Established in 1911 by Danes determined to preserve their heritage, Solvang continues to reign as a haven of Danish culture amid the American landscape. Each spring, in tribute to the town’s founding mothers and fathers, the little burg in the middle of the Santa Ynez Valley plays host to Taste of Solvang to showcase the food and hospitality that lies at the heart of the culture.
In addition to Danish frikadeller (savory meatballs) and jam-topped aebleskivers, Taste of Solvang features lavish spreads of internationally inspired cuisine, locally grown foods, sweet treats, and liquid refreshments. At restaurants, tasting rooms, wine bars, and purveyors all over town, festivities abound during this, the 19th annual staging of the popular event.
Slated for March 18 through 20, rain or shine, Taste of Solvang kicks off at the Solvang Veterans Hall with an evening Dessert Reception guaranteed to satisfy all manner of sweet tooth. Look for mouthwatering delicacies from Café Angelica, Nielsen’s Market, El Rancho Market, Red Viking Restaurant, Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, as well as iconic pastries from Solvang Bakery and Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery. New to the dessert event this year is Cowboy Way BBQ, which recently opened on Alisal Road.
Local wine producers pouring sparkling or dessert-style wines to accompany each luscious bite include Carivintâs Winery, Lions Peak Vineyard, and Wandering Dog Wine Bar. To whet appetites and set a lively mood, the Alan Satchwell Quartet will offer up live jazz—with hints of Sinatra—tasty enough to inspire a little dancing.
On Saturday, March 19, guests can ramble their way through the Walking Smorgaasbord, comprised of 40 taste stops spread out all over town. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., drop by local bakeries, restaurants, hotels, and retailers who will be serving bites and sips of a dazzling variety of food and imbibables.
An unusual event, the Walking Smorgaasbord includes stops serving Belgian waffles and aebleskivers, while others dish up olive samples and even beer. The smorgaasbord has been compared to a kind of Halloween for adults, as participants travel door to door to enjoy edible treats.
Guests will receive detailed maps and the specifics of the tasting menu when they buy their tickets. Included in the package will be a bundle of valuable coupons for future savings on local items.
On Saturday night, from 5 to 8 p.m., another kind of ramble takes visitors on the Wine Tasting Room Walk, where 12 vintners pour samples of their wares. Participating wineries include Lions Peak Vineyard, Carivintâs Winery, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyard, Mandolina, and Presidio Vineyard. New to the event this year are Addamo Vineyards and Dascomb Cellars.
Also on hand will be Sort This Out Cellars, Tastes of the Valleys Wine Bar, and Wandering Dog Wine Bar, as well as Olive House. The recently launched Solvang Brewing Company, located in the former Danish Inn, welcomes suds-lovers with samples of their favorite beverage.
The ticket price for the Wine Tasting Room Walk includes a wine glass—etched with the Taste of Solvang logo—that’s perfect for holding a variety of liquid samples.
The fun continues on Sunday, March 20, with BYOP—also known as Bring Your Own Picnic—in Solvang Park, located in the center of town. From noon to 3 p.m., picnickers can nibble away the hours during an extended afternoon lunch, while lounging on an extra-long picnic blanket that winds through the park like a ground-level, family-style table.
The inclusion of the long blanket was inspired by a tradition observed in Parisian parks, where a strip of cloth winds among the flowers. Picnickers making use of it sit down next to friends or among visitors from other countries, a practice that leads to many lively conversations.
Picnic ingredients, such as deli items, finger foods, and ready-made sandwiches, are available at a number of local purveyors, including El Rancho Market, Nielsen’s Market, New Frontiers Natural Marketplace, and Vinhus, which is chock full of a wonderful variety of Danish and European specialties. Gather a basket of goodies and relax in the park, where live entertainment continues throughout the afternoon.
Taste of Solvang reflects the international and whimsical nature of the famous town itself. During this, the centennial celebration of the founding of Solvang by a group of hearty Danes, residents and out-of-towners alike can experience the food, fun, and hospitality that lies at the heart of the region’s rich culture and increasingly diverse culinary heritage.
K. Reka Badger can taste Solvang. Contact her at rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Mar 3-10, 2011.