Northern Lights

“The Sweden-India Nobel Memorial Week is a celebration of innovation and creativity— the heritage of Swedish innovator,entrepreneur and philanthropist Alfred Nobel,who instituted the Nobel Prize in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The theme for this year’s celebrations is Innovating for Good,” says Lars-Olof Lindgren,ambassador of Sweden to India. He adds that the Week is simultaneously taking place across six cities of India,including New Delhi,Mumbai and Bengaluru till October 31 and comprises seminars,round tables and quizzes,alongside cultural events such as a Swedish food festival,photo competition,exhibitions,musical performances and art displays to give Indians a glimpse of contemporary Sweden.

While Indo-Swede band Mynta will rock IIT Delhi with its fusion scores as part of the college’s annual youth festival,the Nobel Memorial Party will feature performances by another prominent Indo-Swede — pop artist Neeraj Sridhar of Bombay Vikings,apart from a young Swedish star called Sibel and the Goan band Black Slade. The memorial party is by invitation-only. The Nobel Memorial Quiz Grand Finale which will be held at IIT Delhi,is open to all.

Foodies,of course,would love to be at the exclusive Nobel Dinner where last year’s Nobel banquet dishes will be served to select guests,but chefs Mark Phoenix and Jonas Karlsson have prepared the next best thing — a food festival at the Olive Beach restaurant,where one can try the flavours of the country,including smoked reindeer. “Although Indians will always love their mother’s food best,now they will have a chance to taste our mother’s food,” says Karlsson. The festival has a sample of traditional Swedish recipes as well as contemporary and modern interpretations like Rökt lax (smoked salmon),Skagenröra (west coast salad) and Löjrom (bleak roe). “We also eat a lot of curries and soups in winter. Our traditional pea soup is similar to your dal and we have a thin bread,which resembles the chapati,” adds Karlsson.

For details of the food festival,contact Olive Beach: 26642552.