Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Authentic Norwegian Farm Shops
The miracle store in the stable Leave Oslo and drive north-east for about an hour, and you will arrive at Eidsvoll in the traditional district of Romerike. Head deeper into the countryside, and you will soon find a stable full of sensational surprises. Inside a former therapy centre for race horses, May-Lis Ekstrøm Hoel has created her own farm store and café named Loftet Gardsbutikk, after the Norwegian word for ‘attic’, in which a crowd-pleasing combination of picturesque nature, new trends, nostalgia, local food and intimate concerts have made her life far busier than expected.
of healthy, local ingredients like lamb, chicken, onion, potatoes, eggs and flour. You can also order lamb to be delivered home in the autumn, but you’d better sign up early! The same goes for our intimate concerts – you can’t hesitate too much if you want a ticket,” says Hoel.
By Eirik Elvevold | Photos: Loftet Gardsbutikk
“The unique atmosphere out here in the Eidsvoll countryside, coupled with our original products, quality food and beautiful animals, has made Loftet Gardsbutikk a real hit. It’s almost a bit too crazy sometimes,” admits May-Lis Ekstrøm Hoel, who has just organised another meeting on how to cope with Loftet Gardsbutikk’s success. Hoel first opened the shop in 2010, after she fought her way back from a horrific accident that ended her career as a race horse therapist. “Me and my husband had just invested in an expensive new stable, so we turned the conference room on the second floor into a store for interior design and homemade products from our active farm of 1,000 decares,” she says. Norwegians and tourists alike 88 | Issue 98 | March 2017
immediately fell in love with the concept. “Our homemade sheepskins and cowhides, for instance, are extremely popular. I’m also quite good at hunting down rare treasures – most of them from Scandinavian farms or fairs – and telling the stories behind them,” boasts Hoel. Last year, after the number of visitors had exceeded the relatively small attic store’s capacity, Loftet Gardsbutikk grew to include the first floor, where a brand new café, with its very own chef and confectioner, now serves delicious lunches and freshly baked goods. “We believe in Norwegian farming, so all our popular dishes and baked goods, named with farming terms in dialect to give the menu a fun twist, are made
Loftet’s opening hours: Wednesday: 11am-5pm Thursday: 11am-7pm Friday: 11am-5pm Saturday: 11am-4pm Sundays (only in December): 11am-4pm
For more information, please visit: www.loftet-gardsbutikk.no