Every summer I eat “surströmming”. I don’t like it so much, but it’s a Swedish tradition in the north; and then, I eat it, of course!

It’s a nice therapy for to say “Hej då” to mosquitoes. I know also about the special experience to open the can, inside a bucket of water and a little far away from the house and place where you prepare the table for dinner with some “snaps”, beer, cheese, salad and some another summer pleasures. The table with a nice table cloth –in summer colours- is often a very nice combination with the beautiful gardens. Of course, I’m thinking just now of one of the best gardens in Vännäs. Anna Björkholm’s place. She has a special sensibility and love in summer time, working so hard every day. Finally, it’s like a paradise.

Her delicate hands find the art expression, not only in her garden; she is an extraordinary ceramist – check out!

But…, if you have some close friends, my advise is – don’t buy some of this “delicatessen” for a present, the “surströmming” cans. Probably if your friends never have heard about the smell, they will open it inside their house. Well, I can not imagine the effect…

“Surströmming” party, it’s a special meeting point. If you are living in the north, you must try it…, and after, you can say your opinion. Also, then you can appreciate better some nice food, like a nice lamb in the oven with some fried potatoes and some onion that we can prepare in our pan with some extra virgin oil olive (catalan, of course…). I know, or I suppose…, that everybody is thinking : “why can’t we organize a lamb party then?” It will be a nice idea, this will be a beautiful challenge…