Smörgåsbord by Johanna Kindvall is a fascinating read into the food and traditions of Sweden. I appreciated the historical background into the food and the illustrations were beautiful. I was impressed with the detailled instructions on how to make bread and even smoke your own fish. I have been to Sweden on numerous occasions, and though I have spent a lot of time with my Swedish friends, this book provided me with more information about Swedish food than my previous trips. I especially look forward to making the smoked fish salad and chicken salad. Many of the recipes are quite complex, particularly the bread making and I feel the book would suit more adventurous cooks. Readers would gain the most benefit from purchasing the book in hardcopy from rather than reading using Kindle, due to the wonderful illustrations by Kindvall. Thankyou to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I know that this book will appeal to a niche market. It is beautifully researched and presented.

This is a fantastic book! Kindvall provides definitions of Swedish terms, describes kitchen technique,s and of course delicious recipes. I can't wait to try them out! She also provides a great set of references at the back of the book regarding all things Scandinavian. I will definitely be adding this title to my cookbook collection!

enjoyed reading this book and learning new ideas. it was very interesting and a new concept i haven't tried before

An excellent introduction not only to the Swedish food, but to their philosophy of life too. It is packed with recipes and useful directions, and lovely illustrations. The perfect combo for any lover of quality food writing!

This is a delightful book with sweet drawings of food. I loved the whole mix of culture with food and the author does an outstanding job integrating the two. The recipes are totally doable even though they are all Swedish.
I enjoyed reading about the different celebrations too. This is a fun book to read and I look forward to making some of the recipes. I liked the author also gave resources to buy Swedish products.

If you’ve not been fortunate enough to be invited to partake in a Swedish smorgasbord, this bountiful celebration of Nordic cuisine is the next best thing. Author Johanna Kindvall, who grew up in Sweden, encourages readers to slow down and focus on the food presented here while enjoying the company of friends and family. The result is a splendid fusion of armchair travel and armchair cooking.

Kindvall offers an ample and varied selection of Nordic bread recipes (and illustrates techniques for best results) that can be prepared in even the smallest kitchens. Recipes for Breakfast Rolls and Cardamom Crisps are particularly appealing. Other tempting offerings include Swedish Meatballs; Butter Fried Chanterelles with Walnuts; and Chicken Salad with Garden Cress. This reader enjoyed the inspired suggestions for how the simple recipes in the book can be paired into different—and more complicated—smorgas (open sandwich) combinations.

Resources for finding Scandinavian products are included. Useful sidebars cover such topics as “food in tubes.”

Kindvall’s love of and enthusiasm for the food and the culture shine through, and make SMORGASBORD an ideal primer to this time-honored tradition of hospitality, feasting, and balancing and savoring every bite.

As someone of Swedish descent, this book caught my eye. I found it to be just the right of background information to go with the recipes. It is rare that a cookbook include a section on condiments. I also enjoyed that it included recipes for everyday, as well as for special occasions and holidays

I received this as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley, but I plan to purchase it when it is released.

I will start my review with a simple WOW!! Smorgasbord is a tour de force as the cookbook goes beyond the normal range of commonly found smorgasbord recipes. I was expecting to find a cookbook filled with sandwiches, spreads and salad recipes. I found so much more.

You will find condiment recipes, bread recipes, meat recipes and of course ways to prepare the numerous sandwiches often served.

You will learn about how the smorgasbord entered Scandinavian culture. The author has also included a small sample of drinking songs, ways to serve a Smorgasbord based on occasion, and sources on where to buy needed supplies.

Some of the recipes you'll find include:

Curried Eggs with Crispy Onions
Gravlax with Fennel
Christmas Sausage
Horseradish Relish
Dilled Pickle Cucumbers
Creamed Kale
Breakfast Rolls
Crispbread
Swedish Meatballs
Beet Salad
Chicken Salad with Garden Cress
Fresh Potato Salad
Hot Smoked Salmon
Raw Stirred Lingonberries

Overall, this is an excellent book that can be used for smorgasbord as the variety of recipes is fantastic.

Recommend.

Review written after downloading a galley from NetGalley.