Scandinavian Kitchen

Best hockey goal?

This player is the nost talked about hockey dude in the Us at the moment.  Oliver Wahlstrom is from Portland, Maine - and is the son of a professinal Swedish hockey player (go figure!).  Oliver is only 9 years old.  Now watch this kid in action

Fed up with the British weather reports?

...then try this method - might be more accurate?

Our favourite clip this week...

If you can't see the whole screen, try this link http://www.artcore.nl/529

Danish language

A Norwegian clip about writing songs....(Norwegian only, sorry)

Best of the random clips 2008

Preben and Preben or is it Seb and Henrik?

We got great feedback on our words that mean something else in English

Tesco's war against Denmark

Norwegians make fun of the Danish language

You can always click on the subject "random stuff" or "amusing stuff" to get a full list if you've got nothing better to do.

A nice place in Scandinavia # 3 - Henrik's 'Rydsgaard'

By Henrik

 

Rydsgård was conceived after the railway between Malmo-Ystad was built in 1874. The village, on the south coast of Sweden, boasts a population of 1301 and the “Skivarpsån” river divides the village in two parts – very much like the Thames in London. Both sides have their own church but the pizzeria, the newsagent and the nursing home are situated on the south side, hence making it the town centre. The local school, on the north side, educates years 1-6 with almost 200 pupils enrolled. It houses kids of the local farming communities as well as a few of the more urbanised pupils from both sides of the river. It is, however, highly unusual for people to get along with villagers from the other side and marrying someone who grew up on another street than your own is almost unheard of.

 

Rydsgårdians have always been jealous of the neighbouring village Västra Vemmenhög, from where the young boy, who rode the length of Sweden on the back of a goose, started his journey.

 

The village’s biggest tourist attraction used to be Rydsgårds Stängselnät AB, the nail and barbed wire factory. It had a very distinct smell and every now and then a big truck would arrive to pick up the daily production. It did however burn down in 1984, even prompting a 30 second feature on the local news. 

 

Football is the most popular pastime in Rydsgård. We are very proud of our team that currently sits in 12^th place in southern Sweden’s sixth division. Throughout the eighties the first team consisted of seven brothers and three cousins of the same family. Their mother was the kit man for the whole club because she had two washing machines. One of the brothers, Ola, even had a trial with Trelleborgs FC who used to play in the Swedish premier league. Another famous footballer from Rydsgård was Anders Fredriksson (a.k.a. “the elk” due to his long legs) who once hit a penalty kick to a throw-in.

 

Other famous members of the community include Rickard Andersson, who played keyboards for Yngwie Malmsteen and Laine Olsson, who won a Volvo on “Bingo lotto”.

  Rydsgaard last thursday in Rush hour?

Mow or grow?

 

Awwww... so fresh faced...

Our Jonas decided, about 7 months ago, that it was time to Grow a Mo.  It then became a competition with Henrik Rock Star and Sebastian – but since then, his Mo seems to have stayed around.  And gotten bigger.  And bigger.  At one point he said the aim was to become a member of the Handlebar club, but have not seen any application forms so far.  His girlfriend thinks it’s time to go back to being a fresh faced Swede, but what does everyone else think?

We’ve now decided to make it up to you.  Over the next few weeks, there’ll be two pots in Scandi Kitchen – one for MOW and one for GROW.  At the end of this time, the pot with most dosh in it wins.  If it’s GROW, Jonas will keep his tash and if it’s MOW, well, then we’ll get the shears out and maybe knit a scarf from all the wool.

You can also donate to the cause here - we’ve chosen the charity CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids) as this is the charity Scandi Kitchen supports.

Last date for having your say is 6^th November.  We’ll keep you posted on news on the blog.

Learn Swedish in a jiffy

Look what we found...

...an old advert that Peter made...

Preben and Preben

Our Swedish friends love making fun of the Danes almost as much as the Danes love making fun of the Swedes.  Here's a good old clip (Sw-Danish only, sorry)

A stark warning - be careful when at Scandinavian Kitchen if Henrik and Sebastian are around, they love nothing more than to re-act this entire sketch, so don't get them started.

Postcard from Heather & Jo #5

 Stockholm Culture Festival "Carnival"

All good things come to an end and so it was time for us to leave. Following the grand finale of the Culture Festival on Saturday night, we awoke to the pouring rain (being British I believe it is my duty to always talk about the weather) and the knowledge that team GB were third in the Olympic medals table. Go team GB!

On reflection, we think Sweden has the answer to London's knife crime problem - Swedish female police officers; that is if the two we saw are a good representation. Gone would be the thoughts of knifes, in the hope of being searched thoroughly by a female police officer!

Our final day took us to Stockholm's City Museum where we learnt about the city's "filth" and "prohibition" - even chocolate was banned and servants could be jailed for wearing silk! The horror!

As we stocked up on choolate with Daim (no longer prohibited), Stimorol chewing gum and Swedish literature, the call came for us to reluctantly catch our flight. I did try to take SK to new heights of the mile high club (not that one!) and serve tea in my SK t-shirt, but was not successful. I think I lacked the lucky SK mug, so will try again next time. In retaliation I ripped a page out of SAS's 'Scanorama' magazine, to help plan my next holiday to Sweden. If I were to only travel to Sweden for my annual holiday every year, I would be very happy.

Until next time....

How many medals has the country of Ikea won at the Olympics?

Jay Leno talks Olympics with a few US citizens... 

Postcard from Heather and Jo #4

Enjoying my Polkadrom ice cream

As we discovered on our final morning in Göteborg, where we thought we were getting away without paying for things, everything during the culture festival is in fact put on for free! An excellent idea we thought, especially for all the travelling families we saw. We opted to explore the city museum in our final hours and what a fantastic place this is! Most reccommended thing to do in Göteborg after the "Hagabulle". The viking exhibition with the only viking boat on display in Sweden was excellent, as was the history of family life in the city.

As the rain comes down on our last day in Stockholm, we are greatful for the better weather that this wonderful city has given us over the last two days - warmth and sunshine.

Our train journey from Göteborg was swift and we arrived at our hostel to find ourselves in a strange room with no windows or ventilation, however, it did have a proper matress and not a slice of foam to sleep on! That said I at least, have slept better here despite these factors. Although it's very disconcerting every morning waking up in pitch black!

Since arriving in Stockholm, we have spent our hard earned money in Gamla Stan, on Drottingholm and in it's vicinity. We have solved the mystery of the cover of the new Stig Larsson books (why does the first English translation have the cover of the second Swedish book in the trilogy - the clue is in the direct translation of the Swedish title!) and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Although sadly the chance to eat some crayfish has not presented itself, I'll have to tuck in back at SK. Any chance you can put some aside for me?!

Like Göteborg, Stockholm has it's Culture Festival this week, which we have been able to enjoy in Gustav Adolfs Torg seeing a concert by Che Sud Aka, that had us dancing on the streets and last nights finale of Opera selections, which was to be followed by a carnival featuring three different themes; Brazilian, Latino and Caribbean. Whilst the opera was great, sadly the carnival was billed to be more than it turned out to be, no carnival costumes except on the three lorries and just a mass of Stockholmers, mostly the young following each lorry in normal clothes, as the Ung08 festival had just finished. Most disappointing of all, no fireworks! Ah well, we can't have everything.

A trip to Sweden is never complete without an escape to the archipelago and we took the boat to Fjäderholmen, with it's craft shops, Swedish whisky and restaurants. What has, after 2 pieces of Princess Torta, 2 vanilla buns and half a hagabulle each, become a "cake tour" of Sweden, was in Fjäderholmen, supplemented with a "Polkadröm" ice cream (picture to be added tomorrow). Whilst expensive, it was a sight to be seen and very delicious. Perhaps it could be used as a template for SK ice cream? - Flavours to include blueberry and elderflower, we suggest.

We have been looking out for words that read funny in English, but have failed to come up with anything new. What does make us smile is the sight of young Swedes in groups looking "hard and cool" (gosh I sound like my mother!) which they do well, until they start speaking Swedish! It's too nice a language to listen to and just doesn't have the right effect!

Time to enjoy our final hours in Stockholm. Last postcard tomorrow.

Postcard from Heather and Jo #3

Heather, SK t-shirt and the elusive "Hagabulle" - Can I have a semla this big please?!

We awoke to sunshine and a new day, although by the end of breakfast it had already clouded over again. Nevertheless, off we headed Jo, SK t-shirt and I in search of the elusive 'Hagabulle'. So much had been promised by the information book in the hostel and thankfully we were not disappointed. It was huge (see photo above) and we had to share it (although we were not prepared to share it with the wasps, who were stalking us yet again!), too much for one person after breakfast! I challenge Tobias to make a giant semla for my birthday in February!

Our stomachs very full we headed off to the guided city walk, which was part of the Göteborg Culture Festival (previously the Göteborg Festival, but too many Swede's used it as an excuse for getting very drunk and so the word 'Culture' was added!). Our guide from the Stadsmuseet was very funny and in summary, we learned that all you need to know about the history of Göteborg is that there was a fat man, a man who brought potatoes, it burnt down several times (although they were told to re-build in brick the Swedes did not, hence multiple burnings!) and that it was built around the same time as Cape Town, New York and Jacarta, by the Dutch and so the streets are on a grid pattern in the centre at least!

Our swift history of Göteborg complete and having escaped with only a spitting of rain so far, we went in search of willow weaving only to find not only was it not on, but that it cost SEK100 entry fee.....we think not, cheap skates that we are we are saving our hard earned pennies to spend in SK! Mildly disappointed we headed off to the Konstmuseet to look at Scandinavian art and were mightily impressed, especially when we got away without paying the SEK60 entry fee to the special exhibition that was on!  We do not endorse such activity of course, but hey, no one asked for tickets, who could blame us and that's 3 pieces and a drink in SK! We left into the glorious sunshine we had not seen since Copenhagen, but this soon set and we were left cold again and still being hassled by the damn wasps and we didn't have any food or drink this time. Time for dinner. As the rain pours down outside, I don't think we will be heading out again!

Postcard from Heather and Jo #2

Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winning Garden 2007 - Linneas Garden at the Botanic Garden's in Göteborg

It seems that unlike Bronte and Jonas who enjoyed some of Sweden's best summer weather this year, we are enjoying some of it's worst! Plagued by rain, wind and wasps, we are making the mot of things and have been lucky. Now in Göteborg after a coach journey up the coast, we are staying in a very nice hostel. Although rain threatened, we ventured to the infamous Botanic Gardens yesterday, which we enjoyed apart from the damn wasps, again! There is a fantastic waterfall at the end of the gardens, but all illusions of the lovely natural wonder were destroyed when I climbed to the top and saw the big pipe fueling the waterfall. We were impressed with how realistic it was nonetheless. In the evening, although rain threatened yet again, we went to explore the delights of the Gö teborg Cultural Festival and were justly rewarded in Götaplatsen, with a performance by Swedish group Money Brother www.myspace.com/moneybrother  that had us all dancing to this energy filled 10 piece band, although with that many members, the money ain't gonna go far brother!
We followed this up with watching 'Abba the Movie' - with the bag full of sweets we had brought from what was adult heaven, let and child paradise - on a giant screen in the square until just before midnight, when we crawled back to the hostel, taking only one wrong turn!

Having had our fill of Swedish music and with slightly better weather for now, we are off to take a Scandi Kitchen t-shirt for a tour of Göteborg, find out next time what it got up to!

Postcard from Heather and Jo #1

Jazz band in Malmo

Hello from Sweden, SK regular Heather and her friend Jo here, on holiday in Sweden via Copenhagen, sending you a few postcards over the coming week (sadly no photo today as can't attach camera to PC).

On arrival at Copenhagen airport, I found it rather funny to see a little sardine tin like pod full of smokers squashed in, smoking that cigarette they have not had for a few hours. You could barely see them for all the smoke!! The joys of the smoking ban, maybe these will start popping up at London airports too!!

We wondered through the large shopping street without spending a single ore, past shops with names we found funny such as a shoe shop called 'Dope' and a ladies clothes shop called 'Kinky Bitch', who know's what those shoes were made from or who the clothes were for, but we didn't hang around to find out. We would like to come back to Denmark and don't want a Danish criminal record! I'll leave the criminal record to my borther who is at Climate Camp in the UK!

Our boat tour of Copenhagen's canals in the glorious sunshine would have left us very sunburnt had we not found some free suncream at a basketball event by the town hall. That however may have covered up our blushes at seeing the Little Mermaid's behind!! An ice cream later and we were off to Malmö.

Described by some as being the Copacabana of Sweden we were looking forward to sunning ourselves on Malmö's long strech of beach. Frankly if that is what the Copacabana looks like, we don't want to go!! Admittedly the pouring rain and driving wind did not help!

A lovely outdoor performance by a jazz saxophonist did end our visit in a memorable way and as we leave we have seen a poster on the back of a bus saying "Live in the Grand Canyon of Malmö"! Clearly the city is not satisfied with having the tallest building in Sweden and has designs on being much grander. I love it! I look forward to the "Las Vegas of Malmö", the "Big Ben of Malmö" and the "Ayres Rock of Malmö"!

Off to Göteborg........

Postcards from your holidays #2

A few more cards for us... We still want more - do send us a greeting and be in with a chance to win a fab lunch for 4 at SK.

This blog entry refers to this one and this one too

There he is again, the crazy Swede (Ernst Hugo delivers)

For those of you who do not know who Ernst Hugo is, he is a fantastic Swedish actor - you can catch him in the most excellent TV series "Riget" (The Kingdom).

Alternatively, you can surf round our blog, there are several clips with him (some are subtitled).

Scandinavian words that mean something else in English,

We sell several things at Scandi Kitchen that have names which non-Scandies find rather amusing.  Packets of salty liqourice called "Spunk" (honestly, it really doesn't mean anything in Danish).  We have marshmallow bananas called "skum bananas" and sell bars of chocolate called "Plopp".

It got us thinking - what other words do we have that can be misunderstood?

• Slut - means "the end" in Danish.  The end of a race is therefore called a slutspurt.
• Killing - means "Kitten" in Danish and "baby goat" in Swedish
• Bog - means book in Danish. 

Can you think of any others?  Do let us know.

The Swedes at SK are finding this very funny...

A clip from Swedish comedy show calld "Bedstefar og jeg" (Granddad and me) - just for the record, they are trying to be Danish...  In Swe-Danish only, sorry

Send us a card from your holiday and win lunch

We simply love postcards and think it is such a shame that nobody sends them anymore.  Therefore, our summer competition is simple:  send us a funny/retro/silly card from your holiday and we'll be publishing entries on our blog throughout the summer months. There'll be a fab prize for the winner (a specially made lunch for 4 at SK, ed.) - the winner will be chosen by us and our decision is final.  Terms and conditions apply*

Our address is:

Scandinavian Kitchen, 61 Gt Titchfield St, London W1W 7PP

We like this one from a Danish ferry port a la 1970 - it really shows the true side of Scandinavia. 

*Meaning there's no cash alternative to the prize, we chose the winner based on what makes us laugh and you don't have to buy any herring to enter our competition.

Are you a bit Sexy?

Virgin 1 are doing a show about Sexy Europeans.  Nice.  They are looking for a whole load of Swedes (someone please tell them that Danes and Norwegians are sexy too?) to come along to the "Walker of St James" pub at Piccadilly on Saturday 12th July between 12-4 pm and be in the audience when survey results are read out about the different European romantic performances.  You'll be flying the flag for your nation.  Sounds like a bit of fun on a Saturday afternoon. 

The producers are also looking for individuals to be interviewed for the programme -  more details on this to follow on where/when/how/and no, you cannot be on the programme wearing an ABBA wig and sunglasses so your mum won't recognise you. 

The worst ever music video? Take 1

Could it be Finland's Armi and Danny?  Makes the Swedish frog dance look sane. 

Finnish people run naked

We just love the guy in the wig - can anyone understand what he says?

Sauna basics

Ever wondered about how to use a sauna?  Good advice from the people at the Sauna World Championship.

Finnish wife carrying championships

You thought we were joking?  See for yourself.  We'll consider sponsorship if you're thinking about going next year...

This is how our Dads learnt to dance?

That's it.  We've finally cracked it.  All these years wondering how all Dads in the world seem to have learnt to dance from the same source - it was Finnish Disco Dave. 

Swiss cheese - from Finland?

We love this ad from the 1970's Finland.

Where's Jonas?

We're still unsure of his reasons for his moustache growing, but we salute his top-lip efforts.  He's been mistaken for famous people all week - now can you tell which one is our Jonas and which is part of the American A-list society?

Swedish Midsummer Party

CLICK HERE FOR INFO ABOUT MIDSUMMER PARTIES IN LONDON

It can be difficult to explain a real "Svensk Midsommar" party - this commercial from IKEA in Germany was banned by the Ikea Top Dudes in Sweden for not showing the right image.  We think this looks quite fun, actually.

If you're planning a traditional party for Midsummer in London, you can get everything you need from us (except the maypoles).

If you fancy taking part in a Swedish Midsommar Party in London this year, there are several brewing to happen in Hyde Park - we'll keep you posted as news come in. 

Eurovision 2008

It's finally here.  We can hardly contain our excitement.

The official Eurovision site, as cheesy as they come.

Where to watch it in London: the Sports Cafe - on the big screen, you can book tables are by country by calling them on 0207 8398300.  If you prefer just to be amongst Danes, pop over to the Danish YMCA to see it - or if you want to be very Swedish, you can go to the The Harcourt - entry is £6.

Alternatively, pop by the shop for one of our Eurovision Survivial Kits containing flags, sweets and crisps and stay at home and watch it with Terry Wogan.

We'd absolutely LOVE to head your views and who you want to win - do post your comments.

STOP PRESS - are you Swedish or Danish?  Graham Norton's looking for YOU to be on Friday's TV show which is being filmed Wednesday AM - e-mail Angela as soon as you can on angelah@sotelevision.co.uk.  The theme for the show is Eurovision.   You may be required to do a bit of karaoke - but the producers promise it is all fun and laughter and really good fun,

The Scandinavian entries for 2008 are:

Denmark - Toblerone advert

Sweden - ABBA meets Carola with a wind machine

Norway - Mariah Carey copy cat, stuck to the floor with glue.

Finland - cough medicine, Finnish lyrics - it may be a song about summertime and running through meadows - who knows?

Crazy Swedes...

We love this crazy Swedish dude.  You'll be seeing more of him here.  Sorry, only in Danish/Swedish for now - we're working on translations.