the swede life in toronto

This year I had the privilege of heading the Swedish design section of the 2014 SWEA Toronto Christmas Festival and it was a bit hectic getting the order together, but fun nonetheless! I’m introducing a lot of new products this year both to excite the big crowds that are sure to come and to give […]

The annual SWEA Swedish Christmas Market at the Harbourfront in Toronto is happening this month, November 22-23rd Saturday 11-5pm and Sunday 11-4pm. There will be tons of Swedish food, design, Christmas decorations, Swedish folks and activities for kids. Come and experience the Lucia pageant, folk dancers and get merry with some good glögg! IF YOU’D […]

UPDATED AUGUST 24, 2014 MORE NORDIC FILMS ADDED! Announcing the Scandinavian films of the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) SEPTEMBER 4-14TH 2014 this year, there is a good deal of variety of movies with Nordic actors, directors or producers. Below is a brief synopsis taken from the TIFF 2014 website. Scandinavian Films Force Majeure (SWEDEN/DENMARK/NORWAY) […]

After the thaw of Winter, Spring reveals the best of Swedish food. One of the most celebrated, yet little-known-outside-of-Sweden dishes is the Smörgåstårta or Sandwich Cake. Rather than noshing on a sweet torte, you should try a savory one, and the Swedish Sandwich Cake fits the bill. They are quite simply delightful both to see […]

This years Swedish films at Hot Docs in Toronto are pretty varied, from an old Swedish has-been socialite to the violent decolonization in Africa, it is going to be interesting! Here is the offering and descriptions from the Hot Docs website: Concerning Violence Unearthing astounding footage of the fight for decolonization and with an intuitive […]

Like most of you interested in Swedish, I learned it as a second language because I fell in love with a Swede. And as a token of my love, I had to humble myself enough to learn Swedish as an adult. One question I get asked often is how long it took me to learn […]

UPDATED NOVEMBER 12, 2013 After all the talk on food, time to take a break! One thing I think is so smart is Swedish design. Not only are they masters of furniture design, but also practical things you never really think of. As I was unclogging our sink for the 1000th time using thick-ass gloves […]

UPDATED December 11, 2022 It’s only November, but we are already thinking about setting up our Swedish Christmas Table (Julbord). You are even starting to see signs of Christmas around town. The chilly air and sweet spices of Yule time are already starting to fill our noses. Christmas in Sweden is a very special time […]

Mmmmm.. Rose Hip Soup, just what you need at the beginning of flu season, as this is Sweden’s natural “flu shot”. My whole family and I are starting to get runny noses and the fear of flu is approaching! Do you wonder how Swedes handle the harsh winter and minimal daylight without getting scurvy and […]

Autumn’s crisp air calls for a warm Swedish apple cake. What a perfect thing to make after picking apples around the many orchards in Ontario (see this great U-Pick list), and right now is the season! We totally enjoy the tradition of getting our apples picked fresh off the tree instead of buying them at […]