For many an American, the word socialism
conjures up pictures of the old-school communist bread lines, people waiting
hours to cash in their bread coupons for a loaf.
In Sweden these days, you might see such a
bread line, but it’s not what you think.
Swedish sourdough bread is the ultimate in
trendy food goodness in Sweden at the moment. It’s bigger than ever. Although, as I am often late to the game, I
think that some foodies might declare sourdough bread sooooo 2010, whatever.
Mostly I am very enthusiastic about the new
found popularity of sourdough bread in Sweden. It means I can finally admit
that if I really have to choose between fluffy yummy thick crusted white bread
and that Pågan brand ‘lingon’ loaf which tastes like cardboard when toasted
(though I admit, for some reason I was totally in love with it circa 2006) I
would choose the white bread every single time, yes even if it is white bread
and completely lacking any nutrition whatsoever.
I love bread. If I have to choose between
candy and bread, I would choose bread. If I have to choose between chocolate
and bread, I would choose bread. You get the picture.
That said, Swedish sourdough bread is
getting silly, to say the least. At one local bakery they charge 12 dollars per
loaf. Yes, per loaf. OK, so the loaf is like the length of my arm and as thick
as my thigh, but still, it’s just flour, some bacteria and water.
Also, currently, there are three local TOP
SECRET sourdough bakeries. To get their breads, you have to be in the know and
on ‘the list.’ You then get an SMS telling you when there is bread available
and it is first come first serve chaos. Who cares that the bakers are actually
two nursing assistants who have adopted a new hobby? Apparently they are good
and better than that, they are obscure.
So while I am incredibly grateful for the
new trend in bread baking in Sweden, because it means a little more to choose
from at the grocery store, I think things are getting a little crazy with the
sourdough trend.
And, yes, I have many times thought ‘Oh,
I’m totally going to do that sourdough starter thing this week,’ but it hasn’t
happened, yet.
Posts
Do you have access to these secret lists? ;)
ReplyDeleteDid you ever get the sourdough "chain mail". You get a sourdough from someone and you're supposed to grow it and share with three more people. Got one in 2002 I think.
ReplyDeleteI actually don't understand why they are so obsessed with this bread. I love white bread. We Italians do not have this much of sourdough bread and we just go for the white one, happily ever after ;-)
ReplyDelete