In the company of Swedes, do as they do – Eat and enjoy crayfish at the end of the summer!
CRAYFISH – a small crustacean very much resembling the lobster, but less indigestible.
The annual SWEA Vancouver crayfish party took place at the Scandinavian Centre in Burnaby last Friday (September 10, 2010). For the first time, the event was open to the whole Scandinavian Community. A happy and hungry group of 52 crayfish devotees showed up longing for these delicious red shellfish which should be consumed with friends, snaps and singing.
Chef Alden Kiland from the Quilchena Golf Club prepared and served a scrumptious three course meal to SWEA members, spouses, other Scandinavians and fans of Scandinavian cuisine. A number of creative appies were followed by a starter gravlax sandwich and a main course with substantial amounts of crayfish and shrimp, which the guests enjoyed with a tasty cheese quiche and salad. Continous bowls of seafood were served and even crayfish novices quickly picked up that etiquette does not require you to use serving cutlery, but that you simply can pick up the crayfish bowl and pour large amounts of the crayfish onto your plate. Dessert was beautifully presented and consisted of baked Okanagan peaches served with mint leaves and whipped cream.
- Chef Alden Kiland
The dinner took most of the evening thanks to a large song book which was worked through by enthusiastic SWEA members with loud voices. A small lottery was held and $830 was raised for SWEA UBC Scholarship for Swedish language studies in Sweden. Overall, the event was a successful one, and SWEA Vancouver will make this event into an annual on at the centre, open for anyone wanting to sample this very special Swedish tradition.
Special thanks to the following people
Chef Alden Kiland and his sous-chef Virgina for cooking an amazing meal.
Sofia Agelén-MacKenzie for arranging most of the event.
Pia Hilton for preparing the fun song books.
The following people for their generous donations to the lottery:
- Seeve Sandberg provided a necklace and bracelet from her store DyerbergKern on Granville Street;
- Ulla Alganius donated a line of high-class skin products;
- Ritchie Younger and Yvonne Spence for some special wines;
- Eva Andersson for providing us with an exercise ball;
- Pia Hilton for a series of hand carved wooden sill cutlery.
Link to more photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12783660@N02/sets/72157624937126704/
