Yesterday, Lundagård tested the carnival food trucks to help hungry visitors choose the most delicious carnival meals. Today, the office has graciously sacrificed itself again to determine what carnival snacks are worth purchasing, and which ones are better left alone.

This is a review. The author is responsible for the opinions expressed in the text

Kossmunauten

While Kossmunauten technically only serves ‘bar food’, their snacks felt like full-sized meals. The cow-themed krog felt like a quiet oasis after leaving the main carnival grounds. At 12, the krog had only just opened the kitchen, and we received the very first portions their team made today. Jokingly, the head chef said they might still be warming up: Our portions were the “trial round”. 

Mucca Macka porchettamacka med pommes (Porchetta sandwich with fries)

The undisputed winner of today’s mellanmål taste test was Kossmunauten’s porchetta sandwich with fries and aioli. While some team members reported the Kossmunauten fries were amazingly crispy and nicely spiced the day before, on Friday evening, our reviewers unfortunately found the Saturday batch to be a bit more soggy.

The sandwich and fries were served with a side of very garlicky aioli, which elicited enthusiasm in some team members – but put some others off. The centrepiece of the meal was the porchetta

sandwich, which was beautifully served on some toasted sourdough bread and was applauded by the whole team as delectable. 

While the porchetta alone tasted great, it was the balance of pickled onion, slightly-too-oily chimichurri and fresh, crispy bread that made the dish a perfect meal-snack to the entire team. But be warned: Do not eat this before a make-out session. 

5/5, 80 SEK per portion

 

Sjökons Läckerheter calamari med blomkål (Calamari with cauliflower bites) 

Up next, our reviewers tackled the calamari and cauliflower combo, which caused some confusion upon unpacking the fried goods: Our reviewers had been given calamari and onion rings, rather than cauliflower bites. Alas, the office was feeling hungry, and the minor mistake was attributed to early-morning carnival confusion.

The bites were accompanied by more aioli sauce. The calamari were surprisingly good for carnival food-standards: Instead of calamari rings, Kossmunauten served proper fried squids, which pleasantly surprised our panel. While the onion rings didn’t have a lot of flavor, they were very crispy, and although the cauliflower was mysteriously swapped out for onion rings, it was a cheap meal that tasted pretty good for a quick and easy carnival snack. 

2.5/5, 40 SEK per portion

 

Mamma Mua vildvinslasagne (Wild boar lasagna)

Our panel was served a royal portion of this dish, which made the 80 SEK pricepoint seem very reasonable. Some panelists pointed out the lasagna was

a bit heavy on the vegetables, and tasted “more like carrot than meat”. While the lasagna had a really nice, crispy surface, the wild meat tasted a bit bitter, which could have been solved by adding a little more salt, sugar, or herbs like thyme. Even after a couple of bites, several reviewers found the lasagna quite filling, which can be good or bad depending on one’s carnisnack-desires. 

2.5/5, 80SEK per portion

 

Betesmarkens Bästa Sommarsallad (Summer salad)

Our expert panelists unanimously agreed that this salad is worth neither your time, nor your money. Our photographers struggled to snap an appetizing photo: The brown, sweet, mustardy sauce that drenches the salad not only tastes way too sweet, but also makes the entire meal unappetizing to look at. All ingredients had a similar consistency, and as a result, this salad missed that essential crisp that turns an average salad into a good one. 

The flavor profile was monotone, except for the big chunks of red onion that reappeared every other bite. Or if you got a bite of feta, which made everything taste like feta. Overall, the mix of black

rice, edamame, pear, red onion, feta, walnuts and mustard sauce left lots to be desired. One reviewer rightly pointed out: 

– Vegetarians deserve better than this. The sauce ruined not only the aesthetics, but also the flavor profile. 

Another panelist: 

– The sauce should have come in a plastic container, so you could ruin the salad on your own. 

1.5/5, 80SEK per portion

Edens Lustgård

If Kossmunauten’s cow-themed pasture did not speak to the imagination, Eden’s premises offer Edens Lusgård as an alternative for both food & drink. The kind krog-staff delivered a restaurant-grade presentation of the plates.

Skagenrolls

The first dish our panel tried was another immediate favorite: The toasted brioche rolls with the krog’s ‘own take on the classic Swedish skagen salad with crayfish momentarily turned the office into a fancy restaurant. Not only were the rolls beautifully decorated, the flavors were delicately balanced, and the rolls tasted extremely fresh.

The crayfish rested on a fluffy bun, and the bread-sauce ratio was complimented with a  good amount of dill. The panel unanimously agreed that this snack transcended its category – this meal could be served at a proper “nice” restaurant. The only point of critique our reviewers agreed on, was that one portion of the skagenrolls would not be enough to fill you up – but with its spectacular taste, it would be no punishment to eat another portion.

4/5, 80 SEK per portion

 

Somrig matpaj (Summery pie)

The somrig matpaj, or summery, savory pie, was Eden’s take on a vegetarian snack option. Yesterday, the krog offered a traditional pie-version of this dish, but one writer pointed out that today’s flatter version was a massive improvement.

The whole panel agreed that this is a tasty dish, with super crispy dough and a nice, fresh sauce for dipping. While there was barely any dressing on the salad, the addition of some fresh greens makes it feel more like a proper meal. But, even if it feels more like a proper meal, the portion may not be enough to sustain a carnivalist. 

3/5, 80 SEK per portion

 

Viltfärsbiffar (Boar patties)

Eden’s wild boar patties, with homemade mashed potatoes, classic swedish cream sauce, lingonberries and pickled cucumbers is more than a pub-snack – it’s a full-on meal. The mashed potatoes were really fluffy, and maintained the rough potato texture. Reviewers said it tasted “real”, although the mash lacked a little salt. 

The meat itself was nice, and Eden certainly didn’t skimp out on the toppings: The pickled cucumbers were a crowd favorite. One reviewer noted he found the meat quite tough, but overall the panel was more than satisfied with this spin on a Swedish classic. 

3/5, 80 SEK per portion

Sjunde Himlen krog-restaurant

The Sjunde Himlen krog is located at the epicenter of all carnival action. Here, carnivalists can retreat to an exclusive restaurant area, shaded by green trees, and enjoy some well-deserved rest alongside a hearty meal. 

Focaccia-tallrik (Focaccia snack-plate)

The panel did not have a whole lot to disclose on the focaccia, which everyone agreed was a “fine snack”. The bread itself was really good, and the muhammara was nice and smoky. One reviewer noted the hummus left some things to be desired, but as a snack to accompany a refreshing drink, this focaccia more than passes the test. Our reviewers had one thing to note: 50 SEK is a little steep for some bread with dips.

3/5, 50 SEK per portion

 

Sojamarinerad tofu (Soy-marinated tofu)

The main dishes served in the Sjunde Himlen krog are the tofu and brisket, hand-smoked in Lundagård on Scandinavian oak wood. One reviewer pointed out a singular piece of potato that seemed to have gotten lost in our box (and was in need of some other potato companionship).

The salad, which was the same for both the smoked tofu and the brisket, was near-perfect. A combination of pearl couscous with tomato, cucumber, sugar snaps, parsley, feta, and a herby and yoghurty sauce. The panel was elated to see a successful salad attempt in this testing round. When it came

to the tofu, which was very lightly smoked, one reviewer noted that they’ve “had worse”. Overall the panel was positive, although the flavor profile could have been a bit more exciting. 

The meal was filling, and there was a nice variation of textures – if the tofu had been a bit more exciting, this meal would have rated slightly higher. While it’s a good option for vegetarians, the panel is sure there are more interesting alternatives out there.

3.5/5, 80 SEK per portion

 

Brisket

Just like the tofu, the brisket is served with the same, amazing salad. The brisket is tasty and has significantly more flavour than the tofu. It is a shame to note, though, that the brisket the panel

was served was quite dry. Maybe our brisket was left on the grill for too long, but it was a bit of a letdown as other carnivalists had been raging about it, and the brisket seemed a definitive crowd favorite. The salad, however, more than compensates what the brisket unfortunately seemed to lack.

4/5, 80 SEK per portion

Stjärnornas krog

Last, but certainly not least, is Stärnornas krog, which presented us with another panel favorite. Here, carnivalists can enjoy live music and some much-needed shade in a tent, while enjoying several festival classics.

Jabba the sub

This sub is one you surely cannot miss at this year’s Celestialkarnevalen. It is a baguette filled with pulled pork, a cheesy sauce, and jalapenos. Now this is proper carnival food. It´s rich, fatty and

hits all the sweet spots. It is exactly what you’d expect if you’d attend an American county fair.

The pulled pork was perfectly tender, flavorful, and juicy, and while the cheese sauce has a bit of an off-putting color, it fits perfectly into the questionable carnival junk food category. The panel is in total agreement: This is one of the best dishes of the entire carnival. 

5/5, 80 SEK per portion 

 

Chewbakad Potatis (Chewbacca-baked potato)

Chewbakad Potatis is a baked potato with a creamy feta cheese cream and chunks of chipotle-glazed chicken. This was the first carnival-snack to officially divide our expert panel. While the average potato-lover will find solace in the simplicity of the dish, everyone else may find the flavors a bit

boring. 

The chipotle sauce was a tad bit too sweet, and there wasn’t enough of it. At one point, you’re left eating an unseasoned and unflavored cooked potato. There’s nothing wrong, but it’s not a standout meal either. The feta cheese seemed to have gotten lost on its way into our meal box. As one of our expert reviewers noted: “If you like a baked potato you’re gonna love this”. And “this is a baked potato in a barbecue dress, and it’s not wearing it well”.  

3/5, 80 SEK per portion

 

Obi-Wan Nachobi 

Finally: a good vegetarian alternative! The Obi-Wan Nachobi is a loaded nacho plate with soy mince, chipotle mayo and guacamole. To begin with, the panel noted:This meal looks amazing, it’s

colorful and inviting. The panel agreed that if you get a nacho with a little bit of everything, these loaded nachos hit all the sweet spots. However, this meal also caused a bit of a divide: While some didn’t think the flavors too exciting, others officially found this to be the first satisfying vegetarian dish the panel had tried all day. 

4/5, 80 SEK per portion

Conclusions from the panel

The unanimous highlights of today were the porchetta sandwich from Kossmunauten and the pulled pork hotdog from Stärnornas krog. The panel concluded: we truly are sandwich people at heart. They are tasty, versatile, and very festival friendly, though we do recommend taking some paper towels with you. And karnewater. Mums.