Scandinavian cafe opens inside Old Ballard Liquor Company

You can almost hear the collective “Skål!” from Ballard’s Scandinavian forefathers.

Lexi, the owner of the Old Ballard Liquor Company in Ballard, has opened a small contemporary Nordic cafe right inside the small, industrial distillery so you can enjoy her artisanal aquavit, a savory Scandinavian spirit, the way they do in Sweden, Denmark and Norway: with food.

We heard whispers of this opening when we reported on the second annual NW Herring Week–Lexi is the founder–and now that the tiny, 12-seat cafe is suddenly open, we’re anxious to report on the details. First: it’s not a restaurant; Lexi has just added food to her tasting room so you can experience aquavit the way the vikings intended.

The cafe is a casual version of her popular Tumble Swede a New Nordic restaurant pop up celebrating the ingredients of the Pacific Northwest. Same hours as the distillery; no reservations. And Ballard-raised chef Justin Newstrum (Portage Bay Café, Dandelion, Crave, Harvest Vine) is behind the menu, which is focused on lesser-known traditional Scandinavian dishes (translation: no IKEA meatballs) alongside contemporary Nordic fare.

Everything is cold and shareable: housemade pickled herring plates; charcuteries and Scandinavian cheese boards with a side of house-made crispbread and freshly-churned butter; smoked lamb tartare with alder and juniper; vegan smoked vegetable terrine with wild mushroom gelee. Scroll down for the complete menu.

Social coffee breaks, or fika, are big in Sweden, so if sweets are more your thing, check out this one, which features Herkimer Coffee with classic, fresh-baked cardamom sweetbread from Bothell’s Svea bakery and rotating pastries made with seasonal fruits. I’m all about that fresh sour cherry pie, pits and all.

As is the current dining trend in Seattle, look for a small grab-and-go cold case featuring some of aforementioned goodies. Now for that menu:

SEA

Herrings Bord – 13

Tasting plate of five different herrings Classic Pickle / Sour Cherry / Curry Cream & Tart Apple / Dill / Smoked herring & Citrus-Chive cream

Suggested Pairing: Flight of Four

Gubbröra w/ Potatoes & Salad – 10

swedish anchovy / boiled egg / smoked cod caviar / dill Suggested Pairing: Alskar Citron Aquavit

LAND Lands Bord – 13

tasting plate of five different Nordic charcuterie meats & pickles Cured Salt Lamb / Gothenburg Sausage / Pork Liver Paté / Lamb Offal Sausage / Coriander Beef Rillettes

Suggested Pairing: Riktig Caraway Aquavit

Smoked Lamb Tartare – 12

alder & juniper / red currants / sorrel oil / quail yolk

Suggested Pairing: Riktig Caraway Aquavit

Rullepølse w/ Potatoes & Salad – 10

spice cured pork loin roulade / aquavit spice pistou

Suggested Pairing: Midsommar Dill Aquavit

GARDEN

Cheese Bord – 13 tasting plate of five different nordic cheeses & seasonal fruit pickle Bauernhof Denmark / Esrom Denmark / Nokkelost Norway / Gjetost Sweden / Cardamom Pickled Gooseberries

Suggested Pairing: Flight of Four

Smoky Vegetable Terrine – 8 smoked beets / seasonal vegetables rich, wild mushroom geleé (vegan and it’s terrific!)

Today’s Salad – 6

Rocket / Cress / Pumpkin Seeds / Radish Red Huckleberry-Parsley-Honey Vinaigrette

FIKA

Svea Bakery Cardamom Sweetbread – 5 served with house-made butter Daily Bake: Fresh Sour Cherry Pie – 7 Hand pitted (watch for pits!), old fashioned cherry pie. Scrumptious.