It’s no secret that I’m a Scandinavian enthusiast. With a dad who moved here from Norway in the 1950s and a mother who is just as much Norwegian, though by way of North Dakota, my Nordic roots grow deep. Several years ago, I started a Scandinavian food blog called Outside Oslo, and these days my kitchen is constantly in possession of some sort of Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish treats.
So, it seems appropriate that I would live in a city with a rich Scandinavian heritage. Partly due to the fishing opportunities, many Scandinavians settled in Seattle generations ago, and the Ballard neighborhood in particular took on a distinctly Nordic feel. In fact, the Syttende Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day) festival that takes place in Ballard each May is reportedly the largest one outside of Norway, and is one of the largest ethnic festivals in the country. However, in recent years, evidence of the city’s Nordic heritage has been fading. Still, some vestiges remain, and I’m going to be examining them here over the next few months as we lead up to Syttende Mai.
I wasted no time in my search last week when I stopped in at Nielsen’s Pastries in lower Queen Anne for coffee and lunch. As I neared the destination, the scent of baked bread and pastries permeated the air—even inside my car—as I spotted the red and white Danish flags flying outside. I had heard about the bakery but hadn’t been there before and I was surprised to see what appeared to be a tiny sliver of a storefront on a side street. As I parked my car and walked across the street, however, I discovered a charming little shop that opens into a surprising spacious—yet still cozy—living room of bakery. The marigold-colored walls and blond wood paneling, along with the peach-and-white checkered floor, provide a sort of lived-in warmth and a gentle backdrop to the den-like armchairs and floor lamps in the corner and the Scandinavian-styled white and wood tables and chairs scattered throughout the room.
The pastries? Well, they are worth the effort in getting here. From kringle to snitter, “potatoes” (a dessert that looks like a potato) to Tosca squares, Nielsen’s pastry case features has a well-curated array of treats. I ordered the Tosca—a cakelike base topped with a thick layer of almond paste and a little berry jam, topped with sliced almonds and dipped in chocolate. Admittedly, I am a bit of a pastry snob, and won’t waste the calories on something less than stellar. Between my son and me, we ate the entire thing.
Nielsen’s Authentic Danish Pastry
520 2nd Ave W
Seattle, WA 98119
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