Boston - October 02, 2007

Put It on Ice

Icelandic Foods Hit Boston

Thanks to a slew of recent market sprees, your pantry is now doubling as the culinary equivalent of the United Nations. Orange flower water? Dried shiitake? Membrillo quince paste? Check, check, delicious check.

If you’re feeling Scandi-curious, here’s a chance to add some Viking flavor to your international delegation: imported Icelandic goods at Whole Foods.

Hit the dairy aisle first for smooth delicacies, like skyr (a fat-free soft cheese that will kick any yogurt’s butt), smjör (pure-lineage cows equal an intensely creamy butter), and Hofdingi (think Brie) and Stóri Dímon (a slow-ripened three-cream blue) cheeses.

To round out the food groups, nibble on Nói Síríus chocolate bars, grill some tender Icelandic lamb, and sip a bottle of Iceland Spring water — filtered through lava rock, of course. Only recently have these foodstuffs been available outside of Iceland, so experiencing them now is truly a privilege.

As they say at the UN: It’s your world.

Available at Boston-area Whole Foods Markets. To see locations, go to wholefoods.com.