The CEO Magazine Australia — November 2017

theceomagazine.com | 133

HISTORY

REPEATED

Matur og

Drykkur

Down by the

harbourfront, in a building

that was once a cod-drying

factory, is an impressive

restaurant serving up tasty

Icelandic fare that pays strong tribute

to heritage, with a modern twist.

The passion radiates from owner Elma Backman as she talks

about Matur og Drykkur – which translates to ‘food and drink’

and is taken from a classic Icelandic cookbook by Helga

Sigurdardóttir. The concept of the restaurant is to re-imagine the

book’s traditional recipes and the inspired dishes, with carefully

balanced flavours, showcase why Matur og Drykkur was included

in the Nordic Michelin Guide 2017. Menu highlights include a

creamy halibut soup with mussels and dill oil, zings of raisin, and

sweet cubes of apple; Icelandic twisted doughnuts with traditional

caramel whey; and an exciting cocktail list. And if you’ve ever

fancied trying lamb testicles (‘fries’), this is your chance.

HEDINN OLAFSSON,

OWNER,

DIVEICELAND.COM

Must-do?

The Golden Circle tour because the Geysir is

something very special and the waterfall is

great – as simple as that. I always recommend

the south coast of Iceland, too, as it’s the most

beautiful part of the country, in my opinion.

Secret spot?

Hafnarfjordur is a town south from Reykjavík,

where there aren’t many tourists. Something

generally missed when visiting Iceland is our

swimming pools. We have great pools with

hot tubs, steam baths and saunas all over the

country. I would recommend going to the

Laugardalslaug pool in Reykjavík.

What do you enjoy on your days off?

Mountain hiking. There are fantastic

mountains all around Reykjavík.

Street smart
Wander lively Laugavegur, a character-filled
street of whiskey bars, gastropubs, cafés,
restaurants and a mixture of high-end
boutiques and tourist stores selling cosy knits
and reindeer hides. Stop by stylish Sandholt
bakery for artisan pastries and cakes as well as
homemade soda (with flavours like raspberry
and Arctic thyme), craft beer, and hot chocolate
served with a big dollop of cream. Nearby is the
dark treasure trove Myconceptstore, a curated
mix of eclectic homewares, jewellery, furniture,
books and more. Stop by Eva for high-end
brands, Marta Jonsson to pick up leather bags
and footwear, or Vinberid for gourmet delicacies
to take home.

DIVE SILFRA

Set aside half a day for a unique opportunity to

snorkel or dive the Silfra fissure, a crack between

the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates,

in the world’s clearest water. Join passionate and

experienced local Hedinn Olafsson of

Diveiceland.com for a personal adventure with no

more than four to a group. ‘Captain Silfra’ takes

you to Thingvellir National Park, the site of the first

Viking Parliament more than 1,000 years ago, and

where glacial water takes decades to slowly

filter through the surrounding volcanic rock

before reaching Thingvellir lake and Silfra.

Hear about the first dives at Silfra back in

1967 before squeezing into a cosy drysuit and

submerging into the icy two-degree Celsius

water. The dive itself is a magical experience

as you drift through the brilliant blue,

crystal-clear glacial water of this unique place.

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