A FAMILY TRADITION

A family

TRADITION

When Viking Executive Vice President Karine Hagen found her grandmother’s dishware, an unlikely coincidence led to a timely reinvention

Located in the Explorers’ Lounge on each of our ocean ships, Mamsen’s is a very special dining venue named in honour of my grandmother and best friend, Ragnhild Hagen. “Mamsen” is the Norwegian word for “Mum,” and many of the dishes served are based on recipes from her cookbooks, so they are very reminiscent of my own childhood.

It was her embrace of life’s basics and her loving nature that made her such a beacon and safe harbour for me growing up. Sincere and honest, Mamsen was hardworking and liked to keep things simple. In the kitchen, as in all things, she was also a perfectionist. Her character embodied the same qualities that we strive to bring to Viking ships, and to Mamsen’s itself.

“Man tager det man haver,” was one of her favourite sayings, meaning “you use what you have.” And that is precisely what we have done, creating a menu that reflects simple Norwegian traditions. Mamsen’s own kitchen celebrated nutritious, home-cooked food using ingredients she had on hand, from winter’s hearty soups and stews to summer’s lighter fare of cured meats and fish, and open sandwiches. And all year round, the most special of treats were her heart-shaped waffles, which are now always available when Mamsen’s is open on board.

After Mamsen passed away, I was packing up her apartment and came across her old tableware. When I turned one of the plates over, I found it was stamped with the logo “Tor Viking.” The coincidence was impossible to ignore, so we got in touch with the original producer — Figgjo, a Norwegian company — to see if we could replicate the pattern to use on our dishes in Mamsen’s.

The company still uses traditional craftsmanship and was delighted to reproduce the pattern for us, but we decided to modernize the discontinued pattern to make it a little whiter, and the colours a little brighter. We are delighted to have been able to add such a meaningful touch to Mamsen’s, and this tableware is yet another reminder of a very special and treasured lady.

The only dining rule at Mamsen’s is to finish the food on your plate. Wasting food was sinful to my grandmother (and much of her generation), so help yourself to as much as you like — just be sure to clean your plate!

It is in that spirit that we say, “Velkommen til bords!” or “Welcome to the table!”… so if you travel on board any of our ocean ships, I hope you enjoy the food, atmosphere and, of course, the tableware in Mamsen’s — a little taste of Norway in memory of my beloved grandmother.

Clockwise, from

top left: A treasured photo of Mamsen; Mamsen’s daughter Marit Hagen wearing the bunad (traditional Norwegian dress) as a young woman; a childhood photo; Karine’s grandfather; Mamsen’s on board Viking ocean ships

MAMSEN’S WAFFLES

The legendary waffles we serve at Mamsen’s are based on my grandmother’s recipe. Serve with jam or Norwegian brown goat cheese, which has a caramel flavor, or both, and enjoy a taste of authentic Norway.

SERVES 4–6

250g all purpose flour 2 tbsp sugar 2 eggs 300ml milk 90g butter Pinch ground cardamom ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 In a bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, eggs and milk to make a smooth batter. 2 In a small saucepan, gently melt the butter, then whisk into the batter along with the ground cardamom and vanilla. 3 Cook with a Norwegian waffle iron or lightly oil a grill pan, heat to medium and cook 4-5 tablespoons of the mixture for each waffle. 4 Cook the waffles until bubbles start to form on the surface, then flip over and cook until both sides are golden brown. Serve with jam, cheese or berries.