Scandinavian
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The Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Denmark and Norway have a long tradition of living on and from the land: traditional cured fish, lingonberries and elk still feature heavily on the Scandinavian menu of today.
From sill to sushi
Swedish meatballs is perhaps the most classic of Swedish dishes, made from mixed minced meat and usually served with boiled potatoes, cream sauce and bright red slightly acidic lingonberries - known as the 'red gold of the polar forest'. Other well-loved foods include the falun sausage, a lightly smoked and boiled sausage, and herring or 'sill' as it's known in Sweden. The Danes have their own version of meatballs too - they are often served with red cabbage.
While traditional meat-heavy dishes still top the menu, cuisines from other cultures have become more noticeable in the diets of Scandinavians. For example, among young people with no children the weekly menu can happily consist of pizza, a Thai take away or the modern favourite - sushi.
As in many other European cities the cafe latte culture is huge in Scandinavia. For traditionalists, there still are old classic coffee places (konditorier or kaffestugor in Sweden) that continue to serve only fine-grind coffee. Instead of focaccia and brownies customers can choose from a range of different traditional fancy biscuits. If you're ever in Österlen (in the east of Skåne) it's worth visiting Café Annorlunda or Systrarna Lundgren to sample Swedish traditional coffee culture.
Liquorice is also very popular in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Denmark, where there is a preference for the strong, black, salty varieties.
Game
Gamey dishes are most common in the north of Sweden where there is a strong tradition of hunting. Besides roast elk and reindeer meat, a traditional dish from the north is pitepalt - a boiled potato cake, flavoured with bacon or minced pork. These are served with melted butter and lingonberries. Kroppkakor, a speciality from the southern Swedish island of Öland is similar and consists of boiled potaotes filled with pork and onion.
Dairy produce
It's hard to imagine eating in Denmark, Sweden or Norway if you suffer from a lactose intolerance. Dairy foods feature heavily and there are a vast range of goodies to choose from. Try Norwegian gammelost, a sour milk cheese made by boiling milk without rennet, or Denmark's deliciously tangy blue cheeses and mild semi-soft havarti.
Swedish meatballs is perhaps the most classic of Swedish dishes, made from mixed minced meat and usually served with boiled potatoes, cream sauce and bright red slightly acidic lingonberries - known as the 'red gold of the polar forest'. Other well-loved foods include the falun sausage, a lightly smoked and boiled sausage, and herring or 'sill' as it's known in Sweden. The Danes have their own version of meatballs too - they are often served with red cabbage.
While traditional meat-heavy dishes still top the menu, cuisines from other cultures have become more noticeable in the diets of Scandinavians. For example, among young people with no children the weekly menu can happily consist of pizza, a Thai take away or the modern favourite - sushi.
As in many other European cities the cafe latte culture is huge in Scandinavia. For traditionalists, there still are old classic coffee places (konditorier or kaffestugor in Sweden) that continue to serve only fine-grind coffee. Instead of focaccia and brownies customers can choose from a range of different traditional fancy biscuits. If you're ever in Österlen (in the east of Skåne) it's worth visiting Café Annorlunda or Systrarna Lundgren to sample Swedish traditional coffee culture.
Liquorice is also very popular in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Denmark, where there is a preference for the strong, black, salty varieties.
Game
Gamey dishes are most common in the north of Sweden where there is a strong tradition of hunting. Besides roast elk and reindeer meat, a traditional dish from the north is pitepalt - a boiled potato cake, flavoured with bacon or minced pork. These are served with melted butter and lingonberries. Kroppkakor, a speciality from the southern Swedish island of Öland is similar and consists of boiled potaotes filled with pork and onion.
Dairy produce
It's hard to imagine eating in Denmark, Sweden or Norway if you suffer from a lactose intolerance. Dairy foods feature heavily and there are a vast range of goodies to choose from. Try Norwegian gammelost, a sour milk cheese made by boiling milk without rennet, or Denmark's deliciously tangy blue cheeses and mild semi-soft havarti.
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