As some of you may know, family and friends made it so that I’ve now got quite the connection to Sweden. Hence, I’ve spent a fair amount of time there during the last few years and of course indulged on what they have to offer culinary-wise.
Inhabited by bearded, long-haired brutes commonly known as Vikings up until a few decades ago (I think) the cuisine of Sweden is only slowly recovering from centuries of a meat and potatoes diet.
Fortunately, that transition still goes on, and so the Swedes still love their meatballs with mashed potatoes. Traditionally served with cucumber-salad, a nutty sauce containing all sorts of things that make it taste all nutty and delicious, these Köttbullar, as they are called by those capable of the language (or of remembering a foreign word, which would be me), are something everyone who ventures onto Swedish soil should try.
The picture you’re seeing above was taken inside Östermalm’s Saluhall. It’s a beautiful food-market in Östermalm, probably the most affluent of Stockholm’s districts. Many food stalls also sport bar-like areas where hungry shoppers can indulge on Swedish cuisine.
So if you ever happen to be in the lucky position of spending time in Stockholm and are hungry for some real Köttbullar, do go there.
By the way, you might be familiar with an outfit named IKEA. Even though they do serve something there named Köttbullar, it’s in no way comparable to the real deal. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have them, because frankly, after an hour of walking past cupboards, bed, cuttlery, lamps and whatever else that store sells, I too am quite partial to what they offer in their cantine. Err, restaurant. Just don’t expect it to be anything like the real deal.