Midsommar 2010 – Dinner “A Viking’s Feast”

The Greatest Swede I know!

http://www.swedishheritagesociety.com/

http://www.avfcatering.com/

I’m a very lucky person. Why you ask? Because I have a Swedish friend. Yes, a Swede.  I’ve known my friend Nick, also known as Nicklaus (insert the voice of my friend Andy) for almost 12 years and I’ve seldom met a more kind, honest, and stereotypical Swede. We’ve gone through a lot of experiences as young kids in Middle School and High School to grown men tending to our respective families.  It’s a surprise then that as much as I identified Nick as the quintessential Swede that I’ve never taken the opportunity to visit what he always called Swedish Fest or Midsommar (Lucia is another fest).  For almost a decade, Nick has been trying to get me to attend this annual party of Swedish Heritage held each year at the International Peace Gardens in Jordan Park in Salt Lake City.  For some reason, prejudice or not, I never went. My love for swedish meatballs and heavy, gravy-laden foods was never strong enough to will me to visit this food feast until now.  Utah, surprisingly has a strong Swedish community and their own Heritage society. They have festivals, parties, and functions throughout the year but this was always the main treat.

I went to the festival with nothing in mind but to get a hearty meal by the Viking Feast Caterers. I was not disappointed. Granted, I was the only Asian, minority, and brown person I saw there, among a sea of blonds, thick European bodies and older, intimidating seniors. It didn’t help that Nick invited me to cut in line at the very front. “No one cares” he remarked. Yet as much as I felt the eyes of the gentle giant Swedes was on me, I was glad I made the cut. Here’s a gallery of why, enjoy! Oh, and one more thing,  Ikea is nothing compared to the food here.

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