Do you know your wine? Ray does...

Remember our good friend Ray the Wine Expert?  Yeps, the chap who sometimes host wine tastings at Scandi Kitchen, writes for several high profile wine magazines and works for The International Wine Challenge?  Ray O'Connor knows his stuff.  

Ray is hosting an evening of wine fun on the 14th December at The Victoria in NW1.

This is a fantastic opportunity to 1) prove to the world you actually know what you are talking about when it comes to wine and 2) rub shoulders with people who really do know what they are talking about (i.e. Ray and Richard) and 3) support a really fantastic cause (it's all for the charity In Vision).

Pop over an e-mail to liz@in-vision.org.uk if you want to set up a team.  

Keep the Gingerbread Houses comin... #Pimpmygingerbreadhouse

The entries for Pimp my Gingerbread House keep coming... Here are this weeks beauties to get you inspired to join in the fun.

More detail on how to join just click here

Don’t forget to share the competition with friends – grown-ups as well as kids.  We welcome all entries: the more silly, the better.  Deadline for submission of your photo is 15th December.

Claire Ramasamy's colourful and exotic house (Grown Up Category):

Oksana from Fallon down the road from the Cafe sent these pics of her "Two-Faced House of Horrors":

Lovely Ida and Lina made this creation for the grown-up competiton called "Where's Barbie"?

And little clever Ivan made this one for the Kid's competiton...

No brunch: It's Christmas

From today (27th Nov) and until last Sunday before Christmas, we've scrapped our usual brunch menu in favour of what we do every year on Sundays:  Christmas Platters.

Pop by and choose from either Swedish or Danish platter - for £9.95, you get herring, salmon, egg, prawns, different meats, salads, cheese and breads.  

Platters served from 11:30 till 15:00 (last orders).  The shop is open for shopping from 10:00-16:00.

See you there

The Kitchen People x

Scandi hello 23rd Nov 2011: Where Santa lives, the BLOSSA mulled wine is in - and why we're all so good at English

oh holy Blossa. 

Ho ho ho, friends.

Let Christmas begin with us asking the question:  Where does Santa really live?

The Danes will claim he lives on Greenland, where as the rest of Northern Europe says Lapland.  In America they claim he lives in Alaska, but we know they are all wrong about that.  The Dutch think he’s from Spain, of all places.   Anyone care to enlighten us?  How do we spin this as to not offend anyone?

Pimp it up, baby

Everyone’s doing it, you know.  Rebekka’s submitted her very own X-Factor Gingerbread house.  The people from the BBC News Quiz with Ms Toksvig have made a house, Thomas who is just 5 has made a cool house with Chebacca guarding the eggs – and loads more coming in.  What’s yours going to be like?

Enter the Pimp My Gingerbread Competition before 15th December and be in with a chance to win a trip for two to the moon.  Actually, that is a lie but the prize really IS good:  lots of food and sweets. 
More here on how you can enter http://xurl.at/65z

Glögg, glögg, glögg

Sit still, all your über-excited Swedes:  Yes, the Blossa mulled wine is here.  Yes, we’ll have several different kinds, including the vintage 2011 with (wait for it) coffee flavour.  From today onwards you will be able to satisfy your cravings and stuff yourself full of ginger biscuits at the same time. 
We’ll also be stocking our own spice mix – as well as the Danish mulled wine extract.  Oh, and brunkager, pebernødder and klejner are in this week too. 

Check out the online store for more goodies www.scandikitchen.co.uk/shop

Three Yule facts to bore your colleagues with this afternoon

1.    The reason Scandinavians celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve and not the 25th is from the old Viking belief that “a new day starts at sun down” – so we get to celebrate it as soon as darkness falls on the 24th. 
2.    There was no tradition with Christmas presents until about 80 years ago. 
3.    Santa is the only one in the world who likes mince pies (probably).

Lovely Lucia

We love celebrating Lucia in Scandinavia.  Every year on 13th December, trains of girls and boys march in the darkness, carrying candles and sing Christmas carols.  In Denmark we eat æbleskiver (little pancake dough balls) and in Sweden we eat saffron buns called Lussebullar. 

Lussebullar will be available from the cafe from next week.  Æbleskiver will be available when we find out where the Christmas gnome has misplaced our pallet.  Last seen in Aarhus on Friday.  Let us know if you encounter someone who looks like he’s eaten over 2000 little dough balls; we’d like a stern word.
Tickets for Lucia at Scandi Kitchen are still available – here’s how you get your hands on yours http://xurl.at/648

This and that and a bit of other stuff

•    Knitted by Grannies in Denmark http://xurl.at/660
•    Sweden’s Royal Family is now on Facebook.  Go on, de-friend them, just because you can  http://xurl.at/661
•    No show for snow in Sweden so far http://xurl.at/662
•    Bananadrama in Sweden http://xurl.at/663
•    The people in The Killing swear too much http://xurl.at/664
•    Why us Scandies are so good at English http://xurl.at/665
•    Rebekka wants one of these calendars http://xurl.at/666

See you in the kitchen soon

Bye for now

The Kitchen People

Scandinavian Kitchen – good food with love from Scandinavia
61 Great Titchfield Street W1W 7PP

p: 0207 580 7161 e:iloveherring@scandikitchen.co.uk
www.scandikitchen.co.uk
Find us on Twitter @scanditwitchen or on Facebook: “Scandinavian Kitchen”.

Knitted by Nanas: the Danish fashion knitters

KAFFESLABBERAS // MADS AND ERNA (SUBTITLED) from Kaffeslabberas on Vimeo.

We're in love with Kaffeslabberaserne in Denmark. Meet the group of Grannies who knit for Danish designers Henrik Vibskov and Mads Norgaard. Watch the video and fall in love with the grannies and hand knitted socks, jumpers and everything inbetween. If you want to know more about the knitting by these Nanas, you can read this very good article right here

Special 50% off tickets to go see Robert Wells' Rhapsody in Rock at Royal Albert Hall

Fancy going to the Royal Albert Hall to see Swedish pianist Robert Wells? At 50% discount? Now you can.

Swedish Superstar - ROBERT WELLS - Rhapsody in Rock – China Edition at THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY - EXCLUSIVE – Monday 28th November 2011

Scandinavian Kitchen customers and friends are offered 50% discount to Robert Wells - Rhapsody in Rock - China Edition. To book and buy tickets, simply go to The Royal Albert Hall Tickets page here and enter discount code 9322 or if you go to the Box Office personally or call then please quote stu456, and please mention Scandinavian Kitchen when booking.

This will be a truly amazing evening, so please tell all your friends and come along to watch Robert Wells, one of Sweden’s biggest stars, play at the world's greatest music hall, London’s famous Royal Albert Hall – this is for one night only, so don’t miss it.

This spectacular concert will be filmed for Television for Sweden and China so will be seen all over the world.

Wonder why Scandies are so good at English?

It's because we grew up with programmes on TV just like this one.

Pimp My Gingerbread House 2011: Thomas' house

Thanks to Thomas who has made this Pimped Up Gingerbread House for the kid's category.  It is entitled "Lego Men".

Thomas' mum writes: 'Chewbacca is in charge and the soldier is guarding the eggs. I do not know what the eggs are or why they are there. The racing driver in the chimney is Santa".

We love your house, Thomas:  totally legendary.  

Send your Pimped Up Gingerbread House photos to iloveherring@scandikitchen.co.uk by 15th December - we have a kids and grown up category going so everyone can get involved.

More about the competition and the rules right here

Pimp My Gingerbread House 2011: The X-Factor House (by Rebekka)

We love this X Factor Gingerbread House, complete with pimped up Frankie playing with snow.

Send your Pimped Up Gingerbread House photos to iloveherring@scandikitchen.co.uk

More about the competition and the rules right here

Pimp My Gingerbread House 2011: First entry

We have our first entry for the Pimp my Gingerbread House 2011.

It's from Olly Robinson, who is 6 years old and he likes really scary things, like Halloween and all the Harry Potter books.  

Do you want to enter the competiton?  We have one for grown ups and one for kids.  Read more here 

Mandelpotet / Mandelpotatis

STOP PRESS:  We have some.  Not a lot, but we have some.

We don't have a price yet (but they have come a long way, baby, all the way from Norway, so it's likely to be a bit ore than your average potato form the cornershop).  Still, if you are making any of the traditional Norwegian or Swedish dishes where you'd use Mandelpotet, then you're in luck.

Mail bronte@scandikitchen.co.uk if interested and we'll let you know when they are in store.

Love

The Kitchen People

x

Annual Christmas Fair at the Danish YMCA in London 2011

This years Christmas Bazaar  for the Danish community will take place on

Saturday 26th November from 12 - 17
and
Sunday 27th November from 12 - 16

Admission £ 1

Address: 43 Maresfield Gardens, Hampstead, London NW3 5TF

Please feel free to bring your family and friends for this great Danish Christmas Extravaganza.

Nearest tubes: Hampstead (Northern Line) or Finchley Road (Jubilee or Metropolitan Line)

Free car parking on Maresfield Gardens and surrounding streets on Saturday after 1.30 pm and all day Sunday.

 

Annual Christmas fair at the Norwegian Church in London 2011

This year's Christmas Fair for the Norwegian Church will be held from 18th-20th November.

Waffles and brunost, anyone?  And loads and loads fo other Norwegian goodies to buy.

Opening hours:

Friday 18th November 11am-6pm
Saturday 19th November 10am-5pm
Sunday 20th November 12.30pm-5pm (Service at 11am)

Admission: £1 (Children under 12 free)

Adress: 1 St Olav's Square, Rotherhithe, London SE16 7JB
Tube: Jubilee line, Bermondsey and Canada Water stations (check before you travel)
Bus: 188, 381, 47, C10 stop Southwark Park

Annual Christmas Fair at the Finnish Church in London 2011

This weekend and next week is also the annual Christmas fair at the Finnish Church in London (in Rotherhide).

Pop by and stock up on Finnish goodies.

Joulumyyjaiset

pe 18.11.2011 - 26.11.2011 klo 12:00, Lontoon merimieskirkko

Lontoon merimieskirkon perinteiset joulumyyjaiset pidetaan seuraavina paivina: Traditional Finnish Church Christmas Fair will be held on following dates: Fr 18/11 12-20 Sa 19/11 10-18 Su 20/11 10-18 We 23/11 12-20 Th 24/11 12-20 Fr 25/11 12-20 Sa 26/11 10-18

Here's how to find the Finnish Church in Rotherhide.  

 

Swedish Church in London Christmas Market 2011

This coming weekend sees the annual Swedish Church Christmas Fair.   It takes place at the Swedish Church in Harcourt Street, Marylebone.

Go along, it is for a good cause and they need your support.



Weekly News 11th Nov 2011: J-Day has arrived, a bit about Berlusconi and Pimp My Gingerbread House 2011

 

Hallo

We can take it no longer.  Our warehouse is bulging with stuff from all over Scandinavia and most of it is telling us that Christmas really isn’t very far away at all. Sorry if you’re not quite ready, because WE are. Jul, jul, jul.  

Pimp my gingerbread house

It’s the event of the year for some of us.  This year, Pimp my Gingerbread House is a real competition and you can win a real prize.  

It’s simple:  we want to see your creative skills in action.  We have a competition for both kids and adults, so there is no excuse not to get gingerbread-house-building.  

More here on how you can enter http://xurl.at/645

J-Day for all

Every year in the little country that is Denmark, one day is known as J-Day.  Nope, it is not the National Celebration of Jonas, it is the national celebration of Julebryg.   Tuborg Julebryg to be precise.  You can now get your Julebryg Christmas Beer fix at our place.  

While we do have a nice amount of stock, it is pretty guaranteed that we will run at  some point, so best to get your skates on and order now.  If you order for pick-up in store, please allow 24 hours – and make sure you tell us when you’re coming. http://xurl.at/646

Join us for LUCIA at Scandinavian Kitchen

Following the massive success of last year’s mini Lucia events at Scandi Kitchen, we’re repeating the Lucia sessions this year.

The lovely Cecilia, a professional Swedish Jazz singer, is joined by five of her singing friends and they will do several Lucia sessions in December.

Tickets are £5 each and all cash go to the singers.  Note that tickets are super limited and can only be bought online here http://xurl.at/648

Bits and pieces

•           Note that PINNEKJOT (extremely limited supply) will be up for sale from MONDAY morning from the webshop.

•           Moose of the week http://xurl.at/649

•           Sweden is playing England at Wembley on Tuesday. Are you going?  We are.  http://ticketing.thefa.com/

•           Pippi in non-PC waters http://xurl.at/64a

•           Our Xmas catering menus are up on-line http://xurl.at/64b

•           Go Berlusconi http://xurl.at/64c

See you in the kitchen soon

Bye for now 

The Kitchen People

Scandinavian Kitchen – good food with love from Scandinavia

61 Great Titchfield Street W1W 7PP

p: 0207 580 7161 e:iloveherring@scandikitchen.co.uk

www.scandikitchen.co.uk

Find us on Twitter @scanditwitchen or on Facebook: “Scandinavian Kitchen”. 

Moose of the week: The perfect gift

The moose have been quiet this week.  No threesomes, no drunken antics.  

Instead, we've found the perfect Christmas gift for any Moose Lover:  The 2012 Moose Calendar.

Fantastic.

 

 

 

St Lucia celebrations at Scandi Kitchen 2011

BUY TICKETS HERE - VERY LIMITED SPACES 

13th December every year is the celebration of St Lucia (or St Lucy) – a festival widely celebrated across Scandinavia.  Girls dress in white robes and carry candles in a long procession and sing the hymn about Lucia.

The candles symbolise the fire that refused to take St. Lucia's life when she was sentenced to be burned.   Traditionally a Catholic festival, it is thought that this tradition survived in Scandinavia because it is celebrated during the very dark days of winter.  Some people believe that back in the day when us Scandies celebrated Yule (or Jol) at Winter Solstice, it was both a season of giving, kindness and celebration - but also a season of fear of dark forces – the scariest night of all at that time was called the Night of Lussi – Lussinatta.  Some believe that the festival of light is from this time to fend off the evil forces.

 Across Scandinavia, people celebrate St Lucia with singing traditional songs – and bearing candles.  We appreciate that it is hard to attend Lucia events outside Scandinavia, so we put on several mini Lucias every year for those of you who fancy a Lucia-fix before Christmas – or perhaps is just curious to know what it is all about.
Cecilia is a professional jazz singer and she together with five of her singer-friends make up the Scandi Kitchen Lucia Train.  They will sing songs such as Jul Jul, Staffan, Sa mork ar morgondagen,A child is born and more.

The shop will close during each event.  All the lights will be switched off and we will enjoy the singing and the candle light.  Tickets cost £5 each and all the cash goes directly to the singers.  Each Lucia event lasts about 30 minutes.  Please note that there is a strict limit of 40 tickets per session as we simply do not have any extra space.  

There will be no tickets sold on the door on the day.  Children under 8 go free, but please, pretty please, advise us in the notes if you will be bringing younger children because we need to make sure we have space allocated for them.  Please also note that Lucia sessions start promptly on time and the doors will close at start time.

You can buy your tickets from the online shop here - make sure that you choose "collect from store" on checkout or else you will be charged postage.  Your order confirmation is your ticket, just bring it along on the day.

These are the sessions:
Saturday 10th December   8:45, 9:30, 18:30, 20:00
Sunday 11th December 8:45, 9:45, 16:30, 17:30
Tuesday 13th December 18:00, 19:30

 

Berlusconi caught checking out Gucci Helle's behind

The Danish Prime minister is called Helle and it seems Berlusconi was caught checking out her Danish behind at a meeting the other day.

 

 

Hello?

We *heart* Lional at the best of times, but especially today.

We bet he's Scandinavian, really.

Pimp My Gingerbread House 2011

It's the excuse you have been waiting for:  we want to see you build the coolest Gingerbread House.

All you have to do is get your hands on one of these, put it together and then decorate it the most inventive way possible.  You can pimp it, you can add twinkling lights, you can add fairy dust, you can paint it black and call it HogWarts...A new home for Polly Pocket or a Gingerbread Crack Den.  Whatever floats your boat.  

Our Anna is currently building a My Little Pony Gingerbread House and Bronte is making a Gingerbread Nightclub.  Many more are in progress...

We have two competitions:

Kids under 14            

1st Prize is big box filled with sweets and treats from Scandi Kitchen

Grown Ups:           

A big Christmas Hamper full of goodies as well as free lunch for two and your photo up on the wall at Scandi Kitchen all of January.

How to enter:       

Using the same base model from ANNAS, build your house.  Then take a photo of your house and mail it to iloveherring@scandikitchen.co.uk, along with your name, address and contact telephone number (and also do tell us which competition you are  entering).

Last date for submission of photos:  15th December.

The rules:

One entry per person.  All entries must use the same kit - that was we all have a fair starting point.   There are no entry too extravagant or silly although if it offends, we can't really include it.  No alternative prizes, all other usual competition rules apply.  Winner will be chosen by a panel of super qualified judges.  By entering this copetiton you give us the right to mention your name and display your photo at the cafe and on our website.

The Gingerbread Crackhouse we found online deserves a mention:

 

It's J-DAY (Tuborg Julebryg Day 2011)

Our Roy Karlsson and our Magic Moa celebrate the delivery

J-Day means Julebryg Day.  Julebryg is the annual Danish Christmas beer and J-day is the day it is released and the day where most of Denmark stops to go to the pub and celebrate the first day of Christmas.

We have our own J-Day today because last night, the delivery came in and we now have enough Julebryg to forget all about Christmas.

As with every year, this stuff WILL sell out.  The only way to secure your order is if you pick up your stash now or order it online - because once it's gone, we wont get more in.

We have both Julebryg from Tuborg and the delightful Hansa juleol.

Pick up a whole case of Tuborg Julebryg (24 cans) for £31.95.

Single cans of Tuborg are £1.75 and six packs are £8.95.