An epic and abundant Swedish buffet, smörgåsbord is a combination of two words: smörgås, an open sandwich, and bord, a table. The term refers to any all-you-can-eat buffet with self-service and a variety of pan-global food.
Popular in Sweden since the 18th century, smörgåsbord hosts a display of colorful, complex, and lavish foods and dishes such as herring, salmon, sliced cold cuts of meat, vegetables, breads, cheeses, wild berries, pastries, and jams. The dishes can be hot or cold and may range from appetizers to desserts.
MOST ICONIC Smörgåsbord
Although it is translated as cold buffet, Danish koldt bord is a traditional meal in which a variety of cold and warm dishes are served buffet-style. Danish tradition suggests that every buffet should have a serving of meat, cold cuts, seafood, cheese, bread, sandwiches, pickles, and desserts, but there are no strict rules concerning the choice of food.
Many luncheon restaurants include koldt bord as part of their regular service, and traditional Christmas or Easter lunch in Denmark is often served in a similar manner.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Thorramatur is a selection of traditional Icelandic foods consumed predominantly during the Nordic month of Þorri, taking place from mid-January to mid-February each year. Cured fish and meat products are cut into slices or bite-sized pieces and served alongside rúgbrauð and butter on numerous buffet tables.
The standard choice includes specialties like fermented shark meat, smoked lamb, seared lamb head, blood sausages, and much more, all of which can be additionally soured according to personal preferences. Typical accompaniments include brennivín, Iceland's flavored spirit drink, and seasonal Þorri beer that is traditionally produced by local breweries specifically for the occasion.
Sju sorters kakor is a Swedish phrase that translates to seven kinds of cookies. It's a tradition deeply rooted in Swedish culture, particularly when it comes to coffee gatherings known as fika. The tradition goes back several generations when it was believed to be courteous and almost expected to offer at least seven types of cookies (among them drömmar, hallongrotta, brysselkex, etc.) when you had guests over for coffee.
Offering fewer might be perceived as impolite or an indication of not being well-prepared for guests. Today, while many might not strictly adhere to the rule of seven, the phrase remains a popular representation of Swedish hospitality. Over the years, the concept has expanded from cookies to cakes and pastries.
VARIATIONS OF Sju sorters kakor
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