Icelandic vegetables deliciously healthy Gr�n kostur & � n�stu gr�sum great vegetarian restaurants in Reykjav�k Those who visit Iceland, or know of it, can hardly believe that a considerable amount of vegetables are grown there. Everyone knows that Iceland has fantastic fish and succulent lamb meat, but Icelandic vegetables are also very special. Why? Iceland is a sparsely populated country where there is a minimum of pollution from industry: the air is clean and the water crystal clear - Icelandic nature is basically pristine. Vegetables cultivated outdoors, therefore, are in most cases organically grown. And because Iceland is in the northern latitudes the sun shines strongly. This all adds up to vegetables that are quite flavorful. But aren�t the winters long and cold in Iceland? Not particularly cold, but certainly dark in mid-winter. And because there are abundant supplies of energy, hot springs and waterfalls, part of this energy is utilized to warm greenhouses that grow some of the best vegetables found anywhere. They are of particularly high quality, and make for great vegetarian dishes. There are a few restaurants in Reykjav�k that offer vegetarian food, two of which are excellent and well worth a visit if you are in the city. Gr�n kostur Gr�n kostur is a delightful restaurant where everyone is in a good mood, both guests and staff. Customers are college students, bank managers, housewives and computer nerds - in other words a cross section of the community, and a large proportion are regulars. Service is fast and new dishes are added to the menu daily, depending on the quality of vegetables for that day, of which all are organic. The cooking is unpretentious, but the dishes are appetizing. The natural flavors are allowed to shine through, enhanced with herbs and spices. Deliciously healthy desserts top off the meal. There are no additives or preservatives in any of the ingredients. Gr�n k�stur (Green Choice) Sk�lav�r�ust�gur 8 (entrance from Bergsta�astr�ti) Tel: (+354) 552 2028 Fax: (+354) 552 2027 � n�stu gr�sum This restaurant is located on the second floor of a friendly timber house on Laugavegur - the main shopping street. Owner S�mundur Kristj�nsson has been a chef at some of Reykjav�k�s best eateries, but today concentrates his abilities on preparing fine, healthy vegetarian dishes. The dishes are all well thought-out, and sometimes there are deliciously noticeable Oriental influences. Sauces and spices are artfully blended to create vegetarian dishes that even those not used to enjoying vegetables will find delicious. There is also a certain calm that permeates the atmosphere. Those interested in organically produced wine and beer with their meals will be pleasantly surprised. � n�stu gr�sum (Around the Corner) Laugavegur 20b Tel: (+354) 552 8410 Fax: (+354) 552 9410 Both of these restaurants are staffed by knowledgeable people. Only the best raw materials are used, and prices are very economical compared with the price of food in Reykjav�k restaurants.