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My husband and I drove 2.5 hours from Portland to IKEA in Seattle today. Our mission? Purchasing our new kitchen. But I admit I had an ulterior motive. One of the things that I miss about living close to an IKEA is being able to stop in for lunch. Their "manager's special": 15 meatballs in cream sauce, new potatoes, lingonberry sauce, soup or salad, and drink (lingonberry soda, please) all for around $6.00 can't be beat. For me, it is half the reason to go to IKEA. And how psyched was I the first time I discovered that they sold their meatballs-frozen- the marketplace. I know people either love or hate the Swedish meatball. And I know that they are infinitely better made from scratch. But...but...there is something about an IKEA meatball. They are perfect bites of savory goodness. They are equally bready and meaty, and they are ever-so-slightly perfumed with nutmeg. Tangy-tart lingonberry sauce complements them perfectly. Once our kitchen business was finished, I headed straight for the market where a bag of frozen meatballs had my name on it. Three hours later we were enjoying them for dinner. Oh, IKEA! Why won't you open a store in Portland, already?!
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4-22-2011 @1:40AM Katrina said... Just had IKEA meatball combo plate today. It is a far cry from the quality that it used to be. They seemed to have had added lots of filler or other meat. The meatballs were a light yellowish brown, and had a very different taste. All of the people in the group had the same reaction. This was always one of our tasty, fun places to eat, but not any more. We couldn't believe how different it all tasted.
In the beginning we had decided to try something new for a change. The stuffed salmon looked so good in the poster ad. How different in the pan! There wasn't one decent size of stuffed salmon, but little bits and pieces. So we changed to our regular meatball combo. What a mistake. LIve and learn!
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4-24-2011 @9:19AM Katrina said... Just had IKEA meatball combo plate today. It is a far cry from the quality that it used to be. They seemed to have had added lots of filler or other meat. The meatballs were a light yellowish brown, and had a very different taste. All of the people in the group had the same reaction. This was always one of our tasty, fun places to eat, but not any more. We couldn't believe how different it all tasted.
In the beginning we had decided to try something new for a change. The stuffed salmon looked so good in the poster ad. How different in the pan! There wasn't one decent size of stuffed salmon, but little bits and pieces. So we changed to our regular meatball combo. What a mistake. LIve and learn!
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4-22-2011 @8:57PM LK said... Do you not realize that there is an Ikea IN Portland? It's on the MAX line right out by the airport. It's been there 2 or 3 years.
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10-17-2005 @12:40PM mnology said... Not sure I'd appreciate an IKEA trip inside of Portland as much as I do the trip to just outside of Seattle. It's a day trip, made all the more enjoyable by afforementioned meatballs at the end of the maze. Plus, I'd miss out on the smug enjoyment I get by showing my Oregon I.D. and not paying the sales tax on my IKEA bounty.
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10-17-2005 @12:58PM Ian McKenzie said... I'm with you on those meatballs. I also like the IKEA lingonberry syrup; an ounce or so in a glass of club soda. We make a trip every few weeks to pick up a handful of bottles to tide me over. Fortunately, it's only a 15 minute drive from our place to the local IKEA. Unfortunately, we end up buying a lot more than just the syrup, each trip. 8)
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10-17-2005 @2:29PM CH said... Mad Magazine had it right - the best Sweedish you've ever had in a department store.
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10-17-2005 @6:29PM Tony said... For what it's worth, I have a Swedish friend and the /only/ Swedish meatballs she will ever eat are her mother's and Ikea's...so that's gotta be sayin' something.
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10-17-2005 @6:54PM Food Dude said... The Dania in Hillsboro just opened a cafe inside the store. The same type of things, though on a smaller scale. Maybe it is just me (I hate being dragged through Ikea), but I thought the meatballs were better at Dania. They have them frozen too.
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10-18-2005 @5:20PM The Spoonman said... Agreed, every time I'm in Philadelphia visiting the folks, I stop in at Ikea. I tell people it's 'cause I love the furniture (which I do), but I've never gone without being mad hungry for lunch! :) I wish they'd open one near me, too. Although, I'd prolly end up gaining 50 lbs...
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10-18-2005 @11:19AM CS Chua said... I am from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Like you I have fallen for this Swedish export. For years I had relished Chinese beef balls. Now I always have a pack of Ikea meatballs in my freezer. I am not into lingonberry but with Graddsas sauce, mashed potato with ample Tobasco sauce it's a very heavenly devilish combination :)
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10-18-2005 @12:23PM mpeng said... I've got you all beat. When I was in Germany driving between towns, I saw one outside of Frankfurt (Kassel) and pulled in for some meatballs. mmmm
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