Inspirational stories about table culture in Latvia with Karlīna Latsone
The best results in kitchen work and table setting are achieved when there is inspiration, experience, and... good advice. That is why we are launching a new section "Inspirational stories about table culture in Latvia"!
Let's get acquainted!
Karlīna Latsone is a passionate cook, an explorer of Latvian table culture, and a blogger who dedicates a lot of time daily to uncovering interesting and unique kitchen secrets. From now on, she will share her discoveries and conclusions with us!
You can follow Karlīna's journey in the world of flavors on her blog ir.bene and on her Facebook page. "My blog is called 'ir.bene'. In Italian, it means 'good'. But in Latvia, there is a berry bush called 'irbene' (viburnum), which blossoms with white flowers and has red berries that ripen after the first frost, and its seeds are heart-shaped," Karlīna explains.
She is also a co-author of the book "How We Eat in Latvia," released at the end of last year, which was created in collaboration with farmers and producers from the Valmiera region. The book includes stories and recipes inspired by our land – Latvia. You can find out more about the book here.
What are we like?
Years of accumulated experience and a passion for learning, researching, analyzing, and most importantly – cooking various dishes, allow Karlīna to draw her own conclusions: what is the essence of our table culture? For example, compared to other nations.
"Traveling through different countries and enjoying food culture, I can conclude that Latvians at the table are calmer and quieter, especially when compared to Italians, who sit at the table for hours and talk loudly, though we also sometimes sing at the table. Like many nations, Latvians enjoy traditional foods, especially during holidays, we serve ancestral dishes that are always anticipated and respected," Karlīna shares, adding that in everyday life, it's observed that Latvians choose simple and quick-to-prepare meals.
"In my opinion, we follow seasonality – in summer, home-grown vegetables, berries... in winter – prepared stores like mushrooms, preserves. I am glad that more and more often we choose products grown right here in Latvia, prepare them, and serve them beautifully," says Karlīna.
Enjoying food
The fact that we are quieter at the table than people from southern countries does not mean that cooking and enjoying food is a foreign concept to us. Quite the opposite!
"Food and its enjoyment are very important; nothing can be more beautiful than preparing a meal for family and friends and sitting down at a set table! I love creating small celebrations in everyday life – laying a tablecloth, lighting candles, serving dishes. The dishes must be of good quality, clean, because food is a pleasure," Karlīna reveals.
Of course, to make everything even better, inspiration is crucial. How does Karlīna get it? "When cooking, I try to keep the kitchen tidy, as much as possible; before I start cooking, I turn on music, light candles, tidy my workspace. Various kitchen helpers come in handy during the cooking process, such as sharp, high-quality knives, non-stick pans and pots, and a food slicer that helps prepare everything faster."
Karlīna usually sets the table in classic tones, preferring monochrome dishes, for example, products from "Vaidavas keramika".
