They don’t have to, it’s just part of their culture… Why do Americans have to eat so much junk food and drink sodas?

Posted by Wen ,

well said!

Posted by c.d ,

I’m always fascinated by the small differences, in things like food, to be found in stories set in other countries. Having grown up in America, and not Sweden, some of the things the characters in the Trilogy eat – especially for breakfast – do strike me as a bit odd, but that’s only from my own perspective.

Posted by godwulfAZ in Scottsdale, Arizona ,

I had never thought to try a pickle and cheese sandwich until Lizbeth made one…..quite good actually, whole grain bread toasted… must be Swedish thing as is having a sandwich for breakfast

Posted by harry in portland ,

Great responses. It is very entertaining to me to read stories set in other countries to get a little taste of the pop culture, cuisine, and rituals. This story was extremely well done regardless of the origin. The story holds up well in any language. It is a shame that Steig died before he could continue the saga.

Posted by Brett in Ottumwa, IA ,

These details really bring the characters to life! As an American, I find it fascinating to learn what people in other countries eat in their daily lives. Also, every time Larsson mentions coffee in the novels I feel compelled to drink along with the characters. Very effective writing if you ask me.

Posted by WM in SE USA , 3 April 2012

Food:

All scene setting stuff and something we all do.

Although toiletry requirements are not mentioned in the same way

Posted by Dave in UK ,

Think Enid Blyton – picnics with lashings of ginger beer

Posted by Liz in Sweden ,

All I do is drink coffee and read these books

Posted by RC in USA ,

I was surprised when in one of the books I think it was in “The Girl who kicked the hornet nest” chapter 1,page 54 when Annika wakes up made her breakfast and she made two slices of toast with chesse, orange mermelade and a sliced avocado. Great breakfast I mean the Swedish people eat delicious I’m impress I thought that they eat like bizarre food or something. And they drink a lot of coffee (my dream come true)

Posted by Wspjims in Zurich ,

I was thinking about the food as well. Throughout every book I found myself wanting and drinking coffee. I also made myself two sandwiches. I’m going to try Annika’s recipe. It sounds weird, but I love all the ingredients, so why not?

Posted by Daniella B in USA ,

The food references in these novels made me smile. My dad always had cheese and pickle sandwiches with coffee for breakfast, and raised us on sardines, pickled herring, and liverwurst. I understand it now–and would still argue that there’s no better breakfast than braunschweige with onion and spicy mustard on rye! Yum!

Posted by Sharon R. in USA ,

Oops! That’s braunschweiger. I hope all you Larsson fans will go ask your deli’s for it, it’s getting harder to find…

Posted by Sharon R. in USA ,

I live in the United States and so far have read the 1st and 2nd books which I really enjoyed as well as the movie. However I’ve been trying to find Billy’s Pan Pizza here in America but no one seems to have it. I googled it (as Lisbeth would)she’d be proud of my research and found out that it only seems to be a Swedish company. Any chance of it being available here in America? Thanks for your help.

Posted by Wasa in New York ,

In the David Fincher version Lisbeth eats a KEX bar from a vending machine. You can buy them online.

Posted by fan of Lisbeth in England UK ,

Lawrence Saunders’ characters always have food, well, fetishes. He describes Edward’s (I can’t remember his last name-NYC detective) sandwiches in lucious, dripping with good stuff, detail. I think that food choices add to character development, to atmosphere, etc. I never knew you could really grocery shop at a 7-eleven. I just dig the mundaneness of any good writer’s food descriptions.

Posted by Nancy K. in San Fr ancisco ,

Could some kind fan in Sweden please contact me. I’m trying to buy KEX bars (Lisbeth eats one in the Fincher version). I’ll pay of course if someone could send them.

crwcomputermailyahoo.co.uk

But Americans don’t always eat junk food and drink sodas…

RE: post 8th July. I’ve located a UK supplier and my KEX bars are on their way.

I am an American who speaks German and was married to a German man. In the households of Germans whom I visited here and in Germany it seemed like every meal was “ein Stuck Brot” composed of several types of bread served on one plate and several types of food that could be applied to that bread and eaten as an open-face sandwich.

When my mother-in-law visited us in the United States and saw how we were eating she remarked, “You live like Nobility.” At that time (70's) I was serving meat at every meal because that’s what I learned from my Mom.

Posted by Sandy McCaig-Allen in Arlington, WA ,

Also, don’t forget, those countries experienced war and privation caused by that war. There were still privies IN THE HOMES of Bremen. How they were emptied I have no clue. I assume that they were on an outside wall, which was accessible from outside, so that a privy service could maintain them the same as portable outhouses are maintained here in WA.

Posted by Sandy McCaig-Allen in Arlington, WA ,