Fika is a little oasis of cosiness located on the always-buzzing Brick lane; offering food and drinks with a Swedish twist. Fika Bar & Kitchen first opened in the winter of 2008. It was founded and is owned and run by Sadaf Malik, a Swede who first moved to the UK to study at Edinburgh University. She migrated down to London in 2003 and has lived here ever since. As she was missing home and the Fika tradition, she decided to bring it to East London by opening up her own place. Swedish people love tradition. Food and drink play a key role in all celebrations and the summer traditions are the strongest; starting with Midsummer and ending with the Crayfish parties (Kräftskivor). People gather with friends and family around long tables. Typically at someone’s summerhouse or a garden to enjoy bucket loads of crayfish. The salty crayfish are washed down with many shots of snaps, usually aquavit, each accompanied by a song! It is the highlight of the summer. It all started in the early 1900s when river crayfishing was restricted due to the risk of shortage, and was only permitted for a few months from August. The restriction is long gone, but it has left the Swedes with a lively tradition!
To the tune of ‘We Will Rock You’
Eating all the crayfish
Drinking all the snaps up
Singing all the songs and getting drunk
snaps in your hand, food on your face
hanging with your friends and drinking
loads
We will, we will, eat you!
We will, we will, drink you!
The crayfish festival begins on the 30th July until 16th August 2015 at Fika at £35 a ticket (excluding drinks). A bargain for endless amount of crayfish, herring, gravad lax (raw salmon), chicken liver paté and bread. All this with a selection of our tasty snaps, wines and Swedish beers and ciders. I had so much fun and cannot wait to go again. To book your ticket you can email the lovely team at popup@fikalondon.com
I had a fantastic time with Ellie Matthews from The Young Domestic Goddess; we literally smelt of dill and crayfish all night. I had crayfish juice all over my hair, clothes, phone and bag. Yum!
Location: Fika Bar & Kitchen – 161 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SB
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