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Author savors haggis and surströmming, laments dwindling fish stocks Image: Niklas Porter
🇸🇪 Sweden /Culture & Society

Author savors haggis and surströmming, laments dwindling fish stocks

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The author reflects on the dwindling fish stocks in the Baltic Sea, noting that herring, once a staple, is now primarily used for fishmeal or delicacies like surströmming.
  • He recalls a scene from "Ture Sventon in London" where criminals debate the availability of herring and pickled herring in London.
  • The author contrasts the culinary traditions of Scotland (haggis) and Sweden (surströmming, crayfish), noting that while many might avoid them, he enjoys them.

The author laments the declining state of fish populations in the Baltic Sea, a region historically reliant on herring. He notes that what little remains is often processed into fishmeal or used for fermented delicacies like surströmming and pickled herring.

Herring and pickled herring are not the same. If I ask for a kilo of herring, I get herring and not pickled herring. And if I ask for pickled herring, I get pickled herring. Not herring or mashed potatoes or rhubarb. Get going!

— Ville VesslaIn a literary recollection from "Ture Sventon in London," the criminal leader Ville Vessla expresses frustration over the debate about herring and pickled herring.

His musings on pickled herring lead him to a literary recollection from "Ture Sventon in London." In the story, a gang of criminals debates the availability of pickled herring in London. One criminal, Frans Briljant, states that herring, and thus pickled herring, is not available in the country, leading to a frustrated outburst from their leader, Ville Vessla.

Pickled herring is the same as herring and herring is not found in this country.

— Frans BriljantIn a literary recollection from "Ture Sventon in London," a criminal companion states that herring is unavailable in London.

The author then draws a parallel to Scotland's national dish, haggis, which, like surströmming, often elicits strong reactions. This year, he had the opportunity to enjoy haggis, crayfish, and surströmming, a combination he finds delightful, even if "large parts of humanity kindly but firmly ask to be spared."

This year, I had the opportunity to alternate haggis with crayfish and surströmming in August, three dishes that large parts of humanity kindly but firmly ask to be spared.

— AuthorThe author reflects on his culinary experiences, contrasting his enjoyment of certain foods with the general aversion to them.
About this summary

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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