The Nobel Prize in Literature 2011 - Tomas Tranströmer

Nobel prize for literature goes to Swedish Poet Tomas Tranströmer.
Prize motivation: "because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality"

Tranströmer is well known internationally, translated into over 50 languages and "one of the world's now living poet that has been translated the most."
The last Swede to win the literature Nobel was in 1974, when the Swedish authors Eyvind Johnson and Harry Martinson took the prize jointly.

For more info see: http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/swedish-poet-wins-nobel-literature-prize-4454092

Kanelbullens dag - Cinnamon Bun day - TODAY!

Get baking - today is the day of the Cinnamon Bun - Kanelbullens dag - in Sweden.


As it is mentioned in Wikipedia that this day is celebrated amongst Swedes in New Zealand - we better live up to the reputation and start baking :-) [See http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanelbullens_dag]

Cinnamon buns are an almost daily feature of Swedish life, but today, 4th October, is their special day. The tradition of celebrating Kanelbullens dag is however only eight years old – though it fits in perfectly with Swedish culture and tradition.
Cinnamon Bun Day was established in 1999 when staff at Sweden's Hembakningsrådet ('Home Baking Council') were looking for a way to celebrate their fortieth anniversary.

The idea behind the creation of the day was to celebrate Sweden's home baking tradition by highlighting a traditional and much-loved pastry. The autumn harvest is high season for baking in Swedish homes, so it was an ideal time of the year for a festive day with a baking theme.
(Source: http://www.su.se/english/about/news-and-events/cinnamon-bun-day-kanelbullens-dag-1.5166)

For the classic recipe see our food blog page:
http://senzfood.blogspot.com/2011/10/kanelbulle-swedish-cinnamon-roll.html

Janssons Day

Today - On the last Friday of September Sweden celebrates Jansson Dagen. (Janssons Day) – The day for eating Janssons Frestelse!

Janssons frestelse ("Jansson's temptation") is a traditional Swedish casserole made of potatoes, onion, pickled sprats, bread crumbs  and cream. It is commonly included in a Swedish julbord, but can be eaten on other occasions as well.

It has often been claimed that the name originated with the opera singer Pelle Janzon (1844-1889), remembered as a gourmand. However, another claim for the origin of the name has been made by Gunnar Stigmark in an article – "Så var det med Janssons frestelse" – which appeared in the periodical Gastronomisk kalender. According to Stigmark, the name was borrowed from the film Janssons frestelse (1928) featuring the popular actor Edvin Adolphson; as a name for this dish it was coined by Stigmark's mother and her hired cooking lady for the particular occasion of a society dinner, whence it spread to other households and eventually into cookbooks.

Source: Wikipedia

To make a Janssons Temptation, please follow our easy recpie at: http://senzfood.blogspot.com/2011/03/janssons-frestelse-temptation.html

Anne Sofie von Otter - coming to Welington - Fri 18 Nov 2011

Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter is considered one of the finest singers of her generation. A regular at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, her equally busy concert career makes her a frequent soloist in the major halls of Europe and North America, partnered with some of the world’s pre-eminent conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, Marc Minkowski, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Michael Tilson-Thomas.

Free pre-concert talk one hour prior to the performance.

Venue: Wellington Town Hall, Wellington
Date: Fri 18 Nov 2011 7:30p.m.

Presented by: Vector Wellington Orchestra

Marc Taddei – conductor
Anne Sofie von Otter – mezzo-soprano
Bengt Forsberg – piano

For more information see: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1011/S00214/nz-debut-for-mezzo-soprano-anne-sofie-von-otter.htm

For tickets: http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/Show.aspx?sh=VWOANNE11

Roxette to New Zealand

I've just heard news that the Swedish pop duo Roxette is coming to New Zealand for the first time to play one concert only at Auckland’s Vector Arena on Saturday 11 February 2012.

Formed in the late '80s and with 33 chart-busting singles, record sales exceeding 75 million, more Number 1 and Top 10 hits in America than ABBA and their very own Swedish postage stamp, Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle’s pop duo Roxette earned a place in history as one of the most successful bands to come out of Sweden.

For more info about the concert see: http://www.vectorarena.co.nz/index.cfm/PageID/2/EventID/196/Event/Roxette/

Ticket Sales to General Public starts 5 September 2011.