Pizza “Grandiosa” and Norwegian culinary traditions

Abstract

When it comes to the harmful effects of globalization on Norwegian traditional values, one often draws on the example of the pizza “Grandiosa” phenomenon. Not only the daily assortment of dishes, but also traditional Christmas fare gave way to the “Grandiosa.” Experts in the field of culture and cultural heritage show much interest in this phenomenon; it is also addressed in Norwegian fiction, mostly as something ignoble. The change in Norwegian tastes that happened with this pizza is called the “revolution in eating habits.” Researchers render it impossible to find a rational explanation of this phenomenon. However, the traditional Norwegian cuisine is rather ascetic, with preference to universal dishes, which is easily explained by difficult natural conditions. And in our days, the lack of time dictates the extra need for universal dishes that combine components of the first and the second, as well as a side dish, and which do not require much time for cooking. Frozen pizza is perfect in that regard, and kebabs, tapas, and tacos followed it to the Norwegian table. Pizza was just the first to announce the era of food globalization, and it served as a conduit of globalization in Norwegian cuisine.