From: Patrick <smile> Oh, I wish I'd written that piece. Actually, since that implies I'd have to have actually *sampled* lutefisk, perhaps it's just as well to allow Clay Shirky the honour of authorship (and the dubious distinction of experience). I've CC'd the unfortunate sot so he'll know his sacrifice is appreciated.

On the other hand, pickled herring I have some fine experiences with, even if it has cost me a friendship or two. Seems not everyone's so fond of the marvelous stuff. Go figure.

Cheers,

Patrick.

Benson, Thomas R., Mr. IMCEN wrote:
>
> I read your account with equal parts amusement and feelings of ancient
> terror. My grandmother was a 19th-century Swedish immigrant (from
> Varmland, to be exact), and when I was a child, we still crammed all of
> her 9 children and their families into her house or one of my aunts'
> houses on Christmas Eve for a gift exchange and a table full of Swedish
> food. We remember the food mostly because of its color, or rather, lack
> thereof: it was all gray and brown.
>
> Aside from the pickled herring, or sill, the eating of which remains
> today among my family a right of passage into adulthood and actually
> tastes much better than it looks, the one food I remember not for its
> taste but for its smell is lutefisk. We wondered as children why anyone
> would ever want to stuff such awful-looking, smelly junk into his mouth,
> and the younger children were terrorized by the older ones who swore
> that before a single present was handed out, everyone, even children,
> would have to eat some lutefisk. My opinion hasn't changed.
>
> Even though I haven't seen a plate of the stuff in 35 years, I still can
> remember the smell. After reading your account, I'm convinced I haven't
> missed a thing. Thanks.
>          Tom Benson

Bo Leuf wrote:

> ...hahaha...
> (http://www.synaptic.bc.ca/ejournal/lutefisk.htm)
>
> That was an inspired bit of cultural documentary. In Sweden we have
> "lutfisk" as well, a traditional Christmas item, and it is quite true
> that without the potatoes and pepper-gravey, there is precious little
> about it that anyone would want. You didn't _really_ go into any
> great detail about the consistency, which can of course vary somewhat
> depending on various factors, lye and preparation. We don't exactly
> serve it lukewarm, but there is something about the specific heat of
> well-prepared lutfisk which apparently makes it physically impossible
> to retain a temperature in excess of about 30 C outside of the oven.
>
> In northern Sweden, however, we not only celebrate once a year with
> lutfisk, we also have the midsummer tradtion of "surstr?mming" (i.e.
> fermented herring). This is a rare delecacy indeed, and would be
> rarer still if some would have their way, and has one thing that
> lutfisk can never have -- the smell. This fish is prepared in the
> summer, and sealed into tins to ripen (and I use the work advisedly)
> until the following midsummer. A good year is hinted at by the
> swelling of the tin's top and bottom, which also warns you of the
> fact that there may be considerable pressure involved. Never, repeat
> *never* attempt to pack down a tin or two in your luggage before
> flying home; it is doubtful if your insurance will cover the effects
> on your belongings and those of your fellow passengers.
>
> How to describe the smell of surst?mming? Bottled gas, sort of, you
> know, the kind with the added sulphate smell for safety reasons. But
> it goes beyond this with a rare and inspired pungency. There was the
> news story some years ago about the Swedish couple living in Berlin
> who decided to have surstr?mming one day. Worried neighbors called
> the fire department and emergency services about a gas leak. When the
> panic eventually settled, the couple lost the contract to their
> apartment and were told never to return.
>
> They should have known better. Surstr?mming should be partaken of
> only in the great outdoors, in the midsummer evening. There one sees
> in full the potency of nature mixed with culture. The secret of a
> successful surstr?mming party lies in careful preparation: freshly
> boiled potatoes of the season, small and served unpeeled, the special
> white unleavened flat bread baked in stone ovens, real butter, beer,
> and of course, akvavit. The surstr?mming tins are opened far to
> leeward and the "fish" inspected for quality. Usually declared fit
> for consumption, drained, they are then moved to some suitable
> serving platter and taken to the table. The tins and remaining liquid
> contents, and any "unfit" fish, are all left at the opening site and
> there serve the laudable purpose of attracting, stunning and perhaps
> killing off the local flies and mosquitoes, away from the
> festivities.
>
> Surstr?mming is by preference put whole on buttered flatbread and
> eaten, but may also be eaten on a plate with the potatoes and soured
> cream, garnished with chopped fresh chives. In addition, tradition
> allows several variants of pickled herring to be served, rather
> similar though not fully identical to the Christmas offering. Most of
> this selection also serves as the "backup" in case the year's
> surstr?mming should, oh horrors!, prove totally inedible even to the
> most diehard.
>
> Between bites, shots of akvavit are drunk, possibly of the variously
> spiced varieties (including St John's wort), each accompanied by a
> short ditty on the theme of strong drink, and chased by moderate to
> copious amounts of beer of varying strengths. And a good time is had
> by all...
>
> Regards
> / Bo
> --
> Bo Leuf
> The Leuf Project
> http://www.leuf.org/

From: Karen McGann
Sent: Friday, June 04, 1999 8:47 PM
Subject: Lutefisk


> Wonderful story, I know you're not making it up, only someone who has
> had it can talk about it so well!! Being a 1st generation American, of
> Fin Swede parents, Lutefisk was at our table every Christmas eve.
> Though the tradition was dropped several years ago, I still shudder when
> I remember the gelatinous mass covered in white sauce and peppercorns.
> Thanks for the chuckle! Karen
>

From: Nilsson, Eija
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 1999 3:56 AM
Subject: Food you eat ?


Hello!
Our family is going to eat LUTFISK today 1999-11-27.
Have you same specially food you eat in Canada , in a
Christmas - time??
Our recept includes a much pepper in white-saus. Whitout
this tastes this fish "nothing".
from Eija Nilsson (Sweden)

From: BCCCCH@aol.com
To: LUTEFISK
Sent: Sunday, November 26, 2000 10:02 AM
Subject: Lutefisk


It's not such a big deal, it's just fish! My Mom makes it once a year. It's
ok, it could be really good if you eat it right. It must have cooked green
peas. I never make it, I just eat it. Fy bubblan. Ulrika Langels (Swedish
exchange student)