Food & Drink - Sweden - page 692

to arrive at the agreed-upon time rather than 'fashionably late'. And don't go empty-
handed: a bottle of wine or flowers will make the right impression.
Cheap Eats
Street snacks are the cheapest, quickest way to fill up in Sweden, particularly in cities but
also on beaches, along motorways and in campgrounds. A snack kiosk with a grill is
known as a gatukök (literally, 'street kitchen'). In the world of Swedish street food, hot
dogs reign supreme - the basic model is called a grillad korv med bröd , grilled sausage
with bread (hot dog in a bun), although you can also ask for it boiled (kokt) . Adventurous
souls can request a mind-boggling variety of things done to the korv , chiefly involving
rolling it up in flatbread with accompaniments from shrimp salad to mashed potatoes or
coleslaw to fried onions. Kebab restaurants are another good bet for tasty, quick and cheap
eats.
Opening Times
Restaurants generally open from 11am to 2pm for lunch, and from 5pm until 10pm for din-
ner. Cafes, bakeries and coffee shops are likely to be open all day, from around 8am until
6pm.
Tipping
Tipping is becoming a little more common in Sweden, though it isn't expected outside of
fine-dining restaurants. A service cost is figured into the bill, but if you've had excellent
service, a 10% to 15% tip is a suitable complement.
Self-Catering
Easily found in Swedish towns and villages, the main supermarket chains are ICA, Kon-
sum and Hemköp. Plastic carrier bags usually cost Skr2 to Skr5 at the cashier.
Supermarkets across Sweden have prepared foods for quick snacks, but making your
own meals is easy enough if you're hostelling or camping. Produce in standard supermar-
kets is often uninspiring, but fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables are readily available at
market squares such as Hötorget in Stockholm as well as at rural farm shops and roadside
stands.