Smorgastarta

The smorgastarta, or sandwich cake, is a Swedish party centrepiece that surprises outsiders: layers of bread stacked with fillings like prawns, egg, salmon or ham, bound with cream cheese and decorated on top like a gateau with cucumber, prawns, dill and lemon. Savoury and celebratory, it appears at birthdays, graduations and gatherings.

The main sights

• The layered cake - the bread and filling layers under a cream-cheese coat.
• Seafood and egg fillings - prawns, salmon, egg and ham between the layers.
• The decorated top - the gateau-like decoration of cucumber, prawns and dill.
• Celebration tables - its place at birthdays and gatherings.

When to go

Year-round; it is party and celebration food, ordered from a deli or made at home for gatherings. Try a slice from a good deli to sample it.

Practical notes

The idea of a savoury cake surprises many, and it is rich and filling rather than delicate. It is celebration food, so it is more common at gatherings than on everyday menus. A good deli version is far better than a sad one.

Nearby

Delis across Stockholm sell it by the slice; it belongs on the Swedish celebration table.