A Culinary Trip to Sweden with Chef Amalia

Executive Chef Amalia has been bringing her elevated style to FIKA Café since joining the team in 2022. Last Spring, she visited Stockholm for a culinary tour, a trip in the making since she started.  

The first thing Chef Amalia did after landing was to try a Cardamom bun since it was the first true Swedish baked pastry she ever learned to make. Baked goods were also the most recommended food she try! Fortunately, she was there on Semla Day, which left her inspired for next year’s flavors. “I think I ate more Semla in one day than I did all last year!” she said . “They were all so different and unique.”   

Her list of food to try was extensive, but her bucket list items included the classics: Kallax Roe, Västerbotten Cheese, and Swedish Meatballs and gravy. FIKA Café serves its meatballs with a creamy mustard sauce, and she wanted to try the other Swedish variations.   

More than just food on the itinerary, Chef Amalia had the opportunity to meet several chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, and industry professionals. “I wanted to know anything and everything, so I spent a copious amount of time picking their brains,” she said.  

What can you expect on the menu next year? She’ll be enhancing some of FIKA Café’s traditional favorites: the Swedish meatballs may see a variation with a new “gravy” option, and some newer modern flavors and techniques will be incorporated overall. She’s particularly inspired by the addition of Japanese cuisine in Stockholm currently, and the modern, elevated version of an extremely traditional Nordic cooking style she experienced at Restaurant Ekstedt, which she definitively states as the most incredible meal she’s ever tasted. Inspired by her experience at the Grand Hotel Smogasbord Meal, this year’s holiday Julbord dinners will feature a few new elements. 

Global travel and experiences are always eye-opening, and conversations and experiences are inspiring Chef Amalia’s work and leadership at FIKA Café.