-- Having the Book to Look through is Really a Treat

Linda Wooster from New England likes the outdoor aspects of the series and has tried several of the recipes. Although fresh fish is hard to get where she lives, she has planted lingonberries in her garden to ensure a fresh supply of a Scandinavian staple.

1. How did you first hear of New Scandinavian Cooking?

I was watching a cooking show that preceeded it on the local educational television station (Vermont Public Television) and kept watching when it came on.

2. What do you think of the show?

I especially like the travel and history aspects of the cooking demos.

3. What is your favorite episode so far? 

I like all the winter episodes the best (cross country skiing, sleigh rides through town, and seeing the Christmas celebrations in Scandinavia).  Having said that, my favorite episode is the Vemdalen episode because I enjoyed seeing the older woman cook in her own kitchen (or so it seemed).  I like how the series uses real people in their own environment to show the cultural and historical aspects unique to Scandinavia. I like the outdoor aspect of the series the best, I think.

4. Which of the recipes have you tried - do you have a favorite recipe from the series?

I've tried quite a few of the recipes.  My favorite for entertaining on a ski weekend is the pork ribs with orange marinade partly because everyone loves the scent of the dish when it comes out of the oven.

5. Did you have an interest in Scandinavia before watching the show?

Yes, my ancestors on one side of the family were from Denmark (early 19th century).

6. What do you think of the web site ScandCook.com?

It's very good, easy to find a particular recipe, but I wish there were a better print function for printing out the recipes (so that I didn't have to use my color printer, which is expensive to use just for a recipe).  If I remember correctly, some of the recipe text prints out only in blue ink, instead of black?

7. What would you like to see more of in the show and on the web site?

Just more of the same, travel, scenery, history of Scandinavia, local people in local settings, especially the countryside.

8. What did you think when you won Tina's book?

I was very pleased.  I can never have too many cookbooks :-)

9. How do you like the book? 

It's great.  I love having the photos of the places I saw on the shows and especially the photos of outdoor parties with the local architecture and outdoor settings (like the Big Herring party). The web site is great but having the book to look through is really a treat.

10. Anything else you would like to share.....

---My one frustration is not being able to get such wonderful fresh fish easily, based on where I live (inland New England).  I'm always wowed by the quality of the fish Tina and Andreas have access to. But I planted lingonberries two years ago and they are doing very well, with hundreds of lingonberries starting to turn red...so, more lingonberry recipes!