Eats & Beats: A Swedish Christmas, lutfisk!

interview with Ed Danielson

Every December on KUVO’s morning show “First Take with Lando and Chavis,” we explore a variety of ethnic holiday menus and traditions.  Our own “Mayor of Oasisville,” KUVO announcer Ed Danielson shared his Swedish heritage, without bringing any lutfisk into the studio.

“Anybody that eats lutfisk is well-deserving of being the butt of jokes,” says dah mayor proudly.  In the   audio interview (above), Danielson explains the preparation of the dried codfish meal, which is both famous and infamous for its taste and smell.  

Host Carlos Lando noted a similar Caribbean dish of dried and salted cod, bacalao.

The Swedish lutfisk feed is hosted annually in January by the Swedish Club of Denver.

Danielson also shared a cup of hot spiced wine (port), called glogg.  ”Delicious!  It washes the lutfisk down.”

Ed passed along this list of holiday menu items, with pronunciation guide!

Lutfisk, LOOT fisk, lye fish

Köttbullar, CHERT(silent ‘r’) bull are, Swedish meatballs

Fruktsoppa, FRUKT suppah, fruit soup

risgrynsgröt    REES grins grert, rice pudding

pannkaka, PUN kahcka, oven pancake

julskinka, YULE shinkah ,Christmas ham

patatiskorv, pa TAH tees korv, potato sausage

While he didn’t sing the “O, Lutefisk” song to the tune of “O, Tannenbaum,” Ed did share some of the lyrics, found at the website www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com.

(Music closing this feature from the CD Hot Salsa meets Swedish Jazz.)