Finally the long awaited Gothenburg food festival Passion för Mat (Passion for Food Festival) has opened and is currently ongoing from 1-3 March 2013 at Eriksbergshallen, Gothenburg.
Being invited to bypass the crowds on the opening day, we had the pleasure of joining the exhibitors in the early morning hours as they put in the last touches at their stands. As with previous years, we completely enjoyed strolling around the market area on our own, making new culinary discoveries and meeting with old, as well as new friends.
Last year, in 2012 Sweden’s Minister of Agriculture, Eskil Erlandsson, named Gothenburg the Culinary Capital of Sweden 2012 in recognition of its rich natural produce, not the least because of its long time focus in various seafood, but also because of the many new various food companies specializing in high quality and gourmet food from all over the world setting up businesses here. Being an internationally small city, its culinary footprint is quite large with several Guide Michelin star chefs and quite some significant prize winnings and notifications at global food events (ref. Gothenburg Culinary Team).
Below, some picture highlights from the first day of this food festival.
At Eriksberg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Having a relaxed morning coffee at Hotel 11, to the sounds of Vivaldi’s L’Estro Armonico, Op. 3, Concerto No. 8 in A minor for two violins and strings, RV 522.
Text and Photo © JE Nilsson, CM Cordeiro 2013
Jonas Wickstrand of Öckero Fisk explaining the flavours of this tray of smoked salmon paté hors d’oeuvres or tapas.
Borgo dei Posseri wines by Deliovin that import a lifestyle of delicatesse food, chocolates and wines.
The “Togora” olive oil is amazingly fruity and flavourful. Go try with some bread from Solhaga.
Speaking with Lambriní Theodossiou, who owns about 1,500 olive trees near Plomari, an unbelievable romantic village on the island of Lesbos, in Greece. From these trees she produces the “Togora” olive oil that she then imports and sells in Sweden.
In business since 1569 from Slöinge, fantastic breads, my favourite being their stone oven baked sourdough loaves, from Solhaga Stenugnsbageri.
Olives of various sorts, from Alexander the Greek.
The ‘Smaka på Västsverige’ exhibition area was bristling with various activities as usual. Lots of west coast Swedish fare to explore.
The ‘Smaka på Västsverige’ is a joint effort by twenty three different companies and almost a mini fair of its own. In this way many small producers can make into the main fair and meet a new crowd.
Within the ‘Smaka på Västsverige’ effort, award winning marmalades and jams from Äkta Sylt.
Maria and Jacques SIX of France Fromage. Amongst other quality products, they import Philippe Oliver’s cheese in Gothenburg and west coast Sweden.
These bottles of marmalade from Christer and Mona Fredriksson of Fredrikssons, made it to the serving dishes of the most recent Nobel Prize event.
A small selection of wines were offered from xwine.se, an online shop that makes deliveries in Sweden.
Italian coffee from Benny Eriksson’s Beriksson import and trading company. Benny offers some of the most decadent Italian made chocolate as well (not pictured).
From Dan Berntsson’s expertise on for potatoes, that opened up the restaurant industry to a greater variety and use of different types of potatoes.
(Ref: Dan Berntsson Konsult & Handel).
In business since 1918, sausages from H. Karlsson.
Anders Arnell and his food show, educating the crowds as usual at the ‘Kitchen School’.
Swedish rapeseed oils by Robert Schönemyr at Sverigeskafferiet.
Robert, behind the counter.
Outside of the Fair at the Eriksberg quay, The East Indiaman Götheborg Ship, is docked for the winter, snug under wraps of white tarpaulin. Come summer, the Ship will be in full regalia, ready for another year of seafaring adventures.
Opening hours to the Food Festival this weekend is generally from 10:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs.
Welcome to a weekend of culinary exploration!