Smörgåsbord

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.

Smörgåsbord is a very popular way of serving a large number of guests, either at home or, more often, in upscale hotels, at formal parties, or weddings. The rules of etiquette suggest that a person must make at least four visits to the table, first choosing dishes such as herring, salmon, or shellfish, then cold meats such as pork sausages or liver pâtés.

The third visit is saved for hot dishes such as meatballs or baked beans, while the final round is reserved for cheeses and salads.