ICELANDIC TIMES - Land og saga

The Lobster HouseMade From the Finest Materials AvailableThe “Icelandic Lobster” is adelicacy you simply must tryduring your stay in Iceland andfew are more experienced inpreparing delicious lobster dishesthan The Lobster House, situatedin the heart of Reykjavík.However, what most Icelanders calllobster is probably not what you thinkit is. The crustacean on offer in TheLobster House is actually a muchsmaller species called langoustinewhich is commonly found in thenorth-eastern Atlantic Ocean andNorth Sea. The langoustine is usuallyaround 17 cm (6.7 inches) in lengthand weighs up to 400g, whereas thecommon lobster usually ranges from8-16 inches. The history of commerciallangoustine fishing in Iceland onlydates back around fifty years, butsince its introduction to the Icelandiccuisine it has been considered one ofthe top gourmet materials available.The langoustine‘s smaller sizehowever does not mean less taste– on the contrary the chefs at TheLobster House claim that it outshinesthe common lobster in most aspects.“Even though it is smaller than thelobster most people are used to, I havefound that the giant lobster doesn’tcome anywhere near the langoustinewhen it comes to taste and texture. Thelangoustine is considerably softer andthe taste is much more concentrated.It is one of the bests possible materialsa chef can work with, making myjob that much easier,” says one of theLobster House’s expert chefs, OttóMagnússon.But appearances can be deceiving andOttó says that it is not uncommon tosee a look of surprise on the faces ofcustomers when they receive a plateof these relatively small crustaceans,thinking a mistake has been made.„They are often sceptical at first, butafter the first bite their doubts areremoved instantly,“ says Ottó.The most popular dish in The LobsterHouse is the grilled lobster with garlic,a dish most Icelanders savour onsunny summer evenings. But as thename implies the chefs at The LobsterHouse are experts in coming up withinnovative ideas on preparing thisdelicacy.The Lobster House is located inone of Reykjavík´s oldest houseson Amtmansstígur 1, which wasoriginally built in 1838. If you arewalking north, away from the pondtowards the sea on the right side ofLækjargata you should notice a clusterof old houses behind a small peculiargarden with an oversized chess board.On the most prominent buildingyou´ll see a sign with the langoustineon it and inside the feast awaits.Further information is available onwww.humarhusid.isRight in theHeart of ReykjavikRadisson BLU 1919 Hotel is a superbly designed four star hotel locatedright in the heart of the city. Housed in one of the city’s historicalbuildings, the 1919 Hotel offers an interesting balance of classicelements with contemporary design and furnishings.The 1919 Hotel focuses on offering guests a high standard of service,quality and comfort to enjoy while in Reykjavik. Since opening, thehotel has been awarded such prestigious honors as Iceland’s LeadingHotel 4 years consecutively by the World Travel Awards as well as oneof the Top 25 Business Hotels in Europe voted by CNBC Europe.Whether in the city for business or pleasure, the hotel strives to makeyour stay comfortable. Our staff will be happy to assist you witharrangements for transportation, excursions or reservations.As a guest you will have complimentary access to the on site Fitnesscentre and Business centre. During your stay we invite you to use theConcierge Service of our Front OfficeWithin walking distance from the hotel you will find yourself prettymuch wherever you need to go in the downtown area. Whether you areheaded to a meeting or just looking to do some exploring or shopping,it can all be found right in the city centre. Transportation can bearranged for you at the hotel.The Restaurant and Lounge; famous for it‘s prime „people watching“ location,classic cocktail lounge and now with a new menu intertwining tastes fromaround the world with the finest ingredients from IcelandThe most populardish in The LobsterHouse is the grilledlobster with garlic, adish most Icelanderssavour on sunnysummer evenings.For more information:www.radissonblu.com/1919hotel-reykjavikReservations.1919.reykjavik@radissonblu.comTel. +354 599 100018