Month: May 2008

American Cook, Swedish Kitchen

Published by Kathy Hunt

For someone who loves to travel and cook, the prospect of helping my friend Christina, fellow alum of Columbia University’s graduate journalism school and resident of Stockholm, prepare for her 40th birthday party could not have been more tantalizing.  So, while my husband Sean bounced around Europe, attending business meetings, I recently hung out in Stockholm for 9 days, shopping, cooking, and sampling the fruits of our kitchen labors. Because I am accustomed to cheap American food prices, I found grocery shopping in Stockholm shocking.  A quart of milk ran about $4.  A pint of raspberries went for anywhere from $7 to $15.  A single bottle of 3.5% ABV beer, the only kind sold at markets, cost at least $3.  Wine?  I paid twice the amount that I do in NY for a bottle of Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet.  No wonder everyone asks out-of-country guests to pack a healthy stash of alcohol in their suitcases.  Forget that extra sweater. Bring more rum!    Vibrant outdoor markets, such as the one held behind the Hotorgshallen food hall, did offer bargains.  There I stocked up on bundles of fragrant fresh mint for Friday night’s mojitos.  At less than $1 …

Sailing to the Islands of Sweden

Published by Kathy Hunt

After several days spent in a foreign city I am always itching to sneak out and explore the countryside. There, I believe, is where the “real” heart of a land exists. Don’t get me wrong. I love urban life but with McDonald’s everywhere from Marrakech to Bucharest and streets teeming with tourists who look and sound a lot like me, I feel as though most cities have become too globalized to provide a true glimpse at a country. With 24,000 islands in the Stockholm archipelago I don’t have to go far for a different taste of Sweden.  I just hop a ferry and in less than an hour or two I could be on “the beach,” in the forest or wandering through the wooded, pedestrian-only island of Grinda. Rimmed by sandy beaches as well as rocky shorelines, Grinda provides a range of pursuits.  Hike the rolling hills, kayak on the sea, camp out or just sit at the sole waterfront cafe and drink beer, read a book, or catch up with old friends. A sucker for animals, I get a kick …

Sundry Sites of Stockholm

Published by Kathy Hunt

  With so many extraordinary places in the world to explore, I try not to visit any spot more than once.  There are the exceptions.  A passionate Anglophile, I’ll never say “no” to a trip to the UK or Ireland, no matter how many times I’ve tromped the streets of London, Dublin and the like.  France, too, has a certain repeat appeal.  All that wine, history, culture and food!  The Scandinavian country of Sweden joins the list of rare places to which I will happily travel again and again.  Below are a few highlights of May in Stockholm, when the sun rises at 4 a.m. and sets after 10 p.m. and life is both more relaxing and invigorating.     Comprised of 14 islands on Lake Malaren and the Baltic Sea, Stockholm has a multitude of pretty waterfront scenes.       The view from the ‘skinny bridge’ to Skeppsholmen.  This small island contains several museums, including my favorite, the Moderna Museet.   One of the most popular attractions in Stockholm, the Vasamuseet houses the massive, 1628 Swedish warship, the Vasa.  The ornate ship sank on its maiden voyage and was …

Kitchen Gadgets Redux

Published by Kathy Hunt

Gadget girl is back, with another glimpse at some of her favorite quirky kitchen tools.  While none are essential, they all make time spent at the stove a little easier and fun.              Mezzaluna – After watching Nigella Lawson swish the curved blade of her mezzaluna over a mound of fresh herbs, chopping them to bits in seconds, I knew that I had to have one.  My 10-inch, single blade knife was a souvenir from Italy but you can find them in various sizes, number of blades and types of handles pretty much anywhere.  Along with herbs, the mezzaluna also makes quick work of nuts and chocolate.  Just rock it across the intended target and in seconds it is chopped.  Nice, gentle workout for the arms, too.     http://fantes.com/mezzaluna.html Rectangular measuring spoons – Rectangular instead of round, these measuring spoons slide into the smallest of spice jars.  http://www.kitchenkapers.com/10152.html   Garlic Card – Invented by a Swedish chef, this plastic card grates garlic into a fine pulp.  Unlike when I use a metal-toothed grater, half of the garlic isn’t left clinging to the teeth.  Brilliant! http://www.garliccard.com/garliccard.html Hot Spot Silicon Trivet …