3 minute read

Local delicacies

Värmland’s fantastic nature provides a widerange of delicious taste sensations. From jams made from forest berries to goats’ cheese. Text & photo: Linnea Lindblad

For a spicy salad

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Product: Habenero oil Made by: Smaksinnenas skafferi Visit: @smaksinnenasskafferi

For a fika in the bower

Product: Raspberry cordial Made by: Guns bär & sylt Visit: Sandåsen 4, Slottsbron

Ideal for the excursion thermos

Product: Chocolate drink Made by: Naturpralinen Visit: naturpralinen.se

Cooling for your throat

Product: The doctor’s Horror – Peppermint Honey Made by: Björns Bigård Visit: biqupemums.se Tasty Fairs

Culinary markets and fairs in Värmland this year.

February • Wine & Deli, Karlstad CCC

May • Skål! (Cheers!, Drinks fair), Karlstad CCC • Spring Market, Alster,

Karlstad

September • The Harvest Festival,

Värmlandsnäs • Autumn Market, Alster • Smaka på Värmland (A taste of Värmland),

Kristinehamn

November • Carlstad Beer & Whisky

Festival, Karlstad CCC • Christmas at Mårbacka • Christmas Market, Alster

December • Christmas Market,

Mariebergsskogen,

Karlstad • Christmas at Sågudden,

Arvika

Värmland goat cheese

Product: Summer meadow goat cheese Made by: Finnskogens Ost Visit: ostaffar.se 75% berries!

Product: Blueberry jam Made by: Guns bär & sylt Visit: Sandåsen 4, Slottsbron

Taking bread to new heights

Mattias Dröschmeister and Gustav Fagerman are the childhood friends behind successful bakery Artisan Bread. They bake delicious breads and pastries, driven by their enthusiasm and creativity. Text: Marcela Elofsson Photo: Linnea Lindblad

We meet Mattias Dröschmeister at the bustling food market Smaka på Värmland (Taste Värmland) in Kristinehamn. In the next tent the Baking Festival is in full swing. – The Baking Festival is a concept my colleague Gustav and I came up with. It’s an energy kick to meet like-minded people and bake together, says Mattias.

THE DUOS JOURNEY started about five years ago when, over a cup of coffee in Karlstad, they decided to start Artisan Bread at Kasernhöjden in Karlstad. – It was completely by chance, really. I was working in Norway and Gustav was working as a baker in Sweden. Everything came together at once. Within five minutes we were excited at the idea of starting a bakery together.

SUCCESS CAME IMMEDIATELY. If it wasn’t enough that Artisan Bread was listed as one of Sweden’s best cafés in White Guide, Gustav Fagerman is now “Baker of the Year 2018”. – Both Gustav and I get restless if we do the same thing for too long. We really think alike and always strive to move forwards, to raise the bar even higher.

Artisan Bread is a modern artisanal bakery inspired by the French tradition of baking. You will find a range of breads, pastries and coffee available in a beautiful location.

Learn more: artisanbread.se

Food crafts that yield fruit

Stinas Gårdsbutik [Stina’s Farmshop] takes advantage of sun-ripened fruits and berries. The result is a range of sweet taste sensations and delicious jars of marmalade and chutney. Text: Linnea Lindblad Photo: Marcela Elofsson

Lena Ahlgrimm lives and works in Väse, east of Karlstad, where the Drögsforsen rapids flow into lake Panken. It became her calling to take advantage of what is around us and refine it into artisanal foods. – I bought the company Stinas Gårdsbutik last year. I take fruits and berries from Värmland – a lot from my own garden – and turn them into marmalade jellies and chutneys, says Lena.

As well as being made locally, all the products are free from artificial preservatives. Lena sees the future as bright, and she has many ideas for things that she wants to achieve. – I will continue to develop things like the vegan product range, and finding more distributors.

Learn more: stinasgardsbutik.se

Lena’s plum chutney, which includes chili among its ingredients, gives a real kick!