Sunday, Solastranden, and Suksesskake

When I heard about a Sunday buffet at a local hotel I was curious. I had heard both local Norwegians and expats raving about this place and I wondered if it would live up to the hype. So I decided Arthur and I would need to check it out. We started our morning at a local church and then headed out to the Sola Strand Hotel after the service.

I'm no history buff, but I thought it was interesting that the hotel, which was was built in 1914, was used as living quarters by the Norwegian Air Force and was briefly taken over by German soldiers during WWI! But enough history...we were there to EAT!

The buffet did NOT disappoint. I wish I had taken more pictures but I couldn't fill my plate fast enough! There was a huge selection including an amazing salad bar (a rare find here!), fresh and smoked salmon, deviled eggs, slices of Norwegian cheese, jams, and a large bread basket with a variety of breads. The hot dishes included more fish, meatballs, roast, lamb, mashed and boiled potato, steamed veggies, and (of course) pølse (basically a hot dog.)

However, what caught my eye as soon as we walked in was the dessert table. I typically steer clear of deserts...not because I don't like sweets but because I lose all self-control around them!!! Sugar is something we cut out of our diet and with good reason. But when faced with a dessert spread such as this one there is no room for reason.

There was fresh fruits and a cheese tray, chocolate mouse, caramel, vanilla, and chocolate flan (although I'm sure it's not called flan here), adorable pink and purple macaroons, and lots of cakes. Heaven!

Full disclosure here...I had one small plate of salad, smoked salmon, and steamed veggies and 3 (mmmmmmaybe 4) plates of dessert. I told you! No self-control!

Our favorite cake was called a suksesskake (success cake.) It is made mostly of ground almonds which gives it a dense, chewy, and slightly crunchy texture. It is topped with a not-too-sweet thick yellow frosting and sprinkled with more sliced almonds. It's more of a dessert bar than a cake and delicious just doesn't cover it!

As we ate our dessert(s), we had a lovely chat with a couple sitting at the table next to us. When you hear someone speaking English with an southern accent it tends to peak your interest. Turns out they were from Louisiana and had just moved to Stavanger a few months before us. The husband actually works at the same company as Arthur and they exchanged contact info and made plans for golf sometime this summer. They recognized us from church, and although we didn't even realize it, had sat right behind us during the service.

After lunch, we rolled walked out to the beach...just a few steps from the buffet. It was only slightly breezy, sunny, and warm so we sat for a while people watching. Apparently, Solastranden is just one of many white sand beaches characteristic of this region of Norway. But this ain't no Gulf of Mexico beach folks...those frigid waves are coming straight from the North Sea!

And the obligatory bump picture...

All in all...a perfect Sunday in Norway!