\New Swedish Books, spring 2019 1
New Swedish Books 40 The Gooseberry Book Martin R
agnar’s and Jens Linder’s The Gooseberry Book recalls childhood memories of navigating prickly bushes in search of that combination of sweetness and sharpness peculiar to the gooseberry. Ragnar – author of several books on Swedish food culture – writes an extensive history of the gooseberry, with particular focus on its 19th century heyday, when it was considered “king of the garden”, and became the object of significant international trade. Today, Swedish gooseberries are no longer just Swedish, but the result of global horticultural entrepreneurship in which cross-breeding has yielded ever more intricate flavours. Linder – well-known chef and author – shares gooseberry recipes that range from traditional jams to a revival of the long-forgotten combination of gooseberry sauce with mackerel, as well as a number of gooseberry wine recipes to rival the best of them. Gooseberry bushes abound in the Swedish countryside, so any rambler can become a gooseberry enthusiast. “ It was considered ‘king of the garden’, and became the object of significant international trade.” Martin Ragnar (b. 1972) Jens Linder (b. 1964) The Gooseberry Book, 250 p. Publisher Ordfront Förlag www.ordfrontforlag.se Rights Ordfront Förlag Pelle Andersson pelle@ordfront.se Martin Ragnar Works Svensk ostkultur i recept och formspråk. Ett arv att förvalta, 2013 Grisens historia. Så mycket mer än fläsk, 2015 Svenska drycker. Från mineralvatten till mjölkdestillat, 2018 Member of Skåneländska Gastronomiska Akademien and founder of Svenska Dryckesakademien Kålrotsakademien. Jens Linder Works Kökshjältar. Bästa hjälpen i förskoleköket, 2012 The Swedish Christmas Table, 2018 Selected Awards Årets matkulturhistoriska gärning, 2005 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards Tore Wretman-medaljen, 2006 Photos: Jan-Åke Eriksson