Three Queens, 2016
photograph
photograph edited on VSCO
Brunch. The perfect compromise to ones’ indecisiveness. Breakfast or lunch? Sweet or savory? More or less? Why not have it all? To me, brunch means so many different things. It can be the solution to yesterday’s hectic day. It can be the answer to what to eat when you woke up at 11 am instead of 8. It can be a moment to gather with friends, catch up, have a laugh. Or it can simply be a craving, a desire, a necessity - that stack of pancakes with a side of griddled potatoes and fresh fruit - that needs to be tamed.
For my family, brunch occurred on lazy days, usually after coming home from long trips. It was comfort. It was simplicity. It was classic. And of course, as any foodie family would, we had a go-to restaurant. For us, it was Tre Kronor, Swedish for three queens. Simple, evocative, yet mysterious all at once. It also goes with my family dynamic as I have two sisters, making us the “three queens”. It is a charming, family-owned restaurant, serving the most delicious Swedish food.
Walking in, you immediately feel the warm and cheerful atmosphere. Just like any classic, the menu never changes. You know what you’re in for and you know it will be good. It is always a treat for my family. And again, we had our habits. Everyone always took the same thing ; my dad and middle sister had the house made hash and eggs : simple eggs cooked your way, served with the most delicious salty, crunchy, umami hash, and of course a side of toast. For my mom and older sister, it was the quiche of the day, sometimes spinach and goat cheese, usually salmon and dill, always served with fruit and a salad. And for me, it was the Swedish pancakes. Oh man, those pancakes. They were good. They are not the traditional American style pancakes you would imagine. They’re more like French crepes - which is one reason I think I adore them. Their simplicity is what makes them so delectable. Two crepes stacked one on top of the other, lightly dusted with powdered sugar, and served with an orange wedge and lingonberry jam. This was traditional except I never ate the sides. Delicately pushing them away, I would reach for the clear bottle of white sugar to generously douse the crepes with. A few folds here and there, and voila. Brunch is served :)
This is what makes life enjoyable. Yes, it's the simple things. Which brings me to this picture. It was not planned, just a moment of spontaneity. I wanted to capture the food just as it was served before devouring it. I wanted to capture its essence and its simplicity. The flowers certainly help. They add a touch of purposeful appeal, all the while contributing to the nonchalance of the meal. They also add color, similar to the gorgeous bowl of fresh fruit in the center of the shot. And finally, the stars of the show, the main dishes themselves, the Swedish pancakes on the bottom corner and the two plates of hash and eggs on the top. So here ; a little excerpt of what brunching is. Fun, simple, colorful, joyful, and most of all, delicious.