Seattle Sister Cities Soup Sampling a super success

Bergen's Norwegian yellow pea soup delights and nourishes

Lori Ann Reinhall, Britt Blomsø, and Morten Blomsø welcomed attendees to the Second Annual Seattle Sister Cities Soup Sampling at the National Nordic Museum on March 8,.

In the fall of 2024, Seattle's 20 sister cities got together for an annual retreat, where they brainstormed ideas on how to bring all of their sister cities together with the community. One of the ideas that came out of it was a soup sampling, to showcase the cuisines of the respective cultures.

The first Sister Cities soup sampling event with 10 sister cities participating was held at the Seattle Polish Home in January 2025. It was both fun and exciting, so the decision was made to repeat this success again in 2026. This time, the venue for the Second Annual Seattle Sister Cities Soup Sampling on March 8. was the National Nordic Museum in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood

Again, 10 sister cities participated, and the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association (SBSCA) was proud to be one of them. Other sister cities represented were: Pécs, Hungary; Be’er Sheva, Israel; Mombasa, Kenya; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Perugia, Italy; Surabaya, Indonesia; Hai Phong, Vietnam; Kobe, Japan; and Reykjavik, Iceland.

The SBSCA created a special event passport that would take soup samplers on a culinary adventure around the world with the Seattle Sister Cities.

The National Nordic Museum is one of the favorite places of the SBSCA, so, naturally, we had to be there. Early on, we joined the planning committee and took on the task of creating an event passport. Attendees could taste five different soups, as their passports were stamped for each selection. This ensured the event's flow and that the sister cities would have enough soup to feed the crowd.

National staples with a Viking past

Gul ertesuppe (yellow pea soup and knekkebrød (Norwegian crispbread) are national Norwegian staples with a long history that go back to Viking days. They are often served at the end of winter.

While Bergen is famous for its fish soup, the SBSCA committee decided that gul ertesuppe—yellow pea soup—was the best choice for an event serving up to 400 people. It also fit the season, as it is commonly served in the late winter and early spring. The soup has been around for centuries; it is believed that the Vikings ate this hearty staple. It is easy to make, yet oh so very satisfying.

Dressed in a colorful Norwegian sweater, Britt Blomsø serves up yellow pea soup.

Scandinavian Specialties in the Ballard neighborhood proved to be the perfect caterer to provide the soup. Their recipe contains hearty lamb meat, and a vegetarian option was also available at the event.

To complement the soup were freshly baked knekkebrød crackers from Norwegian Baked in Brooklyn, New York. This delicious crispbread is baked from pure ingredients of a high nutritional value. It has been a staple of the Norwegian diet for centuries, also going back to Viking times.

Serving the soup for the SBSCA was President Morten Blomsø, his daughter Britt, and Vice President Steffen Torgersen. Julie Pheasant-Albright, and Lori Ann and Ulf Reinhall also helped staff the table to greet guests and answer any questions.

Laughter, music, and dance

Khmer Amarak Performance Arts charmed guests with the colorful costumes and lively drumming and dancing. The group was presented by the Khmer Community Of Seattle/King County.

Looking around the room, it was easy to see that guests were enjoying the delicious soups and having a good time. Laughter could be heard as people went from table to table on their culinary journey.

There were also musical performances to heighten the atmosphere. First on was Khmer Amarak Performance Arts, presented by the Khmer Community

of Seattle/King County. Dressed in colorful costumes, they performed a traditional Khmer drumming musical dance called chhayam, The dance is typically done in line or circle formation to bring joyful energy to the space through rhythm, movement, and cultural expression.

The Cambodian group was followed by the Skandia Kapell, sponsored by the SBSCA. Led by fiddler Kris Johansson, the group performs traditional Nordic folk music and old-time favorites. The Museum was the perfect backdrop for them, and their toe-tapping rhythms brought even non-Nordic dancers to the floor, as the room was once again filled with vibrant cheer.

Sponsored by the SBSCA, the Skandia Kapell, one of the Nordic community's most popular folk groups, delighted the crowd with their renditions of traditional toe-tapping tunes.

International Women's Day

The Second Annual Sister Cities Soup Sampling was a wonderful way to celebrate International Women's Day. Soup has sustained human health for centuries across cultures, and this day was no exception. Much in the same way, women have lovingly nurtured their families and communities through the millennia. All in all, it was a day of joy and life.

People of al ages enjoyed the Second Annual Seattle Sister Cities Soup Sampling,. The National Nordic Museum in Ballard was the perfect venue for the association's signature event.

As a participating group, the SBSCA thanks the many volunteers who helped make this day so special. All the Seattle Sister Cities are grateful to the National Nordic Museum for its support as well as the City of Seattle and a generous 4Culture grant. We now look forward to repeating this super success next year.

All photos by Brian Chu, Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association

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