Spice Rack

This is what I will dream of after I leave Stockholm, I'm sure of it.  Meet the enormous kardemummabulle (cardamom bun) from Cafe Saturnus, a swirl of spice and pillowy dough in the shape of a double-D knocker.  I'm not just being crass -- it is the most breast-like thing I've ever eaten.  Not like taut porno boobage, more like soft mamma bosom.  Once you get past the crisp, golden exterior, sprinkled liberally with white rock sugar, there's this downy yeast dough center. I want to bury my face in it. 



The cardamom is coarsely crushed, so when you crunch on a bit of the swirl, the spices release their mildly anesthetic oils on the tongue.  It is a thing of beauty.  I have to thank my Swedish friend Lina for introducing us.

Also, I personally LOVE all things cardamom, but if it's not your thing, their kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) are made of the same manna dough and seem to have won all kinds of local awards.   



I was sitting there admiring the pretty details -- bright mosaic-tiled floors, classic typeface, warm lighting, French signage with handwritten blackboards.  It was all Parisian-ish, but with a brighter, sunnier vibe.  Then I recognized some Balthazar paraphernalia on the shelves -- a box here, a postcard there.  I asked one of the adorable aproned men behind the counter if there was some relationship to Balthazar. 

He smiled and said, "Funny you should ask that.  The owner went there about ten years ago and was really inspired by Balthazar.  Then he opened this place."  (The napkins say "Depuis 1960", though, so perhaps he just renovated at that time?)

How meta -- a Stockholm boulangerie/patisserie inspired by a New York brasserie/boulangerie inspired by French boulangeries/brasseries.  Also, if that ain't a reciprocal wink from my valentine, I don't know what is.

Cafe Saturnus
Eriksbergsgatan 6
Stockholm