A smörgåsbord is a buffet-style meal of Swedish origin. Dating back to the mid-1800s, smörgåsbord became more widely known in the United States at the 1939 New York World's Fair when it was offered at the Swedish Pavilion's Three Crowns Restaurant.
Each course has its own type of food
The traditional Swedish smörgåsbord is served with various hot and mainly cold dishes. It's a multi-course buffet meal that features a wide array of dishes. The meal is eaten in distinct phases or courses, each with its own type of food.
Each course is meant to be savored gradually, with diners taking small portions from each round. It's a highly social dining experience. Here are the six classic phases of a smörgåsbord you can leisurely partake in with friends:
- Herring (Sill) Course: The meal starts with different varieties of herring, often pickled or marinated in sauces like mustard or dill. Hard-boiled eggs, crispbread, and boiled potatoes may accompany this course.
- Cold Fish Course: After herring, other cold fish dishes are served, such as gravlax (cured salmon), smoked salmon, or eel. These are often paired with sauces like mustard-dill and accompanied by bread.
- Cold Meats Course: The third course features cold meats like ham, pâté, liverwurst, smoked sausages, and other charcuterie, along with accompaniments like pickles and mustard.
- Hot Dishes Course: Warm dishes are introduced next, including Swedish meatballs (köttbullar), small sausages, Jansson's Temptation (a potato and anchovy casserole), and other hearty foods. Potatoes and vegetables are served as sides.
- Cheese Course: The cheese course includes a selection of Swedish cheeses served with crispbread or dark bread. Sometimes fruit, like grapes or figs, may accompany this course.
- Dessert and Coffee: The Smörgåsbord concludes with dessert, often featuring cakes, cookies, or sweet pastries, along with coffee or tea.
Akvavit (or aquavit) is a distilled spirit principally produced in Scandinavia. One tradition is to sip akvavit between each of the six courses.
Sill (herring)
The Swedish word “sill” translates to herring in English. Herring is a small, edible fish found in the North and Baltic Seas. VITA says their wild caught herring from the North Atlantic continues to have the same great taste from when the company was founded in 1898. This and other herring brands are available in most grocery stores.
Lingonberries
Lingonberries are a "superfruit" high in Vitamin C that have a variety of health benefits. They are best grown in Scandinavian countries like Sweden and the upper reaches of North America in Canada.
In English, the lingonberry is known by several other names, such as cowberry, moss cranberry, mountain cranberry, partridgeberry, red whortleberry, alpine cranberry, lingon and lingen.
For Scandinavians, lingonberries go with almost anything. All year long, Swedes eat lingonberries with foods including meatballs, chicken, turkey, and pancakes. Sylt Lingon is available at IKEA (sylt is the Swedish word for jam). Köttbullar and mashed potatoes are often served with lingonberries. They go well with pancakes, too.
As you enter the IKEA College Park location, make an immediate left and go down the long hallway. That will take you to the Scandinavian food section.
St. Lucia Pageant and Jul Fest in Potomac
Vasa Order of America Drott Lodge #168 has served the DC region for over 100 years! This event will be held on December 14 in Potomac. Visit drott-lodge.org for more information and to RSVP.
Each course is meant to be savored gradually. Diners take small portions from each round. It's a highly social dining experience!