw how the milk is curdled, cut, and poured into molds before being aged in different rooms. How the cheese is cut affects its firmness. Some cheeses are washed with beer from Ekeby Brewery, while others are infused with various flavors.

Wide selection

Rygge Meieri offers many different cheeses, from cream cheeses and white mold cheeses to mozzarella and firmer types. They also produce yogurt. One of the most popular cheeses is Bjølsund Brie, which has won prestigious awards like Super Gold in the Norwegian Championships and Bronze in the World Championships. We got to see the “washing” of the cheeses and enjoy the delightful aromas in the aging rooms.

After the tour, we were treated to generous tastings of all the cheeses. There was so much goodness that, in addition to leaving happy and full, we bought even more cheese to take home. Besides cheese, the cozy shop sells various food items like jams, spices, sauces, and fresh baked goods. This place is a gem in Østfold and absolutely worth the trip if you need a little getaway.

Second stop – Beer

Our journey continued to Ekeby Brewery. This is a small but growing craft brewery located in the barn at Ekeby Farm, about 10 minutes from Rygge and about an hour from Oslo.

A few passionate souls have started brewing craft beer here. They draw inspiration from British, Belgian, and American brewing traditions. The brewery is constantly expanding with more and larger brewing kettles, and the selection grows and changes as production develops.

They don’t have a serving license, so tastings are unfortunately not allowed, but we got to taste the malt they were brewing when we were there. Beer enthusiasts can probably recognize the taste in the beer we bought to take with us.

The brewery shop is open from Wednesday to Saturday, but check their Facebook page to make sure they’re open before you visit. At Ekeby, you’ll also find a round goat tower with several goats.

On the second floor above the brewery, there’s a lovely event space that can be rented for larger and smaller gatherings. Of course, beer serving is allowed if you rent the space for a party.

We bought samples of everything, including soda and Radler, to take with us.

Third stop – Garden inspiration

The next stop was the fantastic hotel and park at Ramme, which I’ve written about before. We enjoyed a cozy lunch and browsed the amazing gift shop. It’s a mecca for garden and interior enthusiasts who love the English garden style. You can also find fresh vegetables grown on the farm and other food and drinks to take home.

The final stop on our journey wasn’t food-related but more about gardening. We stopped at Krukkegården in Ås. There, you’ll find every garden pot you can dream of in all shapes, colors, and sizes. You’ll also find other garden “interior” items like chairs, tables, and fountains. Inside the barn, there’s more interior decor and garden tools, as well as summer flowers in season. It’s dangerous to browse around here if you love gardening! Everything is aesthetically pleasing and delicate, with plenty to feast your eyes on.

Everyone agreed that this had been a great tour of our local area. You don’t need to go to France for good cheese, Belgium for good beer, or England for fine garden items.

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