Cookbook Profile: The Swedish Table

The Swedish Table

by Helene Henderson

"Although I never physically fit in...being the sole tall, awkward African American among a sea of beautiful blonde, blue-eyed Swedes, it was my home. When I tasted the first potato of the summer, just dug out of the ground, or when I picked the first ripe cloudberry and popped it in my mouth, or when I took in the scent of seawater and we grilled salmon just off the boat, it didn't matter what I looked like. I was Swedish. I was home, and I did belong."

Drawing on her fondest childhood memories, Helene Henderson offers welcome insight into the treasures of Swedish cooking. From the potato, a Swedish staple, to dessert, the star of Swedish cuisine, The Swedish Table contains more than 125 recipes, including Yellow Pea Soup with Bacon (Ârtsoppa), Lentil Salad with Radishes (Linssallad), Aquavit and Dill Marinated Salmon (Gravlax), Swedish Meatballs with Gravy (Köttbullar), and the country's traditional pastry, Bulla.

Encompassing both traditional Swedish dishes and modern, updated recipes, Henderson combines the ingredients and scents from the past with the produce and flavor of today. The Swedish Table includes an extensive guide to Swedish traditions and celebrations, the foods that accompany them, and a color gallery of photographs.

With this complete collection of elegant yet easy-to-follow recipes, Henderson takes us on an enticing tour through the magic of the forest, the lakes, and the farms of the Swedish countryside.

"As someone who loves to eat and has enjoyed Helene's cooking, I certainly recommend this very interesting cookbook." —Barbra Streisand

About the Author

Helene Henderson is an African American, Swedish-born chef who was raised in Luleå, Sweden, where she learned how to cook. In 1997, she started Lavender Farms Catering in Los Angeles, specializing in organic foods and feeding some of the most famous mouths in town. She lives with her husband, screenwriter and director John Stockwell, and their three children.

Buy the Book!

The Swedish Table
by Helene Henderson
Univerity of Minnesota Press
$29.95; Cloth/jacket; 224 pages
ISBN: 0-8166-4513-2
Information provided by the publisher.