During the Swedish spring and summer, people tend to eat outdoors as much as possible. Show more

With a limited period of sunshine and warm weather, Swedes take every chance they get to be outdoors both cooking and eating. It can be a picnic, barbecue or just bringing a bowl of soup into the garden. Sweden is a culinary nation shaped by its countryside. The coastline, lakes and rivers provide fish and shellfish. And the vast forests are full of berries, mushrooms and game, which all have a special place in Swedish cuisine. With long winters, Swedes come from a tradition of making full use of what nature provides. Swedish food is a combination of traditional ingredients and new influences. Pizza, hamburgers and tacos are incorporated into Swedish cooking through the use of chanterelles (fungi), reindeer and other ingredients found in the Swedish countryside. Show less