Stockholm, Sweden. I think sometimes the places that impact us the most are the ones we least suspect. I was invited to travel to Stockholm—a city that wasn’t particularly on my radar—and booked my trip with a curious palate. Before our departure, I poured through endless websites, blogs, recommendation lists, hashtags, etc, etc. My research yielded a surprising abundance of Asian influence on the hip, local culinary scene mixed with Swedish tradition. I eagerly booked our reservations and created an intense itinerary of markets, eateries, farms, classes, and studios I simply couldn’t miss.
One of my favorite things about traveling is learning about someone else’s cuisine: where it’s been, where it is, and where it’s going.
This probably goes without saying because most of us love to eat, but exploring other cultures' foodways is one of the most exciting and rewarding things for me. As a food writer and culinary producer, I am always searching for the who, what, where, why, and how of each new place I visit, and even frequent back to areas to dig deeper and deeper.
Photo Courtesy of: Linus Mimiez, @linusmimietz on Unsplash
But, as a homecook, the application of these stories, the ability to bring them to my little kitchen in the country and recreate or reinvent them, is where the real fun (and challenge) begins. Even though I am non-Kosher in my personal life, I am dedicated to taking non-Kosher recipes and finding ways to make them Kosher for Prairie Street’s Culinary Kitchen!
Photo Courtesy of: Jessica Guzik, @jessicaguzik on Unsplash
It was one showstopping meal after another! The imaginative Swedish sushi and singular bites at Sushi Sho, a hole-in-the-wall Michelin Star restaurant!
The sweet, cardamom spiced buns (kardemummabullar) that seem to escort you down each street! The iconic meatballs! The pickled… everything!
The mindblowing ground local lamb wrapped tightly within fragrant betel leaves (cuu la lot) at Minh Mat, one of Stockholm’s super popular Vietnamese eateries! My notebook overflowed, my camera phone ran out of memory, and my heart was bursting at the seams.
Photo Courtesy of: Allen Rad, @allenrad on Unsplash
When I reluctantly returned home, I revisited my pages of scribbles and scrolled through hundreds of quickly shot pics.
My stomach rumbling, I removed a package of Ground Brisket Blend from the freezer. “Swedish Meatballs it is”, I whispered to myself.
While the meat defrosted, I started on some simply mashed potatoes and steamed green beans. I meditatively mixed the defrosted ground beef with fennel seed and other spices. As I began to sear the golf ball-sized meatballs in my old skillet with plenty of caramelized onions, I was transported back to Ostermalms Saluhall—Stockholm’s oldest and most famous food hall. The meatballs set aside, I mixed a rich roux for non-dairy gravy in that same skillet, combining all of those flavors and memories, and then returned the meatballs to finish.
Photo Courtesy of: Emanuel Ekström, @emanuelekstrom on Unsplash
As we sat down to eat, I remembered a jar of Lingonberry jam still in my half-unpacked suitcase. Returning with the treat, we dolloped plenty of sweetness onto our earthy, savory meal and fondly enjoyed our Swedish dinner at home.
Feature Photo Courtesy of: Andreas M, @nextvoyage_pl on Unsplash