Gina and Adrian

Profile: Eight years ago, Bella Hodge of Gunners Cove, purchased a small building by the water in L’Anse aux Meadows with the goal of opening the first bed and breakfast in the area. However, realizing that in order to cater to many tourists’ needs, she would need a building much larger than she had purchased, she decided to let her daughter Gina take over the building and transform it into what is now one of the finest restaurants in Newfoundland and Labrador.

At the young age of 20, in 1994, Gina Hodge had an idea to enter into the food service industry. Already having the building to do so, she opened a small restaurant and art gallery featuring locally made crafts; the Norseman Restaurant and Gaia Art Gallery, located in L’Anse aux Meadows. In 1998, Gina’s husband Adrian - having a natural talent for cooking - entered into business with her and the couple decided to expand the restaurant and building to accommodate for the increasing demand and number of tourists frequenting the area. Today, the Norseman Restaurant is one the restaurants in the province that have star ratings in ‘Where to eat in Canada’.

The food at the restaurant it known for its freshness and high quality. To ensure that customers are guaranteed fresh seafood, Gina actually keeps the lobsters enclosed in a crate in the ocean in front of the restaurant. When a customer orders a lobster, they are given a pair of rubber boots and brought down to the wharf so they can pick out whichever lobster they desire!

Not only is the business known for its delicious menu and extensive art exhibit, but it is also a venue to which many come for a night of entertainment. Gina is heavily involved in the province-wide theatrical venue Soirees and Times, and hosts dinner theaters in her restaurant throughout the summer months called, “The Tales of L’Anse aux Meadows”. Gina writes the scripts for all of the skits; each of which are based on local folklore of the Dorset Eskimos, the French, the English and the Vikings of the area.

The aspect of owning her own business that Gina enjoys the most is the people interaction. Visitors from all over the world have commented on her restaurant, and even leave tokens of their appreciation which are all placed on display throughout the restaurant