PHOTO: A traditional Swedish smorgasbord. (Photo courtesy of the Swedish American Museum)
Cold weather and piles of snow aren't the only things that Chicago has in common with Sweden. Chi-town boasts a vibrant Swedish community where visitors can celebrate Swedish traditions and sample Swedish dishes. Swedish farmers settled the Andersonville neighborhood during the 1850's and nurtured a community that continues to honor Swedish culture. Hang out in this eclectic North Side enclave for a taste of authentic Swedish tradition.
Start with the Swedish American Museum, which anchors the neighborhood and features exhibits and programs that examine the country's history. The permanent exhibit, "The Dream of America: Swedish Immigration to Chicago," traces the long journey from Scandinavia to Chicago that many in the community made.
The museum is also an essential resource for Swedish holiday observances, especially the St. Lucia Festival of Lights, on Dec. 13. At exactly 4:45 pm, a procession of white-gowned girls decked out with red sashes and lingonberry crowns will glide down Clark Street. At the front of the procession, the official Lucia girl wears a crown of candles and leads the way. She symbolizes St. Lucia and guides the way through the winter darkness and the crowd sings carols and the Lucia song.
After the procession, the crowd moves to the museum for a program of traditional festivities, including nibbling pepparakor or ginger-flavored cookies and the telling of the story of St. Lucia. She was an Italian saint who gave to the poor and homeless around 284 AD. She was executed by the Romans but Germans brought her legend to Sweden during the 17th century. Another popular Swedish event is Julmidagg a Christmas smorgasbord held at the museum on Dec. 18. Look out for Swedish delicacies like pickled herring, smoked eel and Lutefisk or preserved cod.
You don't have to wait for a holiday event to try Swedish food in Andersonville. Create your own Swedish food fest by stopping by several of the community's standout Swedish eateries. Start with Ann Sather, an Andersonville institution famous for fluffy cinnamon rolls but don't pass up the Swedish sampler of roasted duck with lingonberry glaze, Swedish meatball, Swedish potato sausage, sauerkraut and Swedish brown beans. Next, head to Svea Restaurant for the lingonberry pancakes with Swedish sausage.
This breakfast spot is cash only but so worth an early morning visit. Finish up at Tre Konor, a chic Swedish bistro that serves up recipes like kycklinggfile or baked chicken, handed down by the owner's grandmother. And you can't leave Andersonville without a bag of light and buttery Swedish drommar cookies from the Swedish Bakery.
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