Kwanzachamas, LTH Holiday Party 2010: [Past Event]

Kwanzachamas, LTH Holiday Party 2010: Julbord at Tre Kronor, 12/4 -- SOLD OUT
Date: Saturday, December 4
Time: 8PM-12AM
Place: Tre Kronor, 3258 W. Foster

I’m sure there are winter holiday festivals in exotic places like Nigeria, Samoa and California, but there’s something about the snowy Scandinavia countries that makes them seem perfect locales for gathering around candles and tannenbaums.

The Julbord at Tre Kronor is special. I’ve been there a few times, and there are few places that have quite the same holiday vibe: the place is very warm and cozy, candle-lit and homey, like having dinner in your Swedish aunt’s apartment.


[Photo by Mike G]

Menu. This year, we’re having the usual Swedish smorgasbord, supplemented by a few off-menu specials (TBA) that our hosts Larry and Patty Anderson are secretly planning (the illustrious Bridgestone made some recs, which may be part of the final menu). Here’s a list of what will be available (there are always last-minute changes):

• Glass Blower’s Herring
• Mustard Herring
• Herbed Herring
• Matjes Herring
• Curried Herring
• Christmas Herring
• Hus Fru Herring
• Tomato Herring
• Gravad Lax
• Smoked Salmon
• Pickled Beets
• Pickled Cucumbers
• New Potatoes
• Oysters on the Half Shell
• Jumbo Tail-on Shrimp
• Citrus Salad
• Potato Salad
• Assorted Scandinavian Cheeses
• Assorted Scandinavian Cold Meats
• Prinskorv
• Potatiskorv
• Braised Red Cabbage
• Christmas Ham
• Meatballs
• Creamed Spinach
• Roast Pork with Prunes
• Janasson’s Frestlese
• Biff a la Lindstrom & Lutefisk
• Rice Pudding
• Burnt Custard
• Petit Fours
• Cookies
• Clementines
• Assorted Nuts


[Photo by MikeG]

Weather (i.e., Thor) permitting, prior to our 8PM seating, Patty and Larry will host a very casual gathering of glogg-drinkers around an open fire in the newly built Scandinavian-style outdoor patio behind the restaurant.

As a gesture of good will toward our community, Templeton is providing enough of their rye and Carpano Antica to make 200 Manhattans – mbh is graciously contrbuting 200 brandied cherries.

Three Floyds is kicking in a keg of Alpha King. You can bring your own akavit, Swedish bitter snaps, vino or whatever tickles you.

Tickets. Tickets are set at $68, and that includes dinner (+booze), tax, tip, and a few dollars toward the LTH picnic permit next year. As in years past, all ticket sales will go through Brown Paper Tickets (small transaction fee required). Just go to the site and enter your information. Ticket sales close at noon, December 2, 2010. Once you’re paid, we’ll get updates from Brown Paper Tickets and we’ll enter your name on the guest list. Seating is limited to 90.

Order tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/135866

1. Hammond
2. The Wife
3. C2
4. Mother of C2
5. Elaine Haney
6. Frank Haney
7. Jean Blanchard
8. Guest of Jean Blanchard
9. Joan Hersh
10. Gale Adams
11. Ellen Fiocchi
12-21. Steve Dolinksy and 9 others
22. Jennifer Berman
23. Peter Engler
24. Stevez
25. Chow Poodle
26. ronnie suburban
27. Julie Kaplan
28. Mary Heeran
29. lemoneater
30. Pairs4Life
31. Mr. Pairs4Life
32. Gary Wiviott
33. Ellen Wiviott
34. My-Hien Ngo
35.-38. Josephine Hyde
39.-40. Onur Usmen
41. Daniel Zemans
42. Jyoti Achria
43-4. Aaron Mandel
45-47. Amy Dahlstrom
48. Eileen Katman
49. David Katman
50. Christine Ranieri
51-52. Lynn Buzza
53. Rob Gardner
54. Karen Epps
55. Cynthia Clampitt
56. Ruth Smerling
57-59. Matthew Harris
60. Yet another Gardner
61. Sheila Essig/Condiment Queen
62. Ann Fisher
63-64. Evelyn Asch
65. Matt LaSaine
66. Nancy Burns
67. Jon Bernard
68-69. The GP and Mr. X
70-71. Hannah Blase
72-73. Patty Erd
74-75. David Dickson
76-77. James and Susan Mitchell
78-79. Katje Sabin
80. Joan Murray
81. Paul Gilman
82-3. Susan Spear
84-5. Peter Volpe
86.Yet another for Josephine Hyde
87. Mark Chappel
88. Yet another pairs4life
89-90. Karen Harris

Tickets are non-refundable though they are transferrable, so if you buy a ticket and your plans change, you can sell your ticket to anyone you want.

Gift Exchange. If you want, please bring a food-related raffle item. For the raffle/gift exchange, all gifts go into a pool and names are drawn. If you bring a gift, you get a ticket and are guaranteed one gift in exchange. We’ve set the price for each gift around $10. Please don't wrap the gift -- we like to see what people are winning before they win it -- but please do put your name (real name or screen name or both) on the gift so that lucky winners know who to thank.

St. Lucia. Yes, she will be there, singing with candles on her head.

GNR Tre Kroner has been praised by the legendary MikeG , as well as the magisterial GWiv , the incomparably tasteful mbarolo , and moi-meme, on more than one occasion.

Tre Kronor was featured long enough ago that the Check, Please effect has probably passed:



Guy Fieri went (I didn’t actually watch this one, but I’m guessing he said the lutefisk was off the hook).

I had some problems with the Brown Paper Tickets website, so ended up placing my order over the phone. Just to let you know I should now be bought and paid for....

Looking forward to it! Hard to believe it's less than 6 weeks away!

tarte tatin wrote:I had some problems with the Brown Paper Tickets website, so ended up placing my order over the phone. Just to let you know I should now be bought and paid for....

Looking forward to it! Hard to believe it's less than 6 weeks away!

TT, I'll add your name as soon as it comes up on the BPT site.

Really looking forward to this!! Nothing says "Happy Holidays" like Julbord...ok, I've never experienced Julbord but this looks like the essence of what Christmas should be

thanks to the team for planning and looking forward to seeing everyone!!

Jen

Well, except for the lutefisk it all sounds great! Thanks for setting this up.

You did not ask me about food pantry donations. And funny you should not ask. About a month ago, the Oak Park River Forest pantry, the recipient of our donations in prior years, switched their system. They now have "client choice". Skipping a lot of details, right now, with client choice, there is much less room, for now, for the extras or luxuries that we have supplied with our generosity at the holiday party. I would hope, nay suggest, that at the time of our event, we also continue to consider those who cannot eat as well as we do. I'm open to suggestions, but I do know that right now (and contrary to my opinions in prior years), the Oak Park Food Pantry needs monetary donations*. I would be happy to coordinate and drop off the donations.

*The structure of the Food Pantry has also changed significantly. It used to be a sub-unit of another Oak Park non-profit, but the Food Pantry is now its own 501(c)3 organization, with its own monetary needs.

Vital Information wrote:Well, except for the lutefisk it all sounds great! Thanks for setting this up.

You did not ask me about food pantry donations. And funny you should not ask. About a month ago, the Oak Park River Forest pantry, the recipient of our donations in prior years, switched their system. They now have "client choice". Skipping a lot of details, right now, with client choice, there is much less room, for now, for the extras or luxuries that we have supplied with our generosity at the holiday party. I would hope, nay suggest, that at the time of our event, we also continue to consider those who cannot eat as well as we do. I'm open to suggestions, but I do know that right now (and contrary to my opinions in prior years), the Oak Park Food Pantry needs monetary donations*. I would be happy to coordinate and drop off the donations.

*The structure of the Food Pantry has also changed significantly. It used to be a sub-unit of another Oak Park non-profit, but the Food Pantry is now its own 501(c)3 organization, with its own monetary needs.

That sounds just fine. You want to bring a donation jar to the event?

Looks like I'm in for 2.

I'm in, just wondered if there would be herring?

pairs4life wrote:Looks like I'm in for 2.

Oddly, your purchase hasn't shown up yet.

Only two tickets?

Wow these are going fast...tempted to buy a cache of them and scalp!!!

David Hammond wrote:

pairs4life wrote:Looks like I'm in for 2.

Oddly, your purchase hasn't shown up yet.

Only two tickets?

Too hard to make the purchase on mobile. It's done now.

I've been waiting for this! I paid through the website (1 ticket).

Just be sure to bring an extra stomach. When I did this Julbord with some LTHers a few years ago, I tried to taste a little of everything on the menu (including 9 types of herring). I could not eat for 3 days. My biggest mistake was not trying the Jansson's frestelse (scalloped potatoes made with rich cream and pickled sprats ) while I still had room in my stomach. It was located near the end of the buffet table and was absolutely delicious. BTW lutefisk is not nearly as scary as its reputation.

d4v3 wrote:Just be sure to bring an extra stomach.

When Mama happy_stomach is extremely hungry, she says, "My big stomach is going to eat my little stomach!" In my family, to carry an extra stomach is de rigueur. My mom's expression always reminds me of this engraving after a drawing by Pieter Bruegel the Elder; maybe there are some herring in the bigger fish:



Call me unlucky: December 4th for me will be the 10th day of a 10-day fast. Happy holidays to all. I will desperately be trying not to think of any of you, julbord or Templeton Rye.

d4v3 wrote:Just be sure to bring an extra stomach. When I did this Julbord with some LTHers a few years ago, I tried to taste a little of everything on the menu (including 9 types of herring). I could not eat for 3 days. My biggest mistake was not trying the Jansson's frestelse (scalloped potatoes made with rich cream and pickled sprats ) while I still had room in my stomach. It was located near the end of the buffet table and was absolutely delicious. BTW lutefisk is not nearly as scary as its reputation.

I’m a big fan of Jansson’s Temptation.

I just ordered my ticket. Looking forward to joining you all for the celebration.

Cynthia wrote:I just ordered my ticket. Looking forward to joining you all for the celebration.

Great! This should be a great event.

There are 35 tickets remaining, please reserve earlier rather than later.

Regards,

Cynthia- glad to see you are coming-!
I look forward to seeing/chatting with you!

Checking with my spouse. Any thoughts on mature tweens attending? (i.e., are kids acceptable or should we plan to have a babysitter)?

Franabanana wrote:Checking with my spouse. Any thoughts on mature tweens attending? (i.e., are kids acceptable or should we plan to have a babysitter)?

I'm firmly in favor of people bringing their children to all LTH events.

I am pretty sure there have been both mature and immature kids at these events in the past and everyone there has always seemed to have a good time

Normally we bring our 13-year-old son to these events and he loves them. This year's menu is very appealing to him -- he absolutely loves just about all fish and seafood -- but since it was very unlikely he'd be able to find a friend who felt the same about the food being served, we decided not to bring him this year. We didn't want him to end up being the only kid his age at the event, which might have been the case.

=R=

We are planning to bring our son (10 years old).

Due to some special motivation, I'm gonna get a ticket for my 16 year old daughter

For some reason this year the Kwanzachamas almost escaped me (thanks to Dave Hammond for the heads up).

Count 3 more in for the dinner (already paid for via Brown Paper)!

Borborigmy
Soft Boiled + 1

borborigmy wrote:For some reason this year the Kwanzachamas almost escaped me (thanks to Dave Hammond for the heads up).

Count 3 more in for the dinner (already paid for via Brown Paper)!

Borborigmy
Soft Boiled + 1

Glad you can make it, Doc!

In for one!

Ann Fisher

David Hammond wrote:
Order tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/135866

1. Hammond
2. The Wife
...
61. And the Gardner's just keep on coming

I'd avoid calling this one Gardner if I was you.

Vital Information wrote:

David Hammond wrote:
Order tickets here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/135866

1. Hammond
2. The Wife
...
61. And the Gardner's just keep on coming

I'd avoid calling this one Gardner if I was you.

Ah, okay, I get it: I thought you were bringing two young hockey fans. Will correct.

Cabbagehead and I are looking forward to all 8 kinds of herring.