Attic Cleanup Reminds Me of Ikea Grub!

Monday, 14 May 2012

Attic Cleanup Reminds Me of Ikea Grub!

I started organizing the attic in my house; let me tell you, it is quite a job! I have tons of memorabilia from years past, old clothing that fits and doesn’t, a snorkel mask I used once, and endless rejected household items from Mom. My Mom changes things around at home every year or so, so she makes a trip to Ikea for things to contribute to a “fresh look”, which means a new rug, some brightly colored lamps, or funky light fixtures. In the attic are rugs, throw pillows, lamps, and other knick knacks that are considered “so last year” in my household. So, it is officially my job to sort everything out and put aside what I want for when I move out.

My point in mentioning this attic clean up is that seeing old Ikea items reminded me of the food! I loved going shopping at Ikea with my family growing up because it meant I would get to eat a hot dog from their dining area, or even better, a cinnamon bun! Ikea put Sweden on the map for me as a kid, and I will never forget their Swedish meatballs, one of my favorites, doused in that rich and delicious sauce.

As there are so many Ikea locations around the world, I thought sharing my opinion of the best Ikea food would appeal to a lot of you

While I do not make as many Ikea trips as I used to, these are the items I remember liking the most:

Cinnamon Bun

What’s not to love about cinnamon laden, yeasty dough? Nothing, that’s what!

Swedish Meatballs served with mashed potatoes or French fries, cream sauce and lingonberries

This was like Thanksgiving dinner to me. It was so cheap, too! You got tons of meatballs and a generous helping of sides for under $5. My Mom was happy to get this for me because it meant she didn’t have to cook that night. At Ikea, everybody wins!

Chicken Tenders with Fries

What kid didn’t like eating this at Ikea? No kid.

Hot Dog

Frozen Yogurt

I always got this because it was there and they didn’t have ice cream. Still, I enjoyed it plenty.

Pizza

Now that I think about it, the restaurant and café items really aren’t that special, just cheap and tasty enough. They have the comfort food factor and the ease and price tag of fast food while not being as “junky”, with many healthier options like salads and fish. I still like the cinnamon buns and Swedish meatballs, although none of it tastes as good now as it did as a youngster. I wonder why that is…perhaps it is because I have become exposed to quite a lot of superior fare. I foresee me shopping at Ikea soon and would probably opt for a salad or a fish and vegetable option.

What is your favorite Ikea food item? Are there any you think are particularly bad?