You would be forgiven for thinking that Scotland, Ireland and Germany are the major players when it comes to potatoes but Swedes too love these versatile tubers! Scotland is world-famous for growing fine blight-free potatoes, and whilst pasta and rice try a takeover bid we shall always love our tatties, and have a healthy export trade to Sweden and mainland Europe (at least we did pre-brexit but we won’t go there…we live in hope!). History tells us Ireland was victim of a potato famine but free trade also played a significant role in that tragedy. Today in Germany, there isn’t a food market without stalls devoted to potato varietals and, back to Sweden, almost every national dish requires potatoes:
Jansson’s temptation, Swedish meatballs, mash & lingonsylt, Midsummer herring with dill new potatoes, Fried herring, Wallenburgers & Pannbiff, both served with boiled potatoes, Raggmunk – the Swedish equivalent of rosti & Potato salad even appears on open sandwiches with cold meatballs, never far away!
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/meatballs-by-stove-1024x843.jpg)
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/panbiff-1024x684.jpg)
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/herringlingon-1024x731.jpg)
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/fredriksdal-aug21-1024x683.jpg)
We have planted several heritage varieties of potatoes on our Småland croft with great success, only fertilised with our food and leaf compost. When we heard that there was to be a potato exhibition at Fredriksdal where Bosse was farming laterally, we had to go and check it out. Philippe, Head Gardener is retiring this year – big boots to fill and leaving on a high with a celebration of his incredible work in the vegetable gardens of the estate.
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/philippetatties.png)
We saw many potato varieties there – including Scottish ones – and Philippe even grows Scotland’s Ark of Taste Musselburgh Leeks alongside rhubarb, apple and pear genebanks! It was good to catch up as we hadn’t visited for a while.
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/potato@fredriksdal2-757x1024.jpg)
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/muss-leeks-@fredriksdal1-800x1024.jpg)
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/potato@fredriksdal1-1024x770.jpg)
Elsewhere on our long-awaited trip, Bosse harvested hay whilst I made kilos of wild raspberry jam! We visited family, attended to essential maintenance and admin, and gathered and preserved all we could: pickling cucumbers, storing apples and drying herbs – the time just disappeared. We managed to nail the cover shot for our next book, due out soon – something we were determined to accomplish! Summer isn’t summer without visits to the local waffle café so we managed that…just! Sweden is a beautiful place, a foodie heaven and we look forward to our return.
![](http://skanskfoodguide.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bialitt-1024x768.jpg)