Tastebud : Lindbergs Stenugnsbageri

30 December 2024

We went on a short getaway somewhere in the middle of Sweden. It was a 2-hours' drive from Stockholm. Along the way, we stopped at Östhammar town where we had lunch at Lindbergs Stenugnsbageri (stone oven bakery). They had affordable and delicious lunch! So happy as lunch prices in Stockholm are crazy high!

We were at this place twice - first time on the way to our getaway and the second time on the way back from our getaway. I had ceasar salad for SEK149 the first time and peppar-spiced salmon with potato gratin for SEK115. Also, all meals include brewed coffee (and refill!) and bread. SO GOOD, right?!

Ceasar salad

Peppar-spiced salmon with warm potato gratin. What a huge portion for SEK115!

Tastebud : Indochine

20 December 2024

Lunch with colleagues today. Lunch deal at Indochine in Hagastaden. SEK145 for my pokebowl salmon. Tasty and I was full, so I am satisfied. Lunch prices are so expensive. Once upon a time, lunch was SEK99 when I moved here in 2017. This is 7 years later and 50% higher. Wow. My lunch includes a bowl of miso soup without seaweed and a cup of green tea. Not the green matcha tea, though.

Tastebud : Shere Khan

19 December 2024

Indian food for dinner at Shere Khan. We decided to have different cuisine before the Christmas food. I booked through The Fork app and I got 30% discount for the ala carte dishes but excluding bread. The discount is not applicable to drinks or set menu. We had water only. I don't order drinks during my meals as I am not accustomed to drinking while eating. I grew up drinking water after meals.

We shared chicken biryani for SEK215 (paid SEK150,50) and a vegetarian curry (Nirmisha) for SEK199 (paid SEK139,30). We were unsure of the amount of rice but each of us got a rice portion with our meals. Since we did not know beforehand, we ordered a naan bread for SEK30 and a garlic naan bread for SEK35. I enjoyed the bread the most. It woud have been great to have more curry sauce in the dishes. There was nothing exceptional in the food as the taste is familiar to me. 

The vegetable curry.

The chicken biryani.

Musical play - A Christmas Carol

15 December 2024

Today, I did a volunteer activity for a musical play, A Christmas Carol at Folkopera for Kompis Sverige. I loved the play! All the Christmas songs that were joyful, the colourful costumes, the scenes as read in the book and watched on television - and it was performed in English. I enjoyed myself so much! Definitely a perfect way to welcome Christmas and to end the year. My heart was filled with joy after the show. So grateful for the opportunity to get to see this live. 

Tastebud : Ho's Kina

15 December 2024

Late lunch at Ho's Kina. We were in the neighbourhood and we decided to have a different type of cuisine before Christmas. We settled for Chinese food because that will definitely not be the same as Christmas food. As it was late lunch which was at 2.30pm, there were not many customers. We had a bowl of prawn chips SEK50, fried duck with pancakes SEK255 and pork belly in Si-Chuan style SEK215. 

We wished that there were more thin pancakes for the fried duck. We ate the remaining fried duck with rice.

For the pork belly, the slice of meat could be thicker because I could not taste the melting fat. The dish is certainly not like the pork belly dish I am used to. For a Swede, this dish is delicious. He does not know the real thing. 

Tastebud : Systrarna Andersson (2nd time)

7 December 2024

After 4 years, we ate at Systrarna Andersson again. 4 years ago in February, we were here before the pandemic started, when prices were still affordable and I could enjoy tasting different cafe experience. Now, I wince when I see the price. I looked back at the old post and the price of latte that we had is the same price of our brewed coffee that we had today. The shrimp salad and shrimp sandwich cost SEK195 today compared to SEK149 that was 4 years ago. 

Today, we had something light - agg and avocado on a slice of rye bread for SEK72, and brewed coffee for SEK41. The meal was filling and I was satisfied. There was a hint of sea salt sprinkled on top which gives a nice and light salty taste.

Ghost walk with dinner

6 December 2024

Just came back from an activity that I have been wanting to do for a long time - ghost walk! I bought an experience coupon that came with dinner too from Upplevelse website. I got it during Black Week so it was 50% discounted to SEK397. I compared with the price in the company's website and it was cheaper than SEK780. My walk was guided by Historiska Vikingslag. There was another group by Stockholm Ghost Walk and I saw some of their photos in Upplevelse website. For Stockholm Ghost Walk, their ghost walk activity with dinner costs SEK620. However, for Stockholm Ghost Walk, there are no acting scenes as Historiska Vikingslag has. 

Our ghost walk was in the Old Town (Gamla Stan). Our guides were funny when they acted out some scenes. The first guide died from pest disease while he was narrating about the pest outbreak. Then, the second guide took over and he played the executor. Then, the first guide came back into the scene acting as the architect who designed the Royal Place. Our walk took about an hour and ended with dinner at Sten Sture restaurant. If given another chance, I will just buy the ghost walk only. 

For dinner, it was a package of Deer Rydberg and chocolate cake. The price in the menu showed SEK365 and SEK85 respectively so I was very surprised about the small food portion. When I checked the reviews by other guests for the restaurant, the food portion was bigger and look very different. There were definitely more meat pieces if you are not part of the ghost walk. My potatoes were pre-cut and cold and meat was at room temperature. When I mentioned to the waitress that my potatoes were cold, she apologised and said I will get a bigger portion of chocolate cake which I did not receive. Drinks are not included in the meal package and I had an alcohol-free drink for SEK55. Even tap water costs SEK10! Ridiculous.

Tastebud : Madrid TapasBar

30 November 2024

Belated birthday treat by my boyfriend's mum. She wanted to try tapas and we went together. Altogether, we had 12 small dishes. I had the house white wine for SEK105. It was quite dark in the restaurang and it was not easy to see what we were eating. There was only one table lamp. I find it weird that lighting is bad in most restaurants. I would have preferred to see what I was eating. 

Total food price is SEK1223.

Good thing that the menu on the website has good description of the food in English which I could copy directly and paste them here. 

First came the cold food. 

Left row:

1) Charcutería de la semana - Chark of the week - chorizo SEK98

2) Jamón Serrano com melón - Air-dried serrano ham from white pigs with melon SEK98

Middle plate

3) Carpaccio de solomillo con stiktartar y queso rallado - Raw sliced beef tenderloin with pickled tartar and chili, grated spanish cheese SEK129. This dish just melts in the mouth. So good that we ordered another plate. And mostly because my companions were still hungry and we chose this instead of dessert.

Right row:

4) Manchego D.O.P. - Pasteurized Manchego sheep cheese SEK98

5) Cecina de León - Air-dried , smoked beef with tomato marmalade. SEK98

Then came the warm food. I am missing a photo of gambas - Garlic fried shrimp with aromatic sauce SEK109. 

Round plate on left:

6) Alcachofas con salsa de alcachofas con Queso - Artichoke cube with artichoke sauce and Iberico cheese SEK79. There was a sour taste that reminded me of vinegar. The shredded cheese reminded me of wood chips.

Plate in middle

7) Tortilla española de patatas y cebolla - Spanish omelette with potatoes, onions and chive aioli SEK79

Plate on right

8) Berenjenas reboszadas y fritos con miel - Breaded fried eggplant with honey SEK98

Plate on top

9) Dátiles envueltos en bacon y cremade balsámico - Bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with marcona almonds SEK79

The additional 2 dishes we ordered as we were still hungry.

10) Left: Raw sliced beef tenderloin with pickled tartar and chili, grated spanish cheese SEK129. Again.

11) Right: Chorizo y chistorra a la parrilla con puré de patatas - Grilled chorizo and chizztorra served with mashed potatoes. SEK129

Chocolate tasting at Small Island Chocolates & Coffee

30 November 2024

We went chocolate tasting today at Small Island Chocolates & Coffee! Best time ever! The session started at 3pm and ended around 4.10pm. 

This shop sells chocolate tasting but mine was purchased from a website for experience. A neighbour gave me a chocolate tasting experience for my birthday last year. The experience coupon is valid for 3 years. I had the best time! When we arrived, each customer was given a small cup of chocolate drink. 

The owner shared with us on how he started the cocoa journey, his plantation in Trinidad and Tobago, the process of harvesting cocoa beans to producing chocolate and the suppliers he worked with to produce his chocolates. It was a small classroom of about 20 people. There were 12 small pieces of chocolate for each person. The table was set up with dried sugar cane, dried cocoa fruit, cocoa butter, roasted cocoa beans and the table cloth is the gunny sack used to transport the cocoa beans.

The owner brought out a fresh cocoa fruit that was stored in the refrigerator. He cut it open and I saw the cocoa beans. The white slime around the bean reminded me of custard apple. The beans are edible and it is tasteless. The slime was sourish and it is similar to the taste of passion fruit.

We had a cup of water to wash off the chocolate before tasting the next chocolate. 

First row from the top of the photo - dark chocolate with different strength and a roasted cocoa bean 

Second row - dark chocolate mixed with flavours

Third row - milk chocolate mixed with flavours

My least favourite was 100% dark chocolate as it is very dry and bitter. It is the one on the most right on the middle row. The red piece of chocolate on the most left on the middle row is mixed with beetroot. I enjoyed the 70% dark chocolate which is the first piece on the left on the first row. 

These were the chocolate bars from the 12 small pieces of chocolate. I took home two small pieces of milk chocolate as I was too full. We were provided small plastic bags to bring back the remaining chocolate pieces.

Tastebud : Mr Burrito and friends

30 November 2024

Today's lunch at Mr Burrito. It was a huge portion! I could not finish my burrito with beef pieces. I had a Burrito for SEK185 that came with nacho chips. There is even a Burrito 2.0 for SEK189. My burrito had potatoes inside so one has to be really hungry to have this meal. My boyfriend and I shared a fizzy Jarritos guava drink from Mexico for SEK40. The meal was delicious but I had to give the last 5 bites to my boyfriend as I was too stuffed.

Christmas Light in Stockholm

22 November 2024

Last week, it was the inauguration of Stockholm's Christmas lights. There are 40 places lit up with Christmas decorations. Today, my friend and I took a stroll around town to visit some of the places. I threw the idea as I knew she had better sense of direction than me. I was very keen to see the moose decoration and I am very happy that my wish came true!

Tastebud : Vetekatten (2nd time)

22 November 2024

I don't go to Vetekatten very often because the cafe is an expensive one. It is the oldest cafe in Stockholm, established in 1928 so there is a reason to visit this place. I do not go to a lot of cafes after the pandemic because all prices have skyrocketed and I can have coffee and chocolate at home. This time is an exception as a friend is in town and this is her favourite cafe. So, we went there after our dinner at Kajsas Fisk. We shared a slice of framboise cake (SEK62) and both of us had a cup of chocolate (SEK56). The cup is huge and the chocolate drink cooled down fast. I wished there was a microwave somewhere to warm up my drink. It was a very thin slice of cake.

Framboise, according to Vetekatten's website is - white chocolate mousse with raspberry panna cotta and a base flavored with Cointreau (a French liquour).

Tastebud : Kajsas Fisk (3rd time)

22 January 2024

Back in Kajsas Fisk again since 2020. I was here in 2018 and had fish soup. This time, I had fish soup again. Price increased by SEK20. Today's price is SEK140. One can take bread and salad. There are certainly a lot of tourists here. Quite an affordable price for a bowl of goodness - different kinds of seafood. I was surprised to see mussels! The blob of cream is aioli - made of mayonnaise and flavoured with garlic. That is the difference between mayonnaise and aioli - the garlic.

Inauguration of Christmas Lights

16 November 2024

Today, I saw the inauguration of Christmas lights in Stockholm. It was so beautiful when the lights were lit up. The ceremony was held in Kungsträdgården (The King's Garden) and there was a short concert for about 20 minutes with very lively music from pop singers Lili and Susie. They have the vibe of 80s music. There were people distributing gingerbread cookies, postcards and a map of the location of the Christmas lights. I had 4 gingerbread cookies! Yums! There are 40 places in Stockholm lit up with different types of Christmas light decorations. 

Tastebud : Chapter's Bar & Steakhouse

8 November 2024

I usually bring lunchboxes to work but this week, I did not have enough lunchboxes. So, I had lunch set at Chapter Bar & Steakhouse. There are 3 options to choose from - entrecote and french fries, salmon fillet with sparris and potato croquettes, and the vegetarian dish which I don't know remember what it was. I took the fish option as I don't eat fish very often as it is expensive.

My lunchset comes with salad (one can choose the different types of salad from the salad bar), a glass of water infused with lemon (one can choose other juice for example lingonberry drink), coffee and a piece of dry butter cake. SEK145. I am not used to eating outside so I was very surprised that lunchset costs SEK145 today. I remembered paying SEK125 last year. 

Tastebud : Sangria Tapas Bar

7 November 2024

Today's dinner is tapas - Spanish food. Since the name of the place is Sangria, I had Sangria. I seldom have alcohol or drink anything else than water when I dine outside. But today, I make an exception. I chose red wine sangria (SEK125). Sangria is wine mixed fruits which makes it a refreshing drink. Typically, it is chopped oranges. Mine has chopped apples and oranges. 

If I were to come back here again, I will just have the sangria. There were many customers in the restaurant who were there for the sangria only.

The two of us shared tapas. I had 3 tapas while my boyfriend had 7 tapas! We tasted each other's foods too. Total food came to SEK991. Small portions. I think some are overpriced. For example, padrones, chorizo, paella, nachos and ole mexico. 

We had:

1) Paella SEK135. The menu described the dish as 'with mussles, giant prawns, squid rings, rice and aioli'. Then, my dish came with ONE mussle, ONE giant prawn and ONE squid ring. Gosh, that was super misleading. This I am disappointed with. The dish is nothing extraordinary. 

2) Quesadillas de pollo SEK80. Wheat tortilla bread filled with chicken and cheese with garlic sour cream. I have always enjoyed quesadillas. 

3) Datiles con bacon SEK97. Dates wrapped in bacon in honey and goat cheese. This I liked.

4) Chorizo con tomate SEK94. ONE spicy Spanish chorizo sausages in tomato sauce. (not in photo). Chorizo is a bit spicy but chorizo sausage has always been a spicy sausage.

5) Solomillo de Ternera SEK125. Grilled beef tenderloin (oxfile) with spicy red wine sauce, pickled red paprika, ONE padrone and rösti potatoes (coarsely grated potatoes that are boiled and fried)

6) Ensaladilla espana SEK110. Manchego cheese (Spanish cheese made from sheep's milk), salad, artichoke, basil dressing, pomegranate and sea salt. The cheese is tasteless to me.

7) Padrones SEK92. Green paprikas with sea salt. Nice with the hint of salt.

We were still hungry and we ordered three more dishes instead of getting dessert.

8) Ole Mexico SEK75. Wheat tortilla filled with fried chicken strips, guacamole, sriracha mayo, tomato and salad. Tasty fried chicken strips.

9) Nachos SEK84. Nacho chips, tomatoes, melted cheese, jalapeno, guacamole, salsa with fresh red onions. 

10) Bruschetta SEK99. Grilled sourdough bread, tomatoes, napoliton salad (mix of spinach, rucola, and red leaf salad), serrano ham (smoked ham from white pigs in Spain), basil and cheese. Grilled sourdough bread was delicious. 

In front of me is solomillo (5) and green padrones (7).

Next row after that is the dish in the black cast-iron plate is paella with the ONE type of seafood (1). Next to it is ensaladilla (6).

Final row is quesadilla (2) and bacon-wrapped dates (3).

Bruschettta (10) in front of me. Nacho chips (9) in front of the bruschetta. The dish sticking out is Ole Mexico (8).

The menu is in Swedish. No 20 is Paella and you can see what I mean if see the description. It is plural - musslor, jätteräkor, bläckfiskringar.