My favourite Christmas delight is...
After the first trimester and hotel food, nothing sounds better to the athletes than heading home to loved ones and enjoying homemade food. As Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones and sharing the table with lots of treats, we asked the biathletes which Christmas food brings out the best holiday spirit!
Karoline Knotten: Dad's Christmas bread
Scoring her first podium of the season with third place in the Hochfilzen Sprint, Karoline Offigstad Knotten can't wait to taste her dad's traditional Christmas bread. Yes, it is sweet!
For me, it is my dad's Christmas bread with raisins, brown cheese, and strawberry jam. It's a family tradition, and it tastes pretty sweet!
Oleksandra Merkushyna: Varenyky with potato and onion
Varenyky symbolise Ukrainian hospitality and cultural heritage and are commonly prepared for special occasions such as weddings, holidays, and family gatherings. In addition to their culinary importance, varenyky carry symbolic meanings related to fertility and abundance in Ukrainian folklore. Their shape is often associated with the new moon. Oleksandra Merkushyna and her mum will opt for a big bowl - as the highlight of a festive feast with 12 other dishes.
Traditionally, we serve 12 dishes on Christmas Eve. While many people prepare many meat dishes on this day, my mom and I observed the pre-Christmas fast. We wouldn't eat anything until the first star appeared in the sky, and the first meal had to be free of meat and dairy products, following our religious traditions. Since my dad and sister were usually away at competitions or training during this time, my mom and I would prepare 12 dishes in small portions and one big bowl of our favourite dish, "varenyky with potatoes and onions". It is a traditional Lenten food, so that's the first thing that reminds me of Christmas.
BI48 - My favourite Christmas food_1
Sandra Bulina: Gingerbread
Latvia's Sandra Bulina loves baking gingerbread - a baked delicacy primarily characterized by the use of ginger along with other spices like cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. In the house of Bulina, gingerbread comes with a fine twist. Which one?
Gingerbread has been my favourite treat for several years because I make the dough with my family. We also bake them together. This is my favourite family tradition! The gingerbreads turn out pretty tasty because they are topped with a special ingredient - honey collected by our family's bees!
Ukaleq Slettemark: Self-caught grouse
A young woman of nature, Ukaleq hunts grouse - birds primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere known for their stocky bodies, feathered legs, and feet - in the off-season. And serves it as a Christmas specialty.
My favourite Christmas dinner is self-caught grouse. It feels nice to have brought the food to the table myself. It feels extra special because we hunt them in the off-season and don't get so many - so we wait eight months to eat them.
Anna Gandler: Raclette
The 23-year-old Austrian shooting star, who is yet to find the shape that saw her clinch two consecutive flower podiums at the end of last season, is looking forward to raclette, a Swiss dish involving heating a block of the cheese until it melts, then scraping the melted portion onto boiled potatoes, pickles, and cured meats like prosciutto. Or you can simply tuck in small pieces of bread.
It is something special we only do and eat at Christmas. Maybe also for New Year, but never in the summer!
BI48 - My favourite Christmas food_2
Jesper Nelin: Risgryngröt
Jesper Nelin has achieved two podiums in Relay in Trimester 1. While rejuvenating at home over Christmas, he will indulge himself in risgryngröt, and juleskum. Risgryngröt is a creamy dessert made primarily from rice, milk, and sugar - often flavored with cinnamon. A notable feature of risgryngröt is the inclusion of a whole almond hidden within the dish; tradition holds that the person who finds the almond will be married within the year. Juleskum is a popular Swedish candy with a soft, marshmallow-like texture and sweet flavour, primarily strawberry, and shaped like Santa Claus.
I would say risgryngröt with sugar and cinnamon. But I also love all the sweets like caramel, crispy bread, and juleskum.
Darcie Morton: Pavlova
Australia's Darcie Morton will enjoy Pavlova, a meringue-based dessert that originated in Australia or New Zealand. It is named after the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova and has a crisp outer shell and a soft, marshmallow-like interior, creating a delightful contrast in textures. It is traditionally topped with whipped cream and an assortment of fresh fruits, making it a popular choice for celebrations and holidays in both countries.
My favourite for Christmas is pavlova. It is a light dessert, full of fresh fruit, which I love!
Lena Repinc: Steak tartare
The young Slovenian likes the experience of eating home-prepared steak tartare when her family gets together. It is a classic French dish made from raw ground beef. It is typically prepared using high-quality cuts of meat, such as tenderloin or sirloin. The finely chopped or minced meat is often mixed with onions, capers, parsley or chives, salt, and pepper - to create a delicate texture.
It's not really about the taste but more about the experience. We only eat it when the whole family gets together, all the aunts, cousins, and grandparents so that makes it special. My grandma used to make it so it's a memory of her also. And since my sister is vegan we also tried to make a vegan one and I can say I love both the original and vegan!
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