When I was first introduced to the Art Trail, Bygga Bo was a name
bandied around with pride. Starting as a pop up in 2013, they decided to go for
it this year, and a few months ago launched their serene Swedish corner
for all to visit.
Remembering their roots of the Art Trail, they have a gallery at
the back. For this year’s E17 Art Trail it is hosting an intriguing exhibition
Mixed Race17. As a “mixed culture” person myself I really related and thought
it was beautifully executed by Fabien Ho. See more about Fabien here: http://e17arttrail.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/from-chile-to-finland-nigeria-to-japan.html
Intrigued by their name, I was told that it means to “build a nest.”
Appropriate given the comfy and welcoming atmosphere that greats you as soon as
you enter the sanctum created by James, Eva and Malin.
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| Hard at work! |
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| Selection on sale |
The flickering candles and neutral
Scandinavian interior, through to the scented gardens and gallery at the back
all lend a sense of calm and tranquillity.
There’s a playful touch too with the
funky lights made from hairdressers’ hairdryers.
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| Cool funky retro lights |
Finding the food connection in the Mixed Race17
exhibit, I particularly related to these quotes.
Michael's photos proudly states: “I’m
not mixed. Mixed is what happens when we bake. My family is multi-heritage
& I’m a Yorkshireman.”
And Rachel reflects on her food heritage, the ultimate in fusion! “My
mum & dad played Reggae loudly in the kitchen while cooking Chinese food.
It’s normal for us to mix soya sauce with Jamaican thyme. Doesn’t everybody do
the same?”
As for food, there’s a great choice on offer, just a of which sample below.
I started
with the iconic meatballs on beetroot salad flatbread.
I then moved onto the cheese
and tomato toastie which although not as Scandivanian as the other dishes on
offer hit the mark with my taste buds: crispy and chewy bread, oozing and
flavoursome cheese and basil within, soft ripe tomatoes and punchy rocket
salad. I'll let you in on a secret... there's only one on the plate as I got too excited and tore into the other half before remembering I was meant to be photographing... but shhh!
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| This didn't last long either! |
I couldn’t resist the smattering of Scandinavian
sweets, including of course the delightfully named “Plopp” which would elicit a
snigger from most men.
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| The same fate befell the Dumlea and Plopp before the camera arrived... |
The popular
cinnamon buns flew off the counter, so I was lucky to procure two from the
back. Soft, gently spiced, sticky and sumptuous!
With Bygga Bo and Silvana blossoming from last year, who will go forth bigger and bolder than ever for the eleventh E17 Art Trail in 2015? My bets are on Bestowed Kitchen, Kids' Kitchen and Norman Loves as a start.
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