Tietse Stelma is a modern-day Norwegian-born explorer. You could say he is following in the footsteps of his countryman, Roald Amundsen, the first man to reach the South Pole.

Stelma, building on a background of many years with Peregrine Adventures, has recently decided to begin his own company specialising (although not exclusively) in tours to countries which are '50 degrees North'. If you are looking at a globe, that includes, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Orkney, Shetland, Greenland, the Arctic, Finland, Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, Japan and China. Quite a list!

These colder climes have plenty to offer travellers too. These are particularly for those who are more interested in a place and its people than pools and parties. They are looking for an immersion in the various cultures. And most of them want to sample new foods and experience new flavours.
One of 50 Degree North's tours that has me hooked is the Nordic Real Food tour planned for August 2011.

Why not earlier, I ask impatiently? "Because we want to wait for the best berries," says Tietse. As a food-lover, I have to like and respect a person who plans a tour around what is in season!

When I met with him, he was excited about the inclusions planned - great chefs on Copenhagen, great produce everywhere , and - it seems - great interest by people who have heard about this adventure already. That particular 22-day tour is a boutique one for just sixteen or so very lucky people who will visit places most people will only ever dream of, and taste food some have never even heard of!

The Norwegian phrase which is said at the end of a meal is takk for maten (thanks for the food). Those words will be learnt quickly and repeated often on this tour I reckon.

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Travel operator and Nordic specialist 50 Degrees North has just confirmed the reservation at Copenhagen's Noma Restaurant for the final dinner of its Nordic Food Tour. Bookings for Noma, recently named the 'S. Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants 2011' winner for the second year, are notoriously hard to confirm. Enjoying a dinner at Noma on the final night of the 'Nordic Real Food' tour of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Denmark will be a remarkable finale, and one not to be missed.

The 23 day tour ex Australia starts in Helsinki, Finland, and includes a countryside gourmet retreat in Sweden, traditional cooking and game of the Norwegian mountains and fjords, seafood delicacies from Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and a dessert at Noma in the Nordic gourmet capital of Copenhagen.

At key points along the way the tour is hosted by acclaimed Nordic Chefs, some of whom have not only been part of developing the 'New Nordic Manifesto', but won international awards for their achievements within food innovation.  The tour features a dinner at Grythyttan in central Sweden, a food and wilderness experience at Vianvang (Norwegian celebrity chef Arne Brimi's dream eatery in the mountains of Norway), a dinner at Sigurdur Hall's restaurant in Reykjavik, a tasting with chef Leif Sørensen in Torshavn (Faroe Islands) and an evening cruise onboard a schooner while savouring local fish soup carefully prepared by well known cook, Birgir Enni of the Faroe Islands. 

As the tour travels through the Nordic region it combines exquisite food experiences with the beautiful scenery, art and design for which the Nordic region has become so well know.

Interested food lovers and travellers can visit www.fiftydegreesnorth.com for more information.