Biff à la Lindström facts for kids
Biff à la Lindström is a yummy Swedish dish that's a bit like a burger. It's made from ground beef mixed with onions, potatoes, red beets, and capers. These ingredients are shaped into patties and then fried until they're ready to eat!
Where Did This Dish Come From?
Even though the name Lindström sounds very Swedish, many people think this dish actually started in Russia. This is because it uses ingredients like beets and capers, which are common in Russian cooking.
The Story of Henrik Lindström
One popular story says that a Finnish soldier named Henrik Lindström invented the dish. He was born and grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia. On May 4, 1862, he visited a hotel in Kalmar, Sweden, called Hotel Witt. He wanted to share a meal he often ate in Russia with his friends.
He asked the kitchen for the ingredients. Then, he showed his friends how to mix everything and shape the patties. After they made the patties, they sent them back to the kitchen to be fried. The hotel loved the dish so much that they added it to their menu right away! You can still find Biff à la Lindström on their menu today.
Another Idea: Adolf Lindstrøm
Another story suggests that the dish was created by a chef named Adolf Lindstrøm. He was a famous chef who traveled with explorers like Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen. These explorers went on amazing journeys to the North and South Poles and through the Northwest Passage. Maybe he created this hearty dish to keep the explorers well-fed on their adventures!