Say Hej! to Lisa in the Saluhall, Östermalm Stockholm

Curious about Scandinavia? Love food, too? Just as important, do you have some extra coinage to part, if your wallet hasn’t already emptied itself to the gods of accommodation? And frankly, just who is this god of accommodation to whom I should be pleading my case?

If your wallet has been fully appeased, it’s good then you’ve found yourself in Stockholm.

In search of some of the freshest and finest food products in the city, I found myself in Stockholm’s Östermalm neighbourhood at the end of June in 2008. I found the Saluhall Market Hall and stepped inside.

After gazing at the fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, bread, etc., I sat down at Lisa Elmqvist, a seafood restaurant about which I’d read favourably; Saluhall’s own description can be found here.

As children of the Canadian left-coast, my sister and I became familiar with a variety of seafood: abalone, clams, crab, eel, fresh- and saltwater fish, geoduck, octopus, oysters, prawns, scallops, squid. We’ve never lost the taste for fresh seafood, and I was looking forward to tasting what Scandinavia and the Baltic had on offer.

I ordered a starter and a main: two expensive but tremendously delicious plates, as you can see below.

Rundrökt ål med äggröra (smoked eel with scrambled eggs and rye bread).

Smörstekt gösfilé med gräddkokt skogssvamp (butter-fried pike perch with creamy wild mushrooms).

The light smokey eel, the fluffy eggs, and the robust nature of the bread combined perfectly in texture and flavour to make an ideal opening plate. The perch in cream sauce was a little heavier, but the fish was seasoned well, and was fried just right: an edge of crispiness on the outside, and tender (but cooked) on the inside.

I could’ve stayed at Lisa Elmqvist all afternoon, but I think my wallet would’ve complained more seriously. I said as much to my server, who smiled at me the entire time. With more to see and do in the city, I reluctantly said goodbye.

To reach the Saluhall, take the T-bana metro red-lines 13 or 14 to Östermalmstorg station. From the station, it’s a short walk to Östermalmstorg (Östermalm plaza or square); the Saluhall is at the southwest corner of the square.

Don’t forget to have a walk around the attractive Östermalm neighbourhood. Whether it’s T-bana or on foot, you’re not far from the centre proper (e.g., Hötorget) to the west, and Gamla Stan or the harbour to the south.

I made the photos above on 24 and 27 June 2008. This post appears originally on Fotoeins Fotopress (fotoeins.com).

Disclosure: No Connection, Unpaid, My Own Opinions. I have not received any compensation for writing this content and I have no material connection to the brands, topics and/or products that are mentioned herein (cmp.ly/0).

As of posting, it’s a month to Christmas, and winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. Naturally, Laurel writes about the warm and tasty Starbucks’ Gingerbread Latté for FoodFriday.

P.S. 30 Nov 2011: by sheer force of good timing, Anne-Sophie Redisch recently posted an article describing the “slow food” to be found in the grand Saluhall. You should go read her post, too!