Try the taste of Thy
Food and history are connected. For many years, the communities by the sea have been dependent on the fishing industry, and one of the specialties of Thy is dried fish. In March and April, cod are caught, gutted, and then hung on washing lines for a couple of weeks. While the fish are hanging on the lines they are salted from the sea air until they become so dry that you can barely cut them.
In the old days, the dried fish was stored in attics to be eaten on days when it was not possible to get hold of fresh fish. The dried fish were then taken out and soaked in water for 24 hours, boiled for six to eight hours and eaten with potatoes and a white sauce. Many of the old Thy residents still cannot do without the dried fish as everyday food, and in the spring you can still see the fish hanging out to dry.
The sheep that were grazing on the dune heaths have also been valued as food over the years. The mutton was salted and stored, and later soaked in water, like the dried fish. The mutton was then cut into cubes, and put in a pot in layers together with cabbage, and the whole dish was boiled into something that resembles Irish stew. Cabbage is very much appreciated in Thy; it used to be transported by large carts from farms further inland, as it could not grow in the salty soil of the area. Even seagulls were eaten until 1950. Today some Thy residents still greatly appreciate seagull soup with dumplings or seagull breast with cranberries and bog whortleberries from the heaths.
Other intriguing food to taste
- Berries and honey can be purchased from farm shops and small stands at the roadside
- Porse Guld - a beer from Thisted Bryghus . The employees at the brewery collect the bog myrtle themselves on their annual picnic to the dune heaths
- Schnapps with amber or bog myrtle, burnet roses and bog whortleberries from the heath
- Freshly caught fish can be purchased at fish shops in the seaside towns along the coast or directly from the boats
- During the summer, Vorupør Museum arranges events where you can taste the specialties of the region
- Several local eateries have traditional regional dishes on the menu. Among these are Stenbjerg Kro.
Find event on www.thy360.dk
Buy different specialities from Thy on www.smagpaathy.dk