A Swedish smorgasbord done right
If you visit Stockholm, don’t miss the chance to sample an authentic Swedish smorgasbord at the Grand Hotel. Not only is the meal steeped in tradition, the setting is spectacular, with views of the busy harbor, Old Town and the Royal Palace.
Along with Swedish meatballs, the smorgasbord is one of Sweden’s best-known culinary exports. At the beginning of the 18th century, when Swedes began receiving visitors from other parts of Europe, they didn’t want to make their guests wait to eat. So they served guests cold foods (like salted fish, sandwiches and salads of boiled potatoes) that could be prepared ahead, before serving them cooked dishes.
The smorgasbord came to America via the 1939 World’s Fair in New York as a way to showcase Swedish foods and inspired the serve-yourself buffets popular at American restaurants and in home entertaining.
As opposed to filling a buffet plate with different foods, a traditional Swedish smorgasbord begins each of five courses with a clean plate. The foods are eaten in order, and fish is never eaten with meat. The multicourse meals highlight local delicacies and still remain popular in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.
(Credit: Jerome Levine)
The first plate at the Grand Hotel smorgasbord includes a choice of herring dishes, new potatoes, crisp breads and cheeses. (The recommended libation: cold beer or a shot of the hotel’s homemade 1874 Grand Aquavit.) The next plate offers delicacies such as dry-cured spiced salmon (gravlax) served with dill and mustard sauces, and smoked salmon with lemon. Then diners select from cold salads, egg dishes and charcuterie (sausages, ham and pates) before they savor hot dishes, such as meatballs with lingonberry jam. Finally, guests choose from a decadent dessert spread with fruits, chocolates, cookies and cakes.
The classic hotel, which dates to 1874, has entertained celebrities, politicians and royalty, including Winston Churchill, Greta Garbo, Martin Luther King Jr., Frank Sinatra and Bono. The banquet for the first Nobel Prize was held there in 1901. The smorgasbord is served at the recently renovated Veranda Restaurant.
IF YOU GO
The smorgasbord costs about $70 for lunch and about $75 for dinner. Check ahead of time for hours, which may vary on weekends and holidays. Reservations can be made online atgrandhotel.se/en or by email at [email protected].
[This article was published in the Chicago Tribune Sunday Travel Section on March 23, 2014.]
Also about Stockholm, Sweden on More Time To Travel:
- What is Swedish Food?
- The Cube: A nomadic one-off, pop-up feast for the senses
- Nobis Hotel: Captivating luxury in Stockholm
This post is part of a LinkUp at Noel Morata’s Travel Photo Discovery.
Thanks for these tips. Planning to be in Stockholm in a couple months.
Lucky you, Alexandra!
The smorgasbord looks and sounds wonderful.
Oh my, look at all that smoked salmon. And the chocolate lingonberry dessert? Too much :-). We’d happily follow in Winston’s footsteps to sample all this…
The Grand Hotel looks aptly named and the smorgasbord looks mouthwatering. Would love to experience that someday.
It really is a standout experience in Stockholm!
That smorgasbord looks amazing and would blow my diet for sure. What a beautiful area and sights of the city.
Definitely not diet food!
I love this version, not loaded and so elegantly presented, I think a nice splurge like this is always in order. Please do share it with us for Travel Photo Mondays Irene, the link is up and will be for the entire week.
My best friend from high school has lived in Sweden for more than 20 years and I want to visit so badly especially after reading your post. Those smorgasbord dinners look incredible especially that dessert!
Congrats on having this published in the Chicago Tribune. I’m sure other outlets will pick it up. We have visited Denmark and Finland, but have yet to visit Sweden and Norway. Not sure I’ll be able to get my head around spending $70 for lunch (it will be more by the time we get there), but this smorgasbord does look very enticing.
You would spending it on a one-of-a-kind experience:-)
Thanks, Irene, and again your timing is perfect. We’re headed to Sweden in May/June.
Be sure to visit the Ostermalms Market when you are there, Kristin~
Oh, my gosh. I could spend hours devouring smoked salmon! Now that I know how it’s supposed to be done, eating at a smorgasbord like this is definitely going on my to-do list for when we get to Sweden.
Very cool! I like the idea of keeping courses separate in a buffet as I don’t like it when things get all mashed up on our plates. I’ve never been to Sweden, and have never thought of it as a culinary destination, but I am now rethinking that mindset. Thx for the enlightening post, Irene.
You had me at gravlax! Great images!