Zuuma: bringing fresh flavours to Ålesund

Located in the small coastal town of Ålesund on the west coast of Norway, the Japanese inspired restaurant Zuuma has had a reputation as a top local food destination right from the day it opened, eight years ago.

At Zuuma, the focus is on fresh, nourishing food – which is easy when the sea is on your doorstep. The modern Japanese-inspired restaurant is fantastically located just a stone’s throw from Ålesund’s historic seaport, with big glass windows offering diners beautiful views during their meal.

The varied menu at Zuuma features an exciting range of fresh sushi, grilled and fusion dishes. While the grill and dessert dishes rely on seasonal ingredients, the sushi is based on first-rate offerings from the sea. “Part of our success comes from having access to some of the best fresh seafood in the world, right outside our front door,” says Andreas Ottosen, co-founder and head chef at Zuuma.

With a focus on high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients, the expert chefs prepare each plate with care and attention – creating dishes that are as beautifully presented as they are tasty. The Zuuma team changes their menu four times a year, resulting in an inspiring range of fusion twists on classic dishes. “For us, fusion is about combining authentic dishes with excellent local ingredients – Japanese fare with a Norwegian touch,” Andreas explains. “We enjoy drawing inspiration from different places and using innovative techniques to create interesting dishes, such as grilled maki sushi rolls.”

The restaurant has seen great success since it opened in 2015, and the Zuuma team remain just as passionate about what they do eight years later. “Working like this is a lifestyle, Andreas says. “We want to continually evolve and stay interesting – we’re always trying to get a little bit better, and we’re lucky to have a very talented team of people all working towards the same goal.”

Embarking on international trips to keep up with food trends and to seek inspiration from other restaurants around the world is part of their approach to bringing delicious and exciting dishes to the small fishing town of Ålesund. “We’ve seen a fantastic growth in the quality and diversity of food experiences here. Being part of that journey and having been one of the first restaurants to contribute to that change has been really rewarding,” Andreas concludes.

CEO Vincent Caballes and head chef Andreas Ottosen are the founders of Zuuma. Photo: Kristin Støylen

Web: www.zuuma.no
Instagram: @zuuma_alesund
Facebook: zuuma