Last week when I read about the Swedish agriculture minister Eskil Erlandsson’s statement that he hopes to establish Sweden as haute cuisine leader of the world, I naturally assumed it was a joke. Or maybe that the venerable government official had one too many shots of Absolut. Because c’mon now, “Sweden” and “world-class” cuisine in the same sentence? I’m trying not to laugh too hard as I’m chewing on a bit of falukrov while eating in front of the computer. Yet it seems Mr. Erlandsson was totally serious.
Sweden may be famous for many things. Elks (yes, you can call them “moose” if you want), buxom blondes, gender equality, state-provided welfare, pop music, Saabs, Volvos (even though both are now technically American), Ikea and so on. But food? Nah, never heard of it. Unless we’re talking about the Swedish Chef here. Bork, bork, bork!
