Amid the fjords and glacier at Lofoten, a string of islands stretching from the northwestern Norway into the Atlantic, adventurous Tina Nordström hikes a glacier and prepares a chilly apple sorbet and drink. Later she visits a longbow house and Viking museum where she cooks without the benefit of modern-day appliances. Recipes: Storm Soup - Potato and Onion Soup with Horseradish and Ham Breadsticks; Fire-Cooked Salmon on Birch Wood with Caper and Grape Salad; Baked Apples with Cardamom and Vodka Sorbet; Apple Sorbet on Black Ice.
Host Sara La Fountain hikes among the lakes, pine trees and hilltops in the heavily forested region of Karelia, near Finland's border with Russia. She makes porridge over an open fire and learns how to make the perfect stock. Recipes: Lingonberry Porridge; Wild Berry Kiesel; Granola; Flame-Broiled Lake Salmon and Wild Mushroom Salad; Kalevala Stew.
In his hometown of Oslo, the capital of Norway and home of the Nobel Peace Prize, host Andreas Viestad prepares a homegrown, yet exotic, modern Norwegian meal. Recipes: Medieval Saffron and Cinnamon Chicken with Barley; Spicy Sponge Cake Roll with Berries; Tandoori-flavored Cod with Potato and Ginger Croquettes and Baked Tomatoes.
Host Claus Meyer visits Hvide Sande on the windy coast of Jutland, in western Denmark, where fisheries and lighthouses dot the coastline. There, Meyer makes blinis (buckwheat pancakes) garnished with fresh roe and sour cream and later, barbecues spare ribs right on the wind-swept beach. Recipes: Lumpsucker Roe, Herbs and Skyr on Potato Blinis with Browned Butter; Split Yellow Pea Purée with Rutabaga, Crisp Rutabaga Crudités with Ramsons and Grilled Spareribs with Apple Mustard.
In Helsinki, the capital of Finland, host Sara La Fountain makes a traditional Finnish dish on a rooftop, visits an island fortress and then makes a "pink" picnic with shrimp sandwiches and strawberry rhubarb sorbet. Recipes: Vorschmack (various meats combined with pickled fish); Marinated Beets; Shrimp Sandwiches; Rhubarb-Strawberry Granita.
Åland, Finland's autonomous island in the Baltic Sea, offers an exciting backdrop for host Tina Nordström as she prepares delicious food on the deck of an historic ship, tries beach volleyball and introduces new host Sara La Fountain. Recipes: Wasabi-Marinated Melon with Norwegian Lobster Tempura; Dill Summer Vegetables with Browned Butter; Fresh Tomato, Perch and Chorizon Summer Soup.
New host Sara La Fountain visits a local fisherman in Åland, Finland's autonomous island in the Baltic Sea, before she prepares whitefish on board a large sailing ship. La Fountain also scuba dives among the shipwrecks in the area. Recipes: Pan-fried White Fish with Summer Potato Salad; Åland Rack of Lamb with Dill Pesto and Tasty Couscous.
Host Andreas Viestad follows the footsteps of his ancestors by sailing between the capitals of Copenhagen, Denmark and Oslo, Norway. Aboard an old sailing ship, he makes Brazilian-style bohlinos and boccalinio from dried Norwegian stockfish fish, unveils the true story of the aquavit, crafts a cask-aged drink and presents a dinner banquet to the ship's hungry crew. Recipes: Bohlinios de Bachalau; Spicy Poultry Fricassee; Aquavit Tapas; Double Fennel; Steamed Cabbage with Lamb Confit; Baked Parsley Root with Cumin and Salmon Roe; Vanilla-scented Turbot; Dill and Fennel Lamb Chops.
Host Claus Meyer visits the white-cliffed island of Møn, in the south of Denmark, on a crisp and clear winter day. There, he makes vitamin-packed juice and cooks codfish on the beach. Recipes: Raw Winter Vegetable Juice; Roast Leg of Goat with Blue Cheese, Herb Salad, Hazelnuts and Green Kale Dressing; Steamed Cod Fillet with Fried Cod Roe, Winter Leeks and Apples.
Starting in the Öresund region, at the southern tip of Sweden, host Tina Nordström bikes to the Danish capital of Copenhagen, a city known for its open-faced sandwiches and smoked fish. Recipes: Shrimp Sandwiches; Summer Salad with Cumin and Mint; Pizza with Blue Castello Cheese; Smoked Monkfish with Mashed Potato, Egg and Anchovies.
Andreas Viestad visits Stavanger, the culinary and cultural capital of Norway. Against this exciting backdrop, Andreas cooks delicious fish courses and a spectacular dessert prepared with fire. Recipes: Four Seasons Shrimp Salad; Shrimp Soup; Leg of Lamb with Sardine Sauce; Chili and Vinegar Herring with Potato Salad; Salmon Poached in Olive Oil with Pear and Leek Jam; Plum and Marshmallow Pie.
Sara La Fountain begins her journey in Finland's apple county, on the islands of Åland, and ends up in France. In the Cognac region, she samples the local specialty and then prepares seafood along a riverbank. Recipes: Ålvados Apple Tart; Cognac Sour; Mussels à la Sara.
In Jøsenfjorden, on the southwestern shore of Norway, host Tina Nordström visits a fish farm, prepares a delicacy - the white halibut - and pampers herself at a local spa. Recipes: Stewed Lambe in Dill Sauce; Lemon-Marinated Halibut with Asparagus and Serrano Hame; Rhubarb with White Chocolate Mousse.