Växbo Krog
Potato Bread, Crisps, Salted Butter
Kalix Lojrom – Smoked Vendace Caviar, Chives, Mayonnaise, Creamy Egg, Onion, Peas, Brioche, Brown Butter
Friterad Risotto – Deep-fried Risotto, local Halloumi Cheese, Lentil and Bulgur Ragout, Green Beans, Tomatoes
Kokets Schnitzel – Swedish Pork, Green Beans, Mushrooms, Capers, Anchovies, White Pepper Butter, Roasted Potatoes
Raspberry Sorbet, Whipped Cream, Toasted Coconut
Hazelnut Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Salted and Roasted Nuts
Vanilla Ice Cream, Strawberry Compote, White Chocolate
Vanilla Ice Cream, Caramel, Dark Chocolate
Opened for the season on June 1st it was at Växbo Krog that one final meal in Sweden took place, the UNESCO World Heritage Site proving to be more about location than cuisine though the menu from Chef Johansson Jonsing certainly was not bad, just unexciting after eight days of Michelin Star dining.
Found in the city of Bollnäs and built in 2007, the nearby buildings surrounding a small pond far older and more traditional in design, it was just past 18h00 that parking was located in a lot nearby and with several guests already enjoying dinner on the outdoor patio a decision was made to eat indoors where temperatures were cooler and the air free of mosquitoes.
Large and thus fairly impersonal, a Kitchen to the room’s left looking out on lengthy communal tables plus a few two and four-tops back-dropped by black and white images from nearby, it was after short review of a fairly sizable list of items that one shared Appetizer plus two Main Courses were selected, a box of Housemade Bread soon to arrive which featured fluffy slices made in part from Potatoes plus Sourdough Crisps and liberally salted Butter.
Said to be focused on local ingredients from Hälsingland and seasonally driven, the preparations not necessarily Swedish but instead globally influenced, it was starting off that traditional Vendace Caviar paired to the usual condiments plus freshly shucked Peas was presented, the small portion gone quick and followed by nearly fifteen minutes staring at dirty dishes as service described as “personal while unobtrusive” was more so the latter.
Still sporting buffet tables along the back wall from lunch, two of them used to hold Växbo Krog’s all-one-cares-to-eat Ice Cream finale, it was shortly after the first course was cleared that Mains arrived, “Deep-fried Risotto” in reality just Arancini under a different name with plate-mates inspired by the Mediterranean while Pork Schnitzel fared far better as good Pork was pounded flat and fried crisp amidst Mushrooms and Brown Sauce plus a touch of spice and lots of brine.
Tempted by composed Desserts but eventually convinced to indulge in the Ice Cream by a server, both Sorbets a bit icy and thus overlooked past a bite or two, it was topping scoops of Hazelnut or Vanilla with housemade toppings that three small bowls were enjoyed, the best difficult to determine but the Caramel made with lots of Butter and Cream plus just a touch of definitely worth adding liberally.
www.vaxbokrog.se