It's still not clear to me whether lutefisk is essentially a Christmas treat. One thing is certain: it will not be on my menu this Christmas Eve. But would I try it if given the opportunity? Hmmm...

Back in May I attended a conference in San Francisco. There was a contingent of people from company in Sweden also in attendance and we all chatted. Inevitably, a conversation about Vikings arose.

"We were to this continent first," one of the Swedes offered.

"Not before the Native Americans," replied a proud American.

"That's right," the Swede allowed. "I've read it was probably clashes with the Native Americans that drove us out. We offered them milk, but they didn't have tolerance for the lactose. They thought we were trying to poison them."

Those Scandinavians: always boasting about their ability to process dairy.

"That's not what caused the clashes," I interrupted. "To grow food, Native Americans used to bury fish as fertilizer. But your guys would dig it up and eat it as a delicacy!"

Hearty laghter erupted from, well, at least most of the Swedes.

In an effort to mend fences, I invited them to come out with me to the Tonga Room at the Fairmont across the street. It was a dark bar with a Polynesian them, very tacky tikki. In other words: perfect. The Swedes demurred so I went alone, ordering a Blue Hawaii and tapping out an e-mail to Dr. Basu (who suggested the place) to tell him that I was very much enjoying the ukelele music and simulated rainshower.

I wonder what they'll have on the menu for Christmas Eve?