Sweden Wins not just Eurovision, but our National Dish Tournament Too

17 May 2023

by Andrea Wintergerst

Spoiler alert!

If you've been following us on social media (and if you haven't, what are you waiting for?), then you know that in a very funny coincidence, Sweden won our National Food tournament!


The dish chosen for the tournament, Köttbullar, consists of meatballs in a cream gravy sauce. They are often eaten alongside mashed potatoes and lingonberries. They were popularized overseas by IKEA after their in-store introduction in the 1980s.


But did you know the recipe is not originally Swedish? According to the Swedish government, the recipe actually originated in Turkey and was brought to Sweden by King Charles XII! 


Other popular foods in Swedish cuisine include blåbärssoppa (bilberry soup), smörgåstårta (Swedish sandwich cake), pickled herring, knäckebröd (crispbread), ärtsoppa och pannkakor (pea soup and pancakes), and of course, many delicious pastries.


Have you tried any of these? If so, which was your favorite?

  • A close up of a bowl of red liquid on a plate.

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • A salad cake with ham , cheese , tomatoes and olives on a plate.

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • A jar of herring with bread and a fork on a table.

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • A table topped with plates of food and a glass of orange juice.

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • A bowl of soup with ham and sausage on a wooden table.

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
  • A wooden table topped with plates of pastries and a bowl of syrup.

    Slide title

    Write your caption here
    Button
Promotion for culinary capitals an innovative destination certification and development program for unknown destinations
Taste of place podcast listen to our culinary travel and culture podcast with erik wolf
Food
A membership page with a picture of pancakes on a plate.
28 May 2025
Announcing the 2025 Global Culinary Travel Awards Winners
A picture of a lobster roll with the words announcing our 2025 awards semi-finalists
10 May 2025
Announcing the 2025 Global Culinary Travel Awards Semi-Finalists
A man wearing a hat and glasses is smiling for the camera
9 May 2025
Episode 75: “From Tunisia, With Flavor” featuring Jamie Furniss. Dive into Tunisia’s rich culinary heritage in our latest podcast episode!
Association Names New Ambassador on Aruba
by Erik Wolf 15 April 2025
Association Names Dr Gerald Kock as New Ambassador on Aruba
6 March 2025
This article introduces Francesc-Fuste-Forne, the newest recipient of the prestigious culinary tourism industry Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed by the World Food Travel Association.
Allison Zinder headshot
13 January 2025
In this episode number 73 of our Taste of Place podcast, we speak with Allison Zinder, an American living in Paris. We speak about French food, culture and language, and why the French culinary legacy is so profound.
More posts