OSL MALLPAPER PHOTO: GETTYIMAGES PHOTO: Norwegian Mats Zuccarello has often been hailed for his efforts on the ice. Last year, he won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award for his contributions to the NY Rangers, and, for both 2014 and 2015, was named Norway’s best team player of the year. 12 OSL MALLPAPER DIALOGUE Steady star He’s a high flier in international hockey and recovers his strength while airborne. But Mats Zuccarello Aasen still has his feet on the ground. TEXT: LINN ISAKSEN adison Square Garden, New 2012, he became the third Norwegian in the FACTS York, 9 April 2014. Mats R ussian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Zuccarello and his New York where he spent one season with Metallurg Mats André Rangers teammates are on Magnitogorsk before returning to Rangers Zuccarello Mtheir feet in the box, about to face the in the "City That Never Sleeps" in 2013. Aasen (27) Carolina Hurricanes on the ice. First, a voice If the 27-year-old is to be believed, he Norwegian ice comes on the loudspeaker: In a vote, Ranger seldom takes advantage of the Big Apple’s hockey player fans have picked ‘Zucca’ for the coveted many offerings. who plays for the ‘Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award’. The “New York is an exciting, vibrant city New York Rangers then 26-year-old Zuccarello – nicknamed where it’s hard to get bored. But when in the NHL and Zucca – glides into the rink to accept the I have a day off, what I like most is to relax the Norwegian award before an ecstatic crowd of 18,000. on the couch at home. Of course, I some- national team. “To be honest, it was a little surreal: Being times go out to eat with some of the guys Nicknamed the only player on the ice in front of a sold from the team, but I think it’s important to Zucca, he out Madison Square Garden was really learn to relax when your life is this hectic,” previously something else,” Zuccarello tells Mallpaper. says Zucca. played for “It was the biggest experience of my career “Hockey has always been a big part of Russian Metallurg so far, and I am incredibly grateful to the my life. It takes a lot of work to make it far Magnitogorsk, fans for their support. It makes me want to and the season just goes nonstop, so I don’t MoDo Hockey give even more for the club.” have much free time, but I think what I do is in the Swedish so much fun that it’s worth every second,” Elite League and Vålerenga and OCCASIONAL COUCH POTATO he says. Frisk Asker in Before ending up in New York and the “For me, a holiday means coming home to GET-league in world’s most prestigious ice hockey league, Oslo to spend time with friends and family. Norway. the NHL, Zuccarello spent many hours They are the ones who make me homesick,” on skates. He started playing hockey at says Zucca. age 5 in Oslo’s Løren area, then joined the capital city’s Vålerenga team and near- HUMBLE NEEDS by Frisk Asker before joining Sweden’s So it’s all about chilling out on the MoDo, where he was top scorer and won couch and seeing family and friends? several awards. Then, in 2010, he crossed International stardom, praise as one of The Pond to join the New York Rangers. In Norway’s biggest-ever hockey talents, 13 OSL MALLPAPER MATS ZUCCARELLO: About airports: “Airports are just a place I have to pass through to get where I’m going. I travel a lot with the team, so we follow set rou- tines so there is never any stress.” About OSL: “I appreciate well-organized airports where you can get an overview, and I think Oslo Airport is just that. When I’m there, I usually just wait at the gate until board- ing. I’m not much As a star New York Rangers player, Zucca has a lot of fans. However, he keeps a low profile in his of a shopper.” private life and avoids the limelight. In flight: and a host of prizes, honours and records humanitarian group Right To Play, which have not swelled Zucca’s head. The sports uses sport to give children and youth in the “I use the editor of the Norwegian online newspaper world’s most disadvantaged areas a chance flight to relax Nettavisen, Roy Kvatningen, has followed to develop. and unwind by Zucca closely, and calls him a “down to “Children are incredibly important to me watching movies, and I also like to earth, good guy who never let it all go to his and it’s nice to be able to contribute. As an sleep.” head”. He says Zucca "loves hockey more ice hockey player, I try use my position as than attention, and is actually even nicer in constructively as possible,” says Zucca. real life than he is portrayed in the media". There is little to suggest that Zuccarello Best New Zucca says, “I always want to be myself, needs to be in a rush to exploit his achieve- York tip: and not to change due to career, status ments. His big break with the Rangers and money. It is important to be humble came in the 2013-14 season, when he was “I can really and remember that the ones you meet on high scorer and earned 59 points. He recommend the way up are probably the ones you will is constantly evolving, and those in the Central Park on a meet on the way down. I am very happy and know say players of his stature often keep nice warm day.” grateful that I can make a living doing what improving into their 30s. I love.” ­ Zucca says his dreams are clear: “In terms of sports: Getting to play DREAMING OF THE CUP hockey for many years to come and, of One of the ways Zuccarello expresses his course, lifting the Stanley Cup over my head gratitude is by being an ambassador for the one fine day.”• 14 OSL MALLPAPER Sadler bracelet NOK 299 ARG DOMESTIC Ralph Lauren Polo Sport eau de toilette, 125ml NOK 619 DUTY FREE / TRAVEL VALUE Dale Garmish sweater NOK 2,199 CHRISTIANIA GLASMAGASIN EXCLUSIVE Biotherm Aquafitness deostick NOK 169 DUTY FREE / TRAVEL VALUE Hugo Boss socks NOK 99 ARG DOMESTIC Omega Seamaster watch NOK 43,800 THUNE Bose QC25 noise cancelling headset GREAT NOK 2,399 (BEFORE 2,599) CAPI OFFER SHOPPING SPORTY WITH STYLE Warm clothing and stylish accessories brighten up the autumn. 15 OSL MALLPAPER SLOW FOOD SNAIL’S PACE Slow Food is for those who prefer food made the traditional way. Or who weren’t housewives in the ’60s. TEXT: TOMAS KARLSEN PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES tarting off on the other side of the briefcase, and the rest, as they say, is history. world is Miso, a pillar of Japanese Slow-cooked porridge, microbreweries and cuisine. It is a basic ingredient in clas- the aforementioned sourdough bread are all sic miso soup, or the Japanese version trends that spring from the same grand idea: Sof breakfast cereal, if you will. Miso is found The best food is the purest food, made with in every Japanese home, and pops up in an no additives, while also being healthier and endless number of dishes. Yet making it is a more ethical for both humans and animals. six- to 12-month process! It has just a handful of ingredients: soybeans, water, rice and salt. women’s (kitchen) lib Cooking and puréeing doesn’t take long. Now, 1960s housewives may well have What really takes time is the fermentation, laughed off slow food as a silly, snobbish fad. European lasting at least six months and preferably Ready-to-eat meals finally reachedNorway housewives were longer. In other words, the seemingly endless and the rest of Europe after frozen TV also spared the drudgery of process of making sourdough bread or brew- dinners had swept the United States in the slaving over a ing you own beer in the basement is done at 1950s. At last, European housewives hot stove all day lightning speed by comparison. Miso is slow were also spared the drudgery of while waiting for food at its very, very slowest. slaving over a hot stove all day a husband who while waiting for a husband who inevitably came manifest in protest inevitably came home late with home late with Slow food? It began, as so often is the lipstick on his collar. Finally, she was lipstick on his case, as a reaction. The year was 1986, and free to get a job. That’s probably what was collar McDonald’s Golden Arches were about in the minds of big companies that churned to occupy the Piazza de Spagna in Rome, out prepared food and microwave dinners despite hard resistance from the Romans. for decades, and which made an indelible One man did not settle for protesting. change at the dinner table. In Norway, such Carlo Petrini founded Arcigola to defend dishes included 1980s classics like “Mexican traditional foods and fight for diversity in Casserole” and “Captain’s Stuffed Flounder” Italian agriculture. Three years later, he as well as frozen “Pizza Grandiosa”, of which went to Paris to meet representatives from 20 million were sold in this Nordic country 15 other countries, and returned to Italy with last year. So we might ask if a manifesto the so-called Slow Food Manifesto in his really makes a difference.