Secrets of Sweden

I have visited every Nordic capital city and have found each destination completely enchanting. Most recently I flew to Stockholm for the second time to discover more of Sweden, a beautiful country with exceptional cuisine, unique local designers and beguiling wilderness. I wanted to share a few of my favourite secrets of this city with you…

gastrologik

Food

Swedish cuisine is becoming more and more popular internationally; I’ve spotted several fika and pickling restaurants popping up in London recently. Though these imitations are often delicious, the most authentic dishes are still found in Sweden. On the 24th June, Swedes celebrate Midsummer Day with a feast including, of course, the famous traditional dish of pickled herring and potatoes, a dish I tried in a few restaurants. For an extra special occasion I recommend heading to Gastrologik for an imaginative meal made from the finest local and seasonal ingredients. This pioneering restaurant was opened in 2011 by the talented chefs, Jacob Holmstrom and Anton Bjuhr. In their kitchen they aim to make the most of Nordic ingredients by presenting food that is both stunning and delicious.

Ett Hem, Stockholm

Hotel

Ett Hem is a different kind of hotel, in fact it is the most beautiful home you could ever wish to step foot in. This fairytale, boutique hotel has flourished under the interior expertise of Ilse Crawford. Indulgently luxurious but with plenty of character and charm, Ett Hem ensures guests feel totally at ease and relaxed wherever they are, whatever they are doing. With just 12 rooms you will always feel special staying at Ett Hem. Enjoy the perfectly designed bedrooms, or the communal downstairs spaces where guests are invited to eat freshly baked cake in the kitchen, peruse the books in the library or borrow a bike from the courtyard.

Stutterheim, Stockholm

Design

The ‘Scandi-look’ is much admired by hip Londoners and the streets of Stockholm are filled with blonde beauties modelling minimalist style with graceful ease. There are plenty of Swedish highstreet designers to spend your pocket money on, COS is the shop that immediately comes to mind. Head to the edgier districts like Sodermalm, to discover brands like Stutterheim, who make classic raincoats in a range of colours. Be bold and pick a ‘dusty pink’ or ‘Stockholm yellow’, or simply stick to the Scandi uniform of black or charcoal. Striking and trendy, they will make you crave the wet weather like never before.

Once you are satisfied that you have covered the city, head out to the lesser-known areas of Sweden to discover the original hipsters who are quietly creating amazing things that you will be thrilled to discover.

Learn more about hipster Sweden here.

See more on Swedish food here:

THOROUGHLY MODERN MAN – The Sky Garden Brasserie

After fighting our way through airport-style security and ascending  a 36 storey lift, we arrived at the beautiful Sky Garden in the heart of the City. Although mid August, there was a heavy layer of cloud over London, but this didn’t tamper with the splendour of the 360 degree views of London with which we were met on arrival.

We had booked a table at the Darwin Brasserie for my 21st Birthday celebration, one of two eateries in the establishment, the other being the Fenchurch Restaurant which is considerably pricier and the more formal of the two. There is also a bar on the main level which is apparently frequented by city workers after hours. We arrived half an hour early for our 12.30 booking, which gave us ample time to wander around the beautiful two storey garden and take in the views from the balcony on the south facing side.

The décor of the Darwin Brasserie is modern and stylish, with a laid-back feel and a menu priced to match. For the location and the quality of the view from the table, the food is very reasonably priced. The attention to detail is extraordinary, a number of days before the event we called ahead to warn them of a member of our party who had difficulty eating certain things; to which they helpfully responded and made a special dish of the day.

The menu is simple but vibrant, offering starters ranging from Steak Tartare and Oysters to a deliciously simple Gazpacho and Tomato Salad. Depending on your tolerance to garlic, however, I would be careful ordering the Gazpacho! Recommended by the excellent and attentive staff, I had the Tuna Nicoise Salad for my main, which was perfectly presented and the fish exquisitely cooked. There was an array of other simple mains, including a perfectly textured Courgette and Basil Risotto and then some more hearty traditional options such as Fillet Steak and Fish and Chips (which we did not order but looked divine on neighbouring tables).

To satisfy the sweet toothed among the party there was a mouthwatering selection. I had the Crème Brûlée, which is a simple desert, but it was done to perfection with a hard exterior and deliciously creamy underlayer.

We had a fantastic day and the staff were attentive and friendly without being overbearing, especially to the older members of our party. With some of the best views available, and food to match, the Darwin Brasserie at the Sky Garden is a must in London!

More information on Sky Garden Brasserie here.

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Man, George Vaughan-Barratt.

Dinerama, Shoreditch Yard

dinerama

This summer the Street Feast team welcomed Dinerama, the newest addition to their London street market collection. Located on Great Eastern Street, you will see it’s name in lights before you smell the succulent food. The market place is open Thursday to Sunday (lunch – late), so you won’t have to wait ’till the weekend to get your street food fix.

dinerama pizza

There are six eat in street diners, five street shacks, two food trucks and five bars to choose between. Holding up to 1000 people there is plenty of space to take a crowd. If you are planning a party there are areas you can book, like the mezzanine platform looking out over East London.

Vendors include Duck’N Roll (the street food project from Michelin starred Club Gascon), Smokestak, Baba G’s, Yum Bun, Rainbo and Chuck Burger among others. We tried a thin and tasty pizza from Fundi and a juicy burger from Chuck, but it was the sticky-sweet addictive pork ribs from Smokestak that I would recommend heading to first.

dinerama

Dinerama, 19 Great Eastern Street, London, EC2A 3EJ

Thurs – Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 12pm-9pm

www.streetfeastlondon.com