Swedish Chanterelle Mushrooms in Autumn

Kantarelltoast at the Bistro Rival

I love Stockholm in the autumn! Not only for all the beautiful fall colors and cooler temperatures, but also for all the fresh autumn produce from the local forests and seas. In the food markets and on the menus at restaurants, you will find lots of berries, mushrooms, wild game, vendace roe (löjrom) and shellfish. One of the most popular items is kantareller (chanterelle mushrooms). 

This mushroom's nickname in Swedish is skogens guld, which means "the gold of the forest", and refers both to the color and sentimental value of this seasonal treat. One popular autumnal pastime for many Swedes is scouring the forests for berries and mushrooms. Thankfully, you don't need to do too much strenuous activity to enjoy chanterelles when visiting Stockholm as just about every restaurant has them in some form on their fall menus. Besides, it is always better to let the experts pick mushrooms! 

The traditional and most popular way to eat chanterelles in Sweden is to sauté them with butter and cream and serve it on a piece of roasted bread. This dish is called kantarelletoast and you can find it on many restaurant menus, especially as an appetizer. That is the basic recipe, though many chefs will add a component or two, like a sprinkle of sharp cheese. The type of bread for the toast can also change from restaurant to restaurant.

If you are staying at the Hotel Rival, we serve a delicious kantarelltoast in our restaurant. Our chefs prepare and serve them with ripened Västerbotten cheese and on a pan-fried levain bread. Yummy! Of course, you don't have to stay at the hotel in order to dine in our restaurant Bistro Rival. You can book your table on our website and enjoy these seasonal delicacies and much more. If you would like to peruse the wonderful autumn produce from the local forests and waterways, check out one of the two main indoor food markets: Östermalmshallen and Hötorgshallen. The pictures in this post are taken from the produce stands outside of Hötorgshallen in the square Hötorget. 

Hötorget square