Gallas: Family-run business celebrating Sámi food and culture

Gallas is a unique meeting place, restaurant and event space near the historic town of Røros in Trøndelag. Here, a family shares knowledge and passion for Sami food and culture with visitors, with a special focus on reindeer meat prepared according to time-honoured traditions.

You will find Gallas nestled within scenic surroundings in the beautiful area of Vika in Røros. This is an area with a fascinating history – the charming town of Røros is a World Heritage site known for having one of Europe’s oldest wooden settlements.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Gallas is run by husband and wife Svein Ole Granefjell and Hanne Svinsås Magga. As proud Sami people, preserving and sharing their rich culture and traditions is important to the family. “We want to represent Sami food and culinary culture in a positive way,” Magga says. “Our goal was always to serve reindeer meat the way we’re used to from home – to give people a taste of our traditional food.”

The word gallas means full, as in hunger satiated. While known for fantastic food with a focus on top-quality reindeer meat, Gallas prides itself on not being a stiff establishment. “Ours is a different experience than a normal restaurant,” Magga says. “When people come to Gallas, they’re visiting us.”

Serving hearty fare, Gallas differs from other high-class restaurants that may serve delicious, beautifully presented food but in tiny portions. “At fancy restaurants, the food looks like little pieces of art, but doesn’t fill you up,” says Granefjell. “We want people to leave here feeling full and happy.”

Alongside flavoursome food, the husband-and-wife team believes the warm and welcoming atmosphere contributes to guests’ enjoyment of the space. The building has a distinctive exterior and inside, a fire pit, old-fashioned oil lamps and candlelight set the mood. “Sharing a meal is a wonderful opportunity to share culture and knowledge. Through the taste, smell, atmosphere, and well-being that food brings, you can build bridges and create relationships,” Magga says. “We love to tell our guests about the food, the history and traditions behind it, where it comes from – a lot of people find it interesting.”

As an event space, Gallas can play host to almost any occasion. “We’ve hosted a wide range of organisations, government institutions, businesses and families. We handle everything from work lunches to baptisms and birthdays,” adds Granefjell. “We’re a small family business doing our best to make our guests happy.”

Web: www.gallas.no
Facebook: Gallas