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The restaurant is not big either, and it has was for sale, and next to it, there was a house < Grand-dad
In the embassy, there were several young
trainees, and one of them had training in
journalism and photography. She took all the
photographs published in the book. She also
helped us put the book together, and we got
it printed in Turkey. It was lots of fun, and
it is now in its third edition. It became quite
< Big tables When you are based outside your country, popular in the north of Norway. It is also
and a cozy you get to meet a lot of people. As a military being sold at the Nordkapp plateau and in the
atmosphere, the officer, we can retire at the age of 57. Espen Nordkapp museum.
restaurant seen was offered the post of Military Attaché to the
from the inside. Norwegian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. I then Is the book available, for instance, on
asked for leave without pay, and ended up as Amazon?
> Home-baked a spokesperson and diplomat together with Unfortunately, no, we haven’t reached that
Cinnamon rolls him from 2014 to 2018. At that time, Espen level yet. We are selling it in our restaurant
according to had served 37 years in the Air Force. Since we though. We do have a lot of visitors, and then
the traditional had from time to time been separated owing of course I dedicate the book.
receipt. to our professions, we decided to stay together
before retiring. Now you must tell us about the restaurant,
Daniel’s Hus!
How did you get the idea for the book? When Granddad Daniel came back to Finnmark
While we were in Ankara, life was a lot less after the war, this was the first house to be
hectic, and I had more spare time. There were built in the village. [Editor’s note: the whole of
several women who had also followed their Finnmark was burned down by the Germans
husbands, and we did voluntary work to help when they were chased out of there by the
women and children. In order to gather funding, Russian Red Army]. I think there were over 20
we decided to do an international recipe book people living in this small house of 30 square
that we sold. While working on this one, I meters. Afterwards, he built the main house,
realized that I also wanted to do something for in which we live when we are there. For years
the small village where I was born and raised, and years, we had talked about refurbishing the
Skaarvaag in the county of Finnmark. small barn. We bought the main house from
Granddad Daniel when he was still alive, and
I decided to do a recipe book from old recipes he was thrilled that we wanted to take over the
gathered from the elderly women in Skaarvaag place. When we were starting on the renovation
that were still alive. I sent a letter to each one of the barn, it turned out that it was in such bad
of them asking whether they would be willing condition that we had to pull it down. So we
to share with me one of their recipes. There ended up building a brand new building. It is
were 12 or 14 of them, and they all responded not overly big, only about 50 square meters on
positively. That launched me. the ground, with 2 stories.
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two long tables seating 10 persons each. The with 8 rooms. He bought it all and contacted Daniel
kitchen opens into the dining area, so that us wondering if we would like to manage it.
everybody can watch us while we prepare the > Lill-Karin,
food. People often tell us that it’s like being in We turned his offer down because we were Hedda, their
our home. more than busy with our own building project niece and Espen
and setting up the restaurant, but he kept in the kitchen
We bake fresh bread and have simple, insisting, emphatically. Then, we suggested that
traditional food from the time when we were the house should become four Airbnb chalets,
growing up. We serve fresh fish, reindeer and he agreed. We got them redecorated,
meat, with local food such as berries picked and today there are 4 Airbnb chalets, each of
in the region, mushrooms from the region etc. which can host 4 persons. It is brand new, and
We use only local products, all from nature. it definitely looks very nice. We think it’s the
nicest Airbnb in the whole region because it’s
Who does the cooking? all brand new, with all modern equipment.
We both do everything. We try to encourage
nieces and nephews to come and give us a You can check it all out on our website www.
hand, but in general we do at least 80 percent danielshus.no or on Facebook.
of the work.
The Sannas are soon heading north again.
About 70 % of our guests are tourists, visiting The preparations for the fishing season and
Nordkapp. Some 350,000 tourists visit Nordkap the tourist season will start. Espen will be
every year, so, we do benefit a little from that. doing traditional fish hanging, they have 5
We get guests from Italy, France, Germany, reender who are waiting for them and, as if
and they do fit in very well with the locals. Of this were not enough, Espen has a new project
course, we tell them about Granddad Daniel – to make local beer. Leaving them to their
and the area and recount some local history. occupations, I wish only that there are more of
their kind – positive and never afraid of a new Cover of the
How can one get to visit you? It seems too challenge. All we can do is to wish them lots Receipt book
complicated! of success in all their
It is not at all difficult to find us. There are endeavours. And if
several options. You can either come by plane ever you are planning
from Oslo to Alta, or Oslo to Tromso, or a trip to Norway, do
Honningsvag which is only 20 minutes away pay them a visit. I’m
from us. There are about three flights a day sure that you will be
between Oslo and Honnigsvag, so, we are well received and that
much more easily accessible than you think. it will be one of the
There are three different ways of arriving, by high points – if not
car, by bus or by plane. It is not at all as difficult the high point – of
as you seem to believe. your trip.
What about accommodation? Did you set up
an Airbnb?
Well, the owner of the fishing factory needed
some accommodation for the persons that
come and work for him during the fishing
season. It turned out that the Summerhotel
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