Dining

Skarsnuten Hotel (32061700) has an exceptional dining room. Soaring glass walls cut high above the rock cliffs seem almost ready to take flight. The dining room epitomizes clean Scandinavian design — plain wooden tables and chairs — minimalist with an amazing panorama. The wines and gourmet meals are as exceptional as the setting.

We started with seared fois gras over caramelized apples accompanied by a German Riesling. Next was poached trout over a bed of peas with lobster fricasee and a white Macon wine. The veal fillet was served over a bed of lentils smothered with sauteed green beans matched with a Dolcetto d'Alba full red wine. Cheese followed and then poached plums with prune ice cream.

The à la carte restaurant Bistro Anden Etasje in Hotel Skogstad (32055000) is excellent as well. The restaurant prepared reindeer medallions with mushrooms and green beans, pacific sole with capers and beets, and a dessert of apple cake with peach sherbet, strawberries and cherries.

Other recommended restaurants in Hemsedal are at the Hemsedal Cafe (32055410) and the Oxen Bar & Grill (32055850).

For a special experience make the trip out to Harahorn (32062380) for dinner. Call for reservations a day ahead since they have to shop for fresh ingredients for your meal. Cost will be about NOK500 for dinner and NOK250 for lunch.