A Taste of Scandinavia

Lauren Staugler,Tricia Alexander,

Sara Novak, Elena Sampalis

Sweden Norway Finland

On the Map

History of Food & Cooking

• Each scandinavian country has it’s own personality and type of cuisine.

• Some of these countries include:o Norwayo Denmarko Sweden

Norway Food• Norwegian’s are known for fresh fish and seafood.

Denmark• Most influenced by continental cuisine, which

consists of high quality local produce. • Causes many local restaurants to have top notch

ratings because their style of food is beautifully presented

Famous Food in Denmark: Smørrebrød

Sweden • Wonderfully known for their lavish pork, dairy

products, and baked goods.

o Swedish Chocolate Dream Cake

Cooking Methods• Use common ingredients in creative ways• Food is normally baked, braised, simmered, or

pan-fried----very rarely deep fried• Scandinavians prefer to cook with foods that are

in season• Process of preserving meat for long dark winters

by:o Salting, dehydrating and curing o Started by Vikings ,but still use same techniques for preservation

Spices/Herbs• Fresh Dill

• Peppercorns• Whole Allspice

• Dill Seed• Fennel

• Caraway• Cardamom

• Saffron• Nutmeg

• Cinnamon• White Pepper• Salt and Sugar

Foods Available

--Fish, deer, elk, and bear meat is always available

--Denmark produces fieldcrops and dairy products with no mountains

--Exports large amount of cheese.

Typical Meals and Servings:

--Breakfast: Hot and cold cereal --Lunch:Open faced sandwiches are typically served topped

with cheese, cucumbers and tomatoesBeverages are milk, coffee or possibly tea.

--Dinner : Simple appetizers such as herring and cured, smoked fish. A main dish of meat or fish would be served with potatoes and a vegetable or salad. Flat breads are

served with every dinner.. Fruits are often made into hot or cold soups or into compotes which may be served as an

appetizer.--Dessert and coffee would complete the meal

--On special occasions and holidays a Swedish Smorgasbord (sandwich table)

Food Guide Pyramid• Sweden was the first to publish a food guide

pyramid in 1974.

Customs and Traditions Behind the

Food• Vikings’ would always eat mussels and oysters

which is partly where the heavy influence of sea food comes from. o Location also clearly plays a long part.o Fish is usually the least expensive thing on the menu

• Foods are usually more saltyo In the past foods were preserved with salt to survive the

long winters, tradition is still around today

Midsummer • Longest, brightest day of the year

o After months of darkness

• Originally a festival to celebrate fertilityo Rituals and traditions in hope of a good harvest

• Food: potatoes with herring, smoked fish, fruit, beer and/or schnapps

• Maypoles, Dancing, Bonfires, Folk Songs

Christmas• Advent with candles

o Purple• St. Lucia

o Celebrated by children o Candle wreaths

• “Christmas morning” is actual Christmas Eve morningo Lutefisk (fish dinner) is eaten by only 2% of population

• Most people eat pork or beefo Almond is hidden in the casserole to be discover to a lucky winnero Rice porridge is left outside for Santa who visits after dinner

Geography • Sweden

o Southwest of country has seasons like ourso Northern region is sub-arctic o Sea creates plentiful fish and sea life to sell and eat

• Norwayo Only about 3.3% of their land is in use, most is mountainous.o Sea is used as resource for food as wello Cold climate, but recently there has been an increase in temperatures.

• Believed to be global warming • Finland

o Southern portions of the country are covered in snow 3-4 months of the year• Longer winters than ours

o Land closest to coast is used for farmingo Use sea as a resource

Animals For Food Supply

• Fish, mainly prawns, salmon, mackerel & herring

• Lamb• Wild game (boar, fowl, reindeer,

moose)• Root vegetables• Berries• Preserve/freeze

Exports-Mostly from Denmark

• 62% of Denmark’s land is used for agricultural purposes

• 25 million pigs• 120 million chickens• 10 million mink furs• Also big quantities of eggs, beef and

dairy products

Exports-Denmark• Has two of Europe’s largest

processing companiesoDanish Crown, meat production

and processingoArla Foods, dairy

Scandinavia Imports• Geography limits agriculture:oCertain fruits and vegetablesoRiceoOiloRaw coffee, tea and cocoaoWineoFish!

Taste Test: Blueberry Soup