Innovative food. Respect for seasonality. Local ingredients. Norway's Top ChefS BY ELIZABETH S. LINGJAERDE A country's food is a refl ection of its culture and nature. Norway's famous fjords, rough seas and high mountains defi ne the region's landscape and infl uence its culinary perspective. Hunting, fi shing and gathering are central to Norwegian cuisine and so is the love for rustic meals. Nordic chefs head to the forests and seas in search of seasonal ingredients-fresh fi sh, succulent berries and distinctive herbs- to create culinary works of art. This month's Viking magazine introduces you to four of Norway's prize-winning chefs who are helping make Scandinavia the culinary star of Europe. 14 VIKING SEPTEMBER 2015 sonsofnorway.comhttp://www.sonsofnorway.com