Bjornstad Logo The Vikings of Bjornstad

Dinner: Impossible - A Viking Feast
In May, 2021, The Vikings of Bjornstad were invited to the central California town of Solvang by Lando Productions to provide a Viking encampment - and some Viking challenges - for the Food Network's Dinner: Impossible team. Dinner had to be prepared by the chefs using authentic Viking Age ingredients. But, if host Robert Irvine won in a challenge, the crew could select a modern ingredient to make their task easier. The challenges were: axe throw, archery and the Viking tug-of-war called Hunkerhauser. Given that Vikings were involved, a mead challenge also seemed like a good idea. The show was broadcast on November 2nd, 2021.
Screenshots below from the Dinner: Impossible broadcast, courtesy of Lando Productions and the Food Network.

On the road to Solvang
A little bit of Denmark in the United States, just 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean

Escorted by The Vikings of Bjornstad,
Esther Jacobsen Bates, Executive Director of Solvang's Elverhøj Museum,
welcomes Robert Irvine, Brian Goodman and Darryl Moiles.
Bjornstad sets up its encampment in the center of Solvang.
There are dinner ingredients for Robert Irvine to win -
but only if he wins in our Viking challenges.

Marilou, Yoko and Henrik display Bjornstad's authentic Viking cultural gear for Robert.
No trading expedition would be complete without an array of coinage, amulets and some protection from the gods.

Horns for drinking and signaling. A helmet is always a good idea whether raiding or trading.
Arrowheads for game hunting, fire delivery, mail penetration and all-out warfare.

Rick, Jack and Robert approach the axe throwing challenge
The Viking hand axe. Don't leave home without one. Or three.

Jack launches an axe. Stone and Kurian provide security.
Jack sticks all three axes.

It's an uneven contest. Robert hasn't thrown a Viking axe before.
Robert sticks an axe. The chance for an extra ingredient is lost.
The time to dinner ticks down.

Stone and Will demonstrate hunkerhauser, the Viking tug-of-war.
It's a combination of balance and strategy.
Robert wins the challenge, and gains an extra ingredient for dinner preparation.

Now it's time for the archery challenge. Ed offers a bow and three arrows to Robert.
Robert draws a bead.

Ed looses the first of his arrows.
Jack, Ed, Marilou and Robert are focused on the competition.

Ed's arrow is the closest to the center of the target.
The Vikings of Bjornstad win the archery challenge.
The recreated depiction of the contest misses the mark. Ed's actual hits are in green.

Jack tells Robert that he and his chefs aren't dressed appropriately for a Viking feast.
Angela provides some Viking clothing for the day.

Kurian, Will and Stone challenge the Dinner: Impossible team to an impromptu mead challenge.
Robert, Brian and Darryl demonstrate an unexpected skill. And the dinner benefits from more flavoring ingredients.

Stone and Will begin the holmgang tournament.
Stone wins the contest.

Jack and Ed fight the second holmgang.
They close in for the battle.

Jack blocks this attack, but Ed is the eventual winner.
You can't visit Solvang without trying æbleskivers. The holmgangs continue while the chefs are occupied with preparing dinner.

Ed and Stone are matched in the third holmgang. Stone wins this one - and will face Robert.
Viking meals can be heavy - if you carry them around.

Robert, Brian and Darryl present: A Viking Feast
Rick, Henrik, Stone and Ed sit down to dinner.

Stew, salmon, pork, æbleskivers, and more
Will, Henrik and Rick provide testimonials to the food.

Jack and Stone enjoy dinner.
Henrik gets Robert ready for the final holmgang.

Bjornstad provides the gear.
Robert dons the helmet.

The fight is on.
Having "read the script", Stone takes one for the team.

The gracious winner.
Our work here is done.
   

  © For information contact Jack Garrett at info@vikingsofbjornstad.com