Aby-a-Day – 16 Mars: Bear necessities (Swedish Saturday)

In Sweden, we have a thing called REKO-Ring. REKO means “Real Consumption” (Konsumtion in Swedish) and is a way to shop for locally produced food, without intermediaries. Consumers and producers merge and start a REKO ring where locally produced products are sold directly from producer to consumer. In Skövde, our local REKO-Ring has a Facebook page where the producers post what they have available, and then people who want to buy something comment on the post saying what they want to get. Then, on alternate Wednesdays, we meet in a parking lot at a hockey arena two stops on the bus line from our house.

Well, just as I despairing of finding a really great birthday present for Björn, I happened to check the REKO-Ring Skövde Facebook page. And I found a post from Lilla Spännefalla, and they had all kinds of game for sale. Including bear meat from Jämtland in the north of Sweden.

I ordered a “Bear Box” and got steaks, ground bear meat, and chunks.
I have only had bear a couple of times, and it is delicious. The first time was in 2000, when I found it for sale in an Asian grocery store in Boston. I then had it again when we canned bear meat for sale in the duty-free on the ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki. Then I got to eat it again when we went to a medieval restaurant in Taillinn. But the thing is…The name Björn is the same as the Swedish word for bear. So when I found bear meat available for sale just before Björn’s birthday, I knew I had the perfect gift.

Bear meat is delicious. You have to make sure all the fat is removed, because it can add a slightly rancid flavour to the meat. The basic rule of thumb is, “Season like beef, cook like pork.” This is because like pigs, bears and raccoons are omnivores, and their meat can cause Trichinosis if it is not cooked well.

So, sorry guys…you don’t get to try it raw.

Despite not getting to try it raw, the bear meat attracted quite a crowd.

Lorelai, of course, had to get on Björn’s shoulder to supervise.

Izaak made sure Björn cooked it thoroughly.

And he did.

Served with plain potato wedges and mushrooms, it was a delicious birthday dinner…

…which some people in the house were eager to sample.

Zak was the first to taste bear meat whilst the plates were still on the coffee table.

Everyone else got their tastes in the kitchen. Rory LOVED it.

Jacoby tried to steal her piece, but she managed to keep it for herself. But don’t worry, Jake got a couple of pieces of the bear meat.

Alfred took his piece so quickly…

…I couldn’t even capture it with my camera. Fast Freddy!

Angel took her sample gingerly…

…and ran away from all the other cats to eat it in peace.

It took her a little longer to finish it, because of her three teeth, so she wanted to eat it someplace safe.

I guess we can add bear meat to the things Abyssinians (and Singapuras) will eat.