Food is the star of Scandinavian Day Festival

Food is the cornerstone to most ethnic festivals and it was no different for the Scandinavian Day Festival, held Sunday in South Elgin.

For those with sweet tooths, there was aebleskiver, a delicate pastry filled with strawberry jam or apple sauce, and rabarbergrod, rhubarb pudding with cream.

Uff da burgers were the Norwegian answers to sloppy joes, said Lois Amac of Wauconda, who helped create them.

"Uff da" is a Norwegian phrase that means "Oh shucks," said Amac, who proudly proclaims that she's 100 percent Norwegian.

For those looking for a balanced meal, they were also serving up a variety plate that contained fried herring and onions, boiled potatoes, sour cream, Swedish sausage, beet salad and bread.

Skorpa bread flavored with cardamom also was available.

"That's what makes the Scandinavian food unique is the spices we use," said Steve Koivula of St. Charles. He has roots in Finland, and is vice chairman of Scandinavian Park, Inc., the group that put the festival together.

Danish hot dogs were another offering. How are Danish hot dogs different from American ones?

"They're longer and skinnier," Koivula said.

For those who crave breakfast food, there were Swedish waffles served with ice cream and lingon berries.

Swedish pancakes and meatballs laced with lingon berries rounded out the vast selection.

After chowing down on all that food, people had the option of washing it down with soda, water or Carlsberg beer.

Organizers expected 3,000 people to descend on Vasa Park throughout the day for this 29th annual festival, said Walter Anthonsen, president of Scandinavian Park and chairman of the festival.

The festival aims to celebrate and honor Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. Activities included pony rides, traditional dancing, a church service and a Viking encampment.

Money generated from this year's Scandinavian Day will be saved to cover next year's.

"It's kind of a self-sustaining festival," said Judy Seifert, a board member of Scandinavian Park who cherishes her Swedish roots.