Travel the World at Norsk Høstfest
Minot Daily News
By Carla Williams, Staff Writer
Sunday, October 8, 2006
... Norsk Høstfest is held each October in Minot and is the largest Scandinavian cultural festival held in North America. More than two-thirds of those who attend will travel between 150 and 1,000 miles to take part.
It’s the food, fun and focus on Scandinavian culture that makes Minot the Mecca of all things Norsk for nearly five days. ...
A returning favorite dish, the Norwegian taco, will be featured in Oslo Hall. They are made by the hands of 12 members and some volunteers from Shell Creek Lutheran Church, which is 15 miles north of Plaza. The taco is made with lompe, a Norwegian flat bread that is made with the same ingredients as lefse but is thicker. The taco contains meat and vegetables. Taking part in Høstfest means a lot to the tiny congregation.
"For more than 20 years almost 20 people, including the 12 members from the church and the friends and relatives of the members, come together each year to bake more than 1,200 Norwegian tacos. Lompe is strictly served with meat like they serve it in Norway," said Karen Ringoen, the historian for Shell Creek Lutheran Church. "We have sold out each year and received many ribbons in the past including taking first place last year in the dress and booth design."
Pastor Chris Lenning, who serves Shell Creek Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church of Plaza, is looking forward to the Norwegian tacos as he came on board with the church in November 2005.
"We have a serious mission about wanting to share the mission of the church at the Norsk Høstfest. We’re a small country church all about proclaiming the Gospel throughout the country side," Lenning said. "It’s amazing how we can feed so many with so few hands. I am proud of them all." Proceeds from the Høstfest project make up a large chunk of the congregation’s operating budget. ...
