Norwegian cuisine in its traditional form is based largely on the raw materials readily available in
Norway and its mountains, wilderness and coast. It differs in many respects from its continental counterparts with a stronger focus on
game and
fish.
Modern Norwegian cuisine, although still strongly influenced by its traditional background, now bears the marks of globalization and
Americanization:
pastas,
pizzas and the like are as common as
meatballs and
cod as staple foods, and urban restaurants sport the same selection one would expect to find in any
western European city.