What is a Smorgasbord? Learn the Rules of the 300 Year Old Swedish Tradition

What is a Smorgasbord? Learn the Rules of the 300 Year Old Swedish Tradition

If you are thinking about enjoying a smorgasbord while visiting Sweden or a traditional Swedish restaurant, there are some rules of etiquette that you may enjoy acquainting yourself with so you will appear worldly. Since I am not a meat/poultry eater, I got it all wrong. Still, there was so much to pick from so you will not go hungry.

Thanks to a magazine picked up on an airplane, the Swedish smorgasbord has been explained and deconstructed.* However, this magazine was obtained after the meal.

The smorgasbord is a 300 year old Swedish tradition. This national meal is an immense feast often indulged in for celebrations. The literal translation is “sandwich table” but the meal itself is much more than sandwiches. Generally, it is considered a four to six course meal.

In addition to the order in which the meal is eaten, each course requires a clean plate.

Instead of appearing to be a rank tourist, you can easily look like you know what you are doing if you don’t pile your plate with everything you see. Take your time and start correctly with the first course:

COURSE ONE:

Start with the herring. There are many kinds. I like the pickled kind with onion, mustard, and dill. Some versions have carrot and cumin. Add sour cream and other accompaniments like boiled potatoes, sharp cheese and nice crisp brown bread. Drink it with a shot of Sweden’s favorite libation: aquavit (a schnapps-like liqueur flavored with herbs). Then follow with s Swedish beer.

COURSE TWO:

Next is seafood. A personal pleasure. The gravalax is marinated salmon with mustard sauce and dill. There is also smoked salmon with a bit of lemon juice, and smoked eel which is quite tasty. The black roe is eaten with sour cream and onion. I can’t do the anchovies (anywhere on earth) and there is also shrimp.

COURSE THREE:

This is where I began to fall apart a bit because I am not a reindeer eater, or a consumer of any kind of meat or poultry. But there are a lot of vegetable salads to enjoy as well as egg dishes. For the meat eaters you can now enjoy pate, all kinds of cold cuts, beef, chicken, pork, lots of ham, and smoked reindeer. But while the others scarf down lots of meat, it’s at this point where you can have more aquavit and/or beer.

COURSE FOUR:

More meat, more meat, and more meat. This is where you have the well-known dish - Swedish meatballs served with loganberries. Also all sorts of main dishes and warm meats. There are spare ribs, ham, and a casserole with potatoes, onions, and anchovies.

COURSE FIVE:

Here you will find an assortment of cheeses including brie.

COURSE SIX:

My favorite part - desserts. Lots of ice cream is available as well as cake and fresh strawberries.

End with lots of black coffee and a chilled digestive called punsch.

*American Way (June 15, 2008)