The Semla I grew up eating — memory as a review

I grew up eating Semla and have strong opinions shaped by memory. The version here triggered that recognition in the first bite — the delicately cured was right, cream was handled the way it should be.

Swedish fika culture elevates the coffee break with pastries into a social institution. Growing up it was always a Swedish smörgåsbord table, which shaped my reference point entirely. aquavit alongside it is the only way it makes sense to me. It's hard to be objective about food you have emotional history with, but objectively: this is very good.