It’s the first demo podcast for Iceland News. Jim talks with Icelanders Heidur and Marta about McDonald’s leaving Iceland. Recorded 30-10-2009.

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I almost spat out the mouthful of Tim Horton’s coffee that was in my mouth as my eyes glanced across A1 of Canada’s Globe & Mail newspaper this morning. Iceland on the front page. I kid you not.

Then throughout the day more media began to appear, all regarding the decision of Iceland’s McDonald’s franchise owner to shut up shop. And that’s an important difference. As Alda Sigmundsdóttir

This seems to have been the biggest news out of Iceland yesterday thanks to a Bloomberg story which reported:
Iceland’s McDonald’s Corp. restaurants will be closed at the end of the month after the collapse of the krona eroded profits at the fast-food chain, McDonald’s franchise holder Lyst ehf said.
McDonald’s in Iceland, which imports most of the ingredients it uses in its meals, will shut after costs doubled over the past year, Lyst said in an e-mailed statement today. The franchise holder said it doesn’t expect the situation to change in …

Thanks to “CH” (whoever you might be!) for the comment this morning on where else to find information on Icelandic food:
“Also – check out the http://www.icelandgourmetguide.com for traditional recipes and restaurant guides for all of Iceland – plus a who’s who of top chefs!”
So I went on over to Gourmet Iceland which led me on a link chasing adventure. Next came chef Volundur Volundarson’s web site.
Here’s a video of him doing a segment for the Today Program at the Blue Lagoon (by someone standing nearby).

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Heading off to an Icelandic gathering soon? Well, I hope to be. So I put a message out on the Iceland Weather Report forum. What do Icelanders bring to such events? Here’s what forum member, Elin, wrote:
Here is the English language website (and blog) for Icelandic cuisine: – maybe something will catch your eye.
Also, there is a very good cookbook by Nanna Rögnvaldardóttir called Icelandic Food & Cookery, should you want a great book for your own collection.
Some of the things I’ve seen at gatherings like this are kleinur, …