Week 17: Why did the Swede go the Gasque?

Hej allesammans! I'm guessing the first question you have after seeing that title is: "What the heck is a gasque?" This was also my first thought when I was asked if I would like to go to one, so it is clearly a natural reaction.

Well, a gasque is like a big formal meal. You have a few speeches from the organisers, a starter, quite a lot of drinking songs, a main dish, more drinking songs and speeches, a choir, dessert, and an orchestra. And then a drinking song. And then a big party afterwards. All sounds a bit hectic, doesn't it?

Still, these gasques are, on the whole, immensely enjoyable (as long as you hold back on the schnaps, which are shots of vodka). The choir (with their rendition of La Marseilleise) and the orchestra (who played bits of Star Wars among other things) were both excellent, as was the Swedish punch. I even had the oppurtunity to sample some Swedish coffee: I usually avoid coffee like the plague, but felt it impolite to turn it down at a gasque. It was surprisingly good! However, I still prefer tea anyday.

The food is also good (although if the speeches are too long it can get a bit cold): for example, we had a mushroom quiche for starters, elk and potatoes for the main, and chocolate cake for dessert. Incidentally, the elk was extremely tasty: like beef, only better (in my view). Indeed, the only thing that let the evening down a bit was the speeches: the first one was great, the second one so-so, and they got worse as it went on (though that might have been due to alcohol).

Overall then, gasques are a right old laugh, and should not be missed, especially if they're Swedish gasques: this one was an International Gasque, and therefore was not quite of the same standard. But it didn't disappoint! So then, until next week, this has been:

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sweden (But Were Afraid To Ask)
Chris Stanley