These two Parisians, who had been catering for cultural events for over ten years, fell in love with Sweden and its cuisine when they toured the country together. They especially loved the concept of fika and brought it back with them, making it into the theme of their courtyard café at the Institut Suédois.
Traditionally, fika is a snack break that takes place several times a day. In the olden days, it would punctuate long days in the fields, because the summers were too short to stop for a proper sit-down meal at harvest time. From breakfast buns to family teatime with breaks in between, there might be up to seven fikas a day!
Caroline and Damien now offer a fika for every time of day in their oasis of calm in the heart of the Marais: pastries and hot drinks in the morning; salads, open sandwiches and specials for a light lunch; afternoon treats; and evening apĂ©ritifs. The menus, which change with the seasons and reflect local traditions, are lovingly designed by the talented Swedish chef Maria Printz Emond, FIKA’s “gastronomic translator” based in Sörmland.
This region, which borders Stockholm and the Baltic Sea and includes beaches, deep forests and lush meadows, was dubbed “Sweden’s Garden of Eden” by the writer Selma Lagerlöf. It’s also traditionally the larder of Stockholm’s finest restaurants, and now the larder of FIKA. The artisans and producers involved in preparing and presenting the dishes served here have been immortalised by photographer Erik Olsson, in a series exhibited on the cafĂ©’s walls. So your fika is not just a taste experience, it’s also a voyage of discovery.
Useful information
- Café FIKA i open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 am to 7 pm. Late night opening on Thursday, to 9 pm.
- Välkommen to 11 rue Payenne! Table booking is not possible.
- For more information or for private events, please contact hej@fika.paris