Carlsberg Don’t Make

In this month’s Chip Shop Abroad we feature a shop that I have seen on at least three occasions myself in Alesund, Norway. They claim to provide “Probably the Best Fish & Chips in the World.”

By Austen Dack

It started with a dream for the sisters Birgitte and Monica. A dream of starting their own business from which they could sell fish & chips. And the dream developed into what is known as the Brokiosken at Hellebroa, Alesund.

Birgitte Kløvning and her sister Monica took over the operation of Brokiosken in 1999, after starting their career with a “fishan cart” they started with in 1996. “fishan” is still an important part of the menu.

It so happened that in 1996 there was no one left in the city who sold fish & chips, or “fishan” in the city. That’s why we got a wagon and started what was to become something we did on Saturdays, because we both went to school. But it developed into much more than just a Saturday job, says Birgitte, who together with her sister Monica owns the company.

“The new dream is a boat, at least the shape of a boat. And with a lookout point at the top and a fast-food menu that oozes

Ålesund. Here are the plans. It’s a simple sketch we’ve had drawn up, but yes, my wish is a place with better space, shaped like a boat where people can walk on the roof and get a great view of the strait, she says, leafing through the folder. As I said, these are sketches, and yes, I am very aware that such a change would create a fierce debate in Ålesund.”

But you want more space?

“Yes, because I want to serve more local seafood, a bit more typically Ålesund, so to speak. It will still be a fast-food restaurant, but we will be in the top tier. First class. But we’ll see. It is allowed to dream and have plans”, says Birgitte and pats the folder again.

What would you say is your place in the centre?

“Well, what can one say. Can I first mention that it is stupid not to have parking nearby, and that it can be very windy here. But it’s