Solvang Danish Days is NEXT weekend (September 20-22, 2019)! If you’re planning to be in town during the festivities, here are just some of the ways you may devour this year’s event.
Here, The Foodie Guide to Solvang Danish Days:
1. Aebleskiver Breakfasts ~ Served both Saturday and Sunday mornings, September 21 & 22 (8:30 AM to 12:30 PM), these festival-style feasts will fulfill your quest for those iconic Danish pancake rounds. Aebleskiver Breakfast tickets are available in advance on-line, at solvang-danish-days-2019.eventbrite.com.
Want a side of competition with your Aebleskiver? Then enter the free Aebleskiver Eating Contests, also scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday mornings (@ 11:30 AM, in the center of downtown Solvang).
2. Viking Burgers ~ The Danish Days Viking Beer & Wine Garden (also see #3, #4, #5 and #6, below) will provide you with an adventure in eating via the Festival’s own “Viking Burger”: Medisterpølse (Danish sausage) patty topped with Swiss cheese, grilled onions and an array of condiments, served atop an onion bun.
3. Filipino Festival Food ~ On Friday (September 20; starting at 4:00 PM), fill up on Filipino food with the IslandMix’s food truck (think: Chicken Adobo, Pancit, Lumpias), available near the Viking Beer & Wine Garden.
4. The Doggy Door Hot Dog Cart ~ On Saturday (September 21; starting at 12:30 PM), the Viking Beer & Wine Garden will also offer up creative hot dogs courtesy of Los Olivos’ The Doggy Door.
5. Fancy Street Tacos ~ The Viking Beer & Wine Garden will also boast carefully-curated, modern takes on classic street tacos crafted by the Santa Ynez Valley’s own First & Oak Kitchen food truck (Saturday, September 21; starting at 12:30 PM).
6. Viking Beer & Wine Garden ~ Wash down all of those afore-mentioned eats at this outdoor beer and wine garden, complete with a spirited mix of imbibing options. Pacific Beverage Company will be pouring the famous Danish suds, Carlsberg, while Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. and Solvang Brewing Company will up the craft brew ante, plus Santa Barbara wine country labels such as local winery, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards. NEW to this year’s Viking Beer & Wine Garden: akvavit (or, aquavit). Shots will be available for $5.00 per pop, or $10.00 per shot with a souvenir shot glass. {Viking Beer & Wine Garden runs Friday, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and Saturday, 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Located adjacent to the Solvang Visitors Center, 1639 Copenhagen Drive, in downtown Solvang.}
7. Slovang Fizz ~ This beauty? It’s a “Slovang Fizz” (aquavit, lime, strawberry shrub, simple syrup, dash black lemon bitter, egg whites). Scandinavian-mod Solvang hotel, restaurant and bar, The Landsby, will be featuring this special Solvang cocktail over Danish Days weekend.
8. The Danish Mint Julep + Smørrebrød + Flæskesteg ~ Stylish hotel in the heart of Solvang, Hotel Corque houses an equally stylish restaurant and bar, Root 246. And for Danish Days weekend, the restaurant and bar will be offering special treats with a nod to the hotel’s Solvang locale – “The Danish Mint Julep” (mint-infused aquavit cocktail with dark rum, for a rich and refreshing take on a Mint Julep; $12.00++) and a Friday-only, 3-Course “Danish Days Prix Fixe” ($38.00++ per person), including Smørrebrød (smoked local whitefish with pickled shallots and fresh dill on grilled rye bread, with small farmers lettuce salad), Flæskesteg (roasted Niman Ranch Pork with crackling, pickled red cabbage and caramelized heirloom potatoes), and strawberries with fresh cream and sugar.
9. Danish Pastries ~ THE Solvang Bakery will run a Danish Days special Friday through Sunday: buy a dozen of the sweet shop’s famous Danish or tarts, and get one free.
10. Heritage Grain Danish Rye Loaf ~ Leyla Williams, sourdough baker and co-owner of Solvang’s Good Seed Coffee Boutique, will be introducing an organic Danish rye loaf for the weekend’s festivities, and a special bread and bakery treats made with Øland, a Danish heritage grain. Leyla mentioned, speaking of the world-famous, Michelin-starred restaurant in Denmark, “It’s what they used in their breads at Noma.” (BRB: Pre-ordering a loaf of Good Seed’s Danish rye.)
11. Solvang Food & Photo Tour ~ Led by Santa Barbara’s ‘Eat This, Shoot That!‘, discover comfort food eateries and hidden watering holes in Solvang while learning about the Danish lifestyle and history from a local. Tour includes 8 tasting locations, bites and sips – with a professional tour guide – while learning foodie photo tips and tricks using your smartphone’s camera. Tour guests also receive a Solvang Tour Guide Sheet with map and exclusive tour guest discounts! Tour runs Saturday ONLY (September 21), 11:00 AM–3:00 PM. For details and tickets: eatthisshootthat.com/tour/solvang-food-photo-tour. (Advance ticket purchase is required.)
