• by Adam Buckman , Featured Columnist, February 13, 2026

Food and drink are the key words -- with an emphasis on the latter -- when attempting to describe “People of the North,” a show from Norway that is now seen on U.S. public television.

The “North” is Norway -- the northern reaches of Norway, that is -- with excursions also to the Faroe Islands near the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic.

Fun fact: The Faroes are an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark known as a rigsdel, just like a certain prominent island in North America that is being eyed for conquest by you-know-who.

On “People of the North,” however, the Faroes and the islands and inlets of the Nordic north are by all appearances safe and secure enough -- for the moment, at least -- for the show’s three fun-loving co-hosts to island-hop throughout the region in search of fine food and distilled spirits.

In small boats and airplanes, they cruise and fly over windswept seas to disembark at rocky islands on which small, tidy villages cling to the water’s edge.

To you and me (unless you’re Norwegian), these islands do not look like much. But for the show’s three hungry, thirsty travelers, these outposts all share the promise of fine food and drink.

It really is incredible. The question that arises most often while watching “People of the North” is: How can these sparsely populated remote islands all have four-star restaurants and craft distilleries? 

But it’s true. They do. And at every stop, our three gastronomes waste no time bellying up to both bar and table.

Without any further ado, meet our three English-speaking guides to the wonders of the Norwegian north. 

They are Norwegian TV personality Arne Hjetnes (above photo, left), Swedish chef Frida Ronge and award-winning Norwegian distiller Stig Bareksten.

They are an enthusiastic trio. Frida is always excited about the food. Stig cannot wait to stir up his signature martinis with locally distilled gin. And Arne loves both the food and the spirits.

Part of the fun of watching the show is waiting to see how many minutes it will take the bearded Stig, who at certain angles resembles a Viking David Letterman, to take gin in hand to mix one of his signature martinis, of which he has many. 

The recipe for one of them -- the dandelion or Løvetann martini -- is below, compliments of the TV Blog.

Also fun to watch is the way our grinning guides appear to attain new levels of happiness after each round of libations and comestibles. They do seem to enjoy themselves!

To find “People of the North,” check local listings.