That is the sort of menu you can expect if you are lucky enough to be one of the 1,300 guests at the Nobel Banquet held in Stockholm each year.
 
This glittering event takes place after the distribution of the Nobel Prizes, the world’s most prestigious honour, and it’s attended by the Royal Family and prominent guests from all over the world.
 
The menu is a well kept secret till the last minute, apart from the dessert which is always a bombe glacée. It’s an appropriate dish, bearing in mind that the money Alfred Nobel bequeathed to the Nobel Foundation was derived from his discovery of dynamite – the dominant explosive used for blasting roads and tunnels for a whole century.

The gastronomic front has changed in the past decade. Swedish chefs suddenly started to take home gold medals from the culinary Olympic Games, as well as several medals at the unofficial world championship, the Bocuse d’Or. Swedish gastronomic art has won worlds recognition with its imaginative use of raw materials and innovative combinations.
 
The gastronomic triumphs of Sweden’s national culinary team are based on many different factors. There is a strong team spirit, with individual chefs competing at international levels enjoying strong support from many dedicated colleagues.
 
The same spirit is found in the many Swedish culinary competitions. The enormous popularity of food programmes on Swedish TV and the high status of the cooking profession in Sweden have also played their part. And nowadays even 10-year olds start learning to cook in their school domestic science lessons.

But the secret of Sweden’s culinary success also lies in our local raw materials. All the lakes, forests, mountains and meadows provide a rich and varied “pantry” which inspires creativity. And since we are so fond of our countryside, we are careful not to harm our environment. So there is no irradiation, no hormone treatments, and no unnecessary antibiotics. Because if good food is based on a high quality of life, it should to be produced in a healthy way.

You’ll find good Swedish food throughout the country and the creations of star chefs can be enjoyed in any of the many gourmet restaurants. And if you want to find out what a Nobel Banquet tastes like, you have the chance at the Stadshuskällaren restaurant in Stockholm, which serves dishes from previous years’ banquet menus.