We used to visit Solvang often-but mostly the wine country. There was a winery there that had a cupcake pop-up in it and you could get a flight of mini-cupcakes that were paired with the wine tasting. It was the best!
Ruth, I love Solvang and especially all the food, more than one can eat in a day. I lived in California off and on for the better part of 50 years and I've been to Solvang many times; it never gets old.
Years ago when I was doing the street fair circuit making Kettle Popkorn with my then husband, one of our vendor friends was Arnie, the original guy that had the place in Solvang. I believe he had already sold it by the time I met him, but I loved showing up at his booth at the end of a long market night to get my weekly treat.
Your post brings back a lot of good memories, thanks!
What a great post, Ruth, the pancakes and Kringle, I’m hungry now! (And it’s after midnight!) loved the movie Sideways, I need to watch Jeff’s walk, I think I saw a beautiful hotel on his Instagram! ❤️
Great post, Ruth. Your visit must have felt like a mini trip to Europe without leaving CA. I was completely unfamiliar with Solvang, even though I remember enjoying Sideways when it first came out. Fun tidbit of info about the number of layers of pastry!
Okay, I have to make ableskiver now, since I live in Wisconsin. First, though, I'm calling Solvang's bluff. See, I first visited it as an exchange student from England in the early 80s, and absolutely thought of it as a Danish Disneyland, as it clearly was, and as the Californians I knew spoke of it. At that time, the pastries we sampled there, in abundance, were, frankly, bloody awful and very unEuropean: I specifically recall fake cream. I rush to add that when I was last there a year ago, things were much improved: I wasn't surprised, since American food standards and expectations have risen since then. Solvang as we know it was started in 1947. Originally, after Solvang was founded in 1911, the buildings in town looked like typical buildings in Southern California, until after WWII, when cute and kitschy things (like the Madonna Inn, and Disneyland itself) attracted the multitudes of postwar car tourists. Solvang was a pioneer of kitsch: The buildings were Danishified, the bakeries blossomed, and the tourists arrived. Ruth, I am delighted you have shown that the countryside is pretty, and the Chumash connections, and all sorts of reasons to go there other than just to stuff my face! (And see? This is why I don't get invited to parties . . .)
We used to visit Solvang often-but mostly the wine country. There was a winery there that had a cupcake pop-up in it and you could get a flight of mini-cupcakes that were paired with the wine tasting. It was the best!
Another wonderful article Ruth! I enjoyed reading it so much. What a fascinating place and those pancakes look wonderful.
Makes me want to go back! Another great article, Ruth!
Love "travelling" with you Ruth! All those Danish treats look absolutely inviting but the cross section of the bear claw... Omg...!
Anyone else remember the remote control boats that used to be there?
Ruth, I love Solvang and especially all the food, more than one can eat in a day. I lived in California off and on for the better part of 50 years and I've been to Solvang many times; it never gets old.
Years ago when I was doing the street fair circuit making Kettle Popkorn with my then husband, one of our vendor friends was Arnie, the original guy that had the place in Solvang. I believe he had already sold it by the time I met him, but I loved showing up at his booth at the end of a long market night to get my weekly treat.
Your post brings back a lot of good memories, thanks!
What a great post, Ruth, the pancakes and Kringle, I’m hungry now! (And it’s after midnight!) loved the movie Sideways, I need to watch Jeff’s walk, I think I saw a beautiful hotel on his Instagram! ❤️
Great post, Ruth. Your visit must have felt like a mini trip to Europe without leaving CA. I was completely unfamiliar with Solvang, even though I remember enjoying Sideways when it first came out. Fun tidbit of info about the number of layers of pastry!
Ruth, your posts are always so interesting. I loved reading about the history of Solvang. And... I WANT A KRINGLE
Okay, I have to make ableskiver now, since I live in Wisconsin. First, though, I'm calling Solvang's bluff. See, I first visited it as an exchange student from England in the early 80s, and absolutely thought of it as a Danish Disneyland, as it clearly was, and as the Californians I knew spoke of it. At that time, the pastries we sampled there, in abundance, were, frankly, bloody awful and very unEuropean: I specifically recall fake cream. I rush to add that when I was last there a year ago, things were much improved: I wasn't surprised, since American food standards and expectations have risen since then. Solvang as we know it was started in 1947. Originally, after Solvang was founded in 1911, the buildings in town looked like typical buildings in Southern California, until after WWII, when cute and kitschy things (like the Madonna Inn, and Disneyland itself) attracted the multitudes of postwar car tourists. Solvang was a pioneer of kitsch: The buildings were Danishified, the bakeries blossomed, and the tourists arrived. Ruth, I am delighted you have shown that the countryside is pretty, and the Chumash connections, and all sorts of reasons to go there other than just to stuff my face! (And see? This is why I don't get invited to parties . . .)
Great piece. We have stopped there before but maybe we need another visit, just for the food.
We used to visit there when I was little. It was fun to have lunch, walk around, and get a treat from a bakery before heading home to Santa Barbara.
Love this piece--glad you got in all the history.