The most famous dish of my home town of Moss . “Pølse i vaffel” or Susage in waffles

In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m from Norway, particularly a mid-sized town called Moss. With approximately 50,000 residents, Moss is expanding quickly because of its close location to Oslo, the capital city of Norway. The town of Moss is placed by the ocean and is an about 40 minutes drive from the border of Sweden. You might expect that this would lead to an exciting food scene inspired by this. However, to be completely honest, I am not familiar with almost any dishes that are said to be local to Moss.

But I am going to make it a priority to find out more about the history of local dishes in Moss, and share it with you all as a part of this blog. I am dedicated to making the exploration of the history of local dishes in Moss a priority and sharing it with you through this blog. If you are a “Mossianer” with knowledge about this, please reach out and share your insights. I am committed to ensuring that these dishes are not forgotten in history, and will make every effort to make sure this does not happen.

However, there is a dish that Moss is widely known for and frequently appears at events and dinner tables in and around the Moss area. This dish is called “Pølse i vaffel” or Sausage in waffles, and some people also refer to it as “Pøffel.”

I feel this is a perfect dish to start my “Dishes from Moss” part of this blog.

Although the exact origin is debated, we can trace sausage in a waffle back to the 1960s in Moss There are two main theories about the invention:

1. The Hellstrøm brothers: A popular version attributes the invention to Eyvind and Jan Hellstrøm. The story is that one evening they ran out of pockets in their uncle’s ice cream parlor and replaced them with waffles.
2. Previous origin: Some claim that the dish was already known in Drammen several years before the Hellstrøm brothers’ alleged invention
3. It is also worth noting that a similar dish was known in Swedish Mellerud already in the 1950s

Sausage in a waffle has become an important part of Moss’ identity:

It’s a specialty at Melløs Stadium during Moss Football Club‘s home games – The dish has become synonymous with Moss, along the lines of the crow, the smell of moss (A distinct smell in the air in Moss because of paper production), and Helly Hansen.

Sausage in a waffle has been given a special place in Østfold (Eastfold) and especially Mossian culture:

It has become an important identity marker for many Eastfoldings

Fun fact – The court has been the subject of debate and misunderstanding, as in 2010 when it was falsely reported that the county sheriff would ban it

The dish has seen various varieties and accessories emerge:

• Traditionally, it is served with ketchup and mustard.
• Some prefer to use jam as a side dish.
• In Sweden, varieties with mashed potatoes and cucumber mix have been developed.
• More creative variations have appeared, such as “Waffle Dog” with jam and brown cheese.

Sausage in waffles has been given a special place in Norwegian, especially Eastfold, culture:

• It has become an identity marker for Moss, in line with other local characteristics.
• It has inspired creative interpretations and become part of the local food tradition.

Sausage in waffles is a popular dish that has gained a foothold not only in Moss, but also in several other cities and places in Østfold.
Here are some cities where sausage in a waffle is enjoyed:

Cities in Østfold with an interest in sausage in waffles

• Moss: As the place of origin for the court, Moss is known for his strong connection to sausage in a waffle, especially at Melløs Stadium during football matches.
• Fredrikstad: This city has also adopted the dish, and it can often be found at local events and festivals.
• Sarpsborg: Sarpsborg has a growing culture of street food, where sausage in a waffle is a popular choice among residents.
• Halden: Halden has also started to embrace sausage in waffles, with several food stalls and kiosks offering the dish.
• The Moss region: In general, there is a trend in the region around Moss, where sausage in a waffle has become a well-known feature at various festivals and sporting events.

• In recent times, sausage in a waffle has seen some adaptations:
• There have been healthier varieties with chicken sausages and coarse waffles.
• The dish has been adapted to contemporary taste preferences and dietary trends.
• Sausage in waffles has developed from an improvised solution to an established part of Norwegian food culture, particularly linked to Moss and Østfold. It has retained its popularity over the years, while also seeing variations and adaptations in line with changing food preferences and trends.

For those who aren’t from Moss but have sampled this dish, or if you’re daring enough to try it, I’d love to hear your opinion on it.