Books »Barnetoy du selv kan sy

by Elsebeth Gynther and Bjarne Solberg

I took these shots of a lovely vintage Swedish sewing book months ago, but they got lost in the shuffle of my photos and I am only remembering to share them with you now. Be sure to check out the parkas, vest, quilting and body suits below/after the jump. If you can read the language – seeking out books from Elsebeth Gynther and Bjarne Solberg might not be a bad idea, especially if looking like the coolest Swedish lady from 1980 something is high on your to do list (which it should be).

Click here for the rest of Barnetoy du selv kan sy

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Posted on October 8, 2010

Desserts »Moomin Licorice

moomin licoriceThose wacky Icelanders! Mixing black licorice and sugary pink ganache in one dessert? Well, to my surprise – the result is pretty delicious and even pickier eaters than me (read almost everyone) agrees – my whole office rejoiced in the treat which Grace brought back from a trip to Helsinki.

Added bonus – the adorable packaging featuring the beloved Moomin characters! I cut off the box top to save, but it was the one thing on my desk the cleaning crew decided to throw out, boo

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Posted on September 28, 2009

Books »The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

I'm not entirely sure what I expected from the internationally popular mystery, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but it wasn't what I got. I thought, based on the title, it would be kind of arty, off kilter, or exotic (though the setting in rural Sweden is, admittedly, pretty neat) but it's fairly straight forward, though quite complex in plot.

It's half in the tradition of “cozy” mysteries and half a pretty gruesome tale of severe sexual abuse. It's light and dark in turns and while I'm not sure that I truly loved it, it is a page turner.

A journalist and a social pariah become, through a semi unbelievable turn of events, partners in crime. Their assignment: to uncover the truth behind the decades-old disappearance of a young girl from a seemingly secluded island. Along the way, they unearth sinister secrets far more grisly than they expected.

It's at times ludicrous, and the language is a bit clunky, but that could just be the translation. Author Steig Larsson, a Swedish journalist turned novelist, (sadly) died right before his book was published and became a world wide sensation. Undoubtedly a film version will follow.

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Posted on September 21, 2009

Restaurants »Aquavit

It's been years since we have indulged at the amazing Aquavit restaurant. Since then, it's changed locations and gone is the Rockefeller indoor waterfall. It was not missed in the face of their 48 dollar epic buffet brunch.

As you go through the offerings, one plate at a time, you'll start (if you follow the suggested order explained in the menu) with eight different kinds of herring. The pickled and the garlic were my favorite. Next comes my favorite section: both hot smoked and cured salmons with sauces. Move on to cold cuts including a supreme salami and cheeses including a sharp swiss. Next are the hot entrees and no matter how full you are, the meatballs and lingonberries are no to be missed. But you won't be done until several of the bite sized and larger desserts are consumed.

It's decadent and indulgent. We had to rest between platings and left stuffed with the cuisine of Sweden to the brim. A crisp beer or a danish mary (made with dill infused auavit) accompany the breakfast.

The atmosphere is sophisticated but more laid back than I expected which was nice. You'll be sharing space with tourists with more adventurous palettes and old moneyed people who embark on this pricey brunch regularly. For us it's a once a year extravagance that I hope to turn into a yearly tradition.

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Posted on August 3, 2009