Sweden Local Food

Local Food

Swedish cuisine is traditionally based on meat or fish with potatoes. Modern Swedish cuisine is largely based around bread. Everyday dishes include meatballs, hash, pea soup, herring, blodpudding, gravalax, falukorv, varieties of grainy bread, tunnbrodrulle and kroppkakor.

Swedish gourmet restaurants typically serve steaks or grilled dishes with vegetables such as red bell peppers and broccoli. The most famous Swedish steak is a beef fillet called Planka and is decadently good. There are also ample inexpensive options such as pizza or kebab restaurants as well as Sushi and Thai food available. Highway diners, called vagkrogar, have generous meals but are not usually of a high quality and are expensive. Gas stations offer decent sandwiches and packed salads. Vegetarian and vegan food is available in the cities but might be more difficult to find in the smaller towns.

Swedes drink plenty of coffee which is stronger than American blends. Italian varieties are on offer at most city cafes. The most famous alcoholic beverage is Absolut vodka and there are several brands of distilled liquor called akvavit. Sweden also produces some good beers like the dark Carmegie Porter however most beers are nondescript lagers. Although the Swedish production of wine is modest it also is quite popular.

Buying take-away alcohol is difficult and expensive with the only place to buy strong alcohol over the counter is the Systembolaget. They have limited hours of operation and are closed on Sundays. They do not serve customers under the age of 20 and usually will ask for ID. In bars and shops that sell beer the age limit is 18 but 20 in Systembolaget and many bars have an age limit of anything from 20-25 so ensure you have ID.

Although illegal, Moonshine is popular in the countryside though most are disgusting and can be dangerous so stick to the real thing.