Atlantica No. 4, 2010, July-August - Iceland Review

On the FlySculptures by Richard Serra grace the island of Videy.Photo By Páll Stefánssondowntown Reykjavík, has recently taken over management of the café anddining hall on Videy, and he hopes to recreate the legendary reception givento the so-called Dog Days King in 1809. “The house on Videy is the oldest onein Iceland and I am not about to throw out the old and bring in the new,”says Eiríksson. “In addition to recreating the meal, I want to have the staffdressed in traditional costumes in order to give guests a visual clue aboutthe period.”The Jorgensen feast is only one idea among many that Eiríksson has linedup for the dining hall on Videy (Videyjarstofa). Having once worked his wayup to head chef at the Michelin starred Domaine de Clairfontaine in Lyon,Eiríksson is a disciple of the French school of cooking. Thus, in early June, theVideyjarstofa offered a five course, French-inspired dinner accompanied bya special selection of wines imported from Château Cantenac Brown in theBordeaux region.Despite his respect for traditional methods and old-fashioned things,Eiríksson is not afraid of experimenting with new ideas. Shortly after the firstvolcanic eruption in March, he was on the scene, cooking lobster soup andfrying up monkfish in pots and pans placed directly on the lava. AlthoughVidey has not been volcanically active for some two million years, the islandpossesses a rich and varied history and abounds in plant and bird life.Before the famous Skúli Magnússon built the Videy residence in 1755, theisland first housed an Augustinian monastery (1225-1550) and then a lepercolony. More recently, in 2007, it became the site of Yoko Ono’s ImaginePeace Tower.Correspondingly, Eiríksson enthuses about the possibility of cateringto the flower power generation through a special tribute dinner. Askedwhether he might not also pay tribute to Skúli Magnússon, Fridgeir repliesexcitedly, “Yes, definitely! There’s no doubt Skúli had some favorite dishesand famous receptions, and I plan to look into that. In fact, the bread rollsnow offered at the Videy café are baked with the same cumin that Skúliintroduced to the island in the 18th century.”Indeed, the special Videy cumin attracts numerous visitors who arefree to gather seeds in August. Of the 156 species of vascular plants thatgrow on Videy, rhubarb is among the edible kind that Eiríksson intends toharvest, in addition to the sour weed (Rumex acetosella, a type of sorrel)that appeared on the menu for the Jorgensen feast. Although gatheringeggs from the nesting Arctic Terns may prove a little trickier legislatively,Eiríksson remains positive and yet flexible, appearing rather more forwardlookingthan old-fashioned. videyjarstofa.is a12 atlantica