I woke up Wednesday morning with a big smile on my face,
memories fresh from the amazing experience the night before.
My husband, who
knows me so very well, surprised me with a night on the town, orchestrated
weeks before with family babysitters engaged and, not a single word had slipped
out from anyone’s lips. I had spent the day with beautiful Mia; a whole day of
lunch, a museum visit, shopping and talk, talk, talk and was clueless as to
what was about to happen. All I knew was to be ready to leave a 5.30 and to
dress nicely.
“It starts at 7pm” said my man and so I knew that it had to
be an event of some kind but what?
We made our way into the city and
started walking towards the old town. Where we perhaps going on a cruise? A
musical event of some kind that I had not seen advertised?
“Let’s wait here for a moment”,
he said, and guided me towards the water; the Royal Palace in front of us, the
Royal Swedish Opera behind. The grey clouds from the afternoon were slowly
drifting away and Stockholm was once again washed in the beautiful sunlight
that only exists here.
“Can you see anything around here
that isn’t here usually? Look up!” he says and I do, still clueless.
“We are going there!” he continues
and points up at the roof of the Opera house and there, tilting almost, sits a
class cube, THE Cube by Electrolux. I had read about the concept but had no
idea where it was or when and was, of course, jumping with joy and excitement.
Only 18 people eat at the Cube at
one time, seated at a long table almost in the kitchen which features the
latest in Electrolux design and technology. Our chef of the night was Klas
Lindberg, Sweden’s Chef of the Year and boy, were we in for a treat. The city
of Stockholm were everywhere around (and under) us, the view spectacular as we
were sipping a glass of ice cold champagne before being seated, or rather
guided into the kitchen were the first two dishes were served. Or second and
third actually, I almost forgot about the ice cold cucumber soup with
elderberry that we enjoyed while still on the terrace.
There was one gastronomic
explosion after another, all composed with the utter most respect and love for
what is in season and lives and/or grows nearby. There were crawfish from the
sea quickly pan fried with just a touch of garlic, a “love mix” with tiny new
potatoes and bleak roe from Kalix in the very north, the winning beef dish and
not one, not two but three desserts – all perfectly combined with the right
wine or, in one case, a beautiful ale from Brooklyn Brewery.
Sated, happy and completely
satisfied we strolled over to the Grand Hotel for a night cap before heading
home in the night.
I woke up on Wednesday morning
with a big smile on my face, memories fresh from the amazing experience the
night before and decided to check my emails, as always in the morning…
…and learned that a friend from
Beijing had suddenly, un-expectantly, passed away in her sleep while visiting
with friends in the United States. She was a healthy, fun-loving, sweet woman
who leaves behind a husband and three children and many, many friends and
members of family; all wondering what just happened?
Rest in peace, sweet Nickie, we
will miss you.
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