Viking Plank

Posted on by Stephen Edwards

Roskilde, Denmark

What did Vikings eat? It seems odd to ask that question, but the Vikings were much more well-traveled than other civilizations of 1000 years ago. We know the Vikings were probably the first Europeans to reach the Americas, arriving hundreds of years before the Spanish and Portuguese. We also know that the Vikings went pretty far east, as they had trade routes deep into present-day Russia and Turkey. The good thing is, the Café Knarr at the Viking Ship Museum gives you the opportunity to experience those tastes yourself.

This fascinating chart shows when foods became available to the Vikings and to modern-day Danes. The Vikings would not have had access to anything that did not arrive in modern-day Denmark after the Viking age, so no pepper, coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, tomatoes, potatoes, or chocolate, among many other tastes. All of our cuisine is truly ‘fusion cuisine,’ and it is fascinating to see the impact of trade on the flavors loved in a country.

For 199 Danish Krone, I was able to order the Vikingeplanke or Viking Plank. The Viking Plank included familiar Viking flavors with a modern twist. My menu included smoked halibut, Nordic hummus (made with green peas), braised pork, ham, cabbage salad, Nordic cheese, berry compote, homemade bread, and butter. No ingredients came from the New World, Africa, or Eastern Asia.

Here is a picture of my order from the menu, so I can remember what I ordered without guessing from the photograph. For example, the green stuff is not guacamole, since avocados are from Mexico. (How many of you just sang the jingle?)

The meal was great, and I enjoyed it thoroughly with a glass of mead, as honey wine was a favorite of the Vikings. The meal is also very memorable, as I felt a deeper connection to the tastes of long ago.

The Viking Plank was one of the most memorable meals I have eaten on my travels, as it sets the mood not only for what is tasty but also for what could have been period-accurate for the displayed time period. Tastes are an approved I Never Take Them Anywhere way to experience history!

Splurge when you are traveling to eat a memorable meal. I could have just gotten a sandwich and some chips. How many times in your life can you say, “I ate a meal fit for a Viking?” Take advantage of all of your senses when you are traveling and for this stop, I was glad that I could indulge in my tastes.

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