A thin slice of lemon and a sprig of dill (Ingrīda Hawke)
Ingrīda Hawke describes the Latvian canapes she prepares for festive tables in Melbourne, Australia: classic radish canapes with cottage cheese, salmon with a slice of lemon, ham with mustard …
Amber Table (Dace Gulbe and Inta Grunde)
Dace Gulbe and Inta Grunde have been preparing and setting festive tables for Latvians on the East Coast of the United States for about 20 years with Amber catering company.They talk about the most popular foods they make (pīrāgi!), about their cooking process, and also share their experience of how it was recently when the President visited Priedaine and they prepared the food for the event.
Hostesses in Latvian communities abroad: in different times and countries. Photographs from the collection of the museum Latvians Abroad.
This gallery features photographs of festive tables from Latvian communities in different countries and periods.
Festive tables of Latvian communities abroad: in different times and countries. Photographs from the collection of the museum Latvians Abroad.
In Latvian communities outside Latvia, it is customary to offer a plentiful table at festive events. The food is prepared in various ways — participants may bring baskets with homemade treats, or a ladies’ committee may take responsibility for setting the table. For private celebrations, Latvian catering companies often prepare the food.
Ladies’ Committee canapé party! (Inta Šķiņķis)
Inta Šķiņķis hosted a birthday party with a Ladies’ Committee canapé theme! She invited everyone to revisit childhood memories and bring a plate of Ladies’ Committee canapés in two categories: traditional Ladies’ Committee canapés and modern interpretations in a global style. The event also included a competition, awards were given for best traditional canapé, best modern interpretation, best taste, and best appearance.
Ladies’ Committees helped maintain the Latvian community (Aija Abens)
A richly set table is an indispensable part of these celebrations. It is prepared in various ways – sometimes participants arrive with baskets of their own homemade treats, including savory and sweet snacks, decorative “pretty buns,” curd or apple pies, Russian-style salads, and other dishes. Other times, the tables are arranged by the hosts – dedicated and warm-hearted women’s groups, such as church or Latvian society committees, who, in addition to other responsibilities, take care of the event’s decorations and food. These women, often working behind the scenes, are nonetheless the cornerstone of these events, bringing warmth, order, and the true taste of the holidays to Latvian communities abroad.
Mom runs around the stores looking for the “right” kind of cabbage
Inese Šteinbaha: We make our own sauerkraut. My mom, Māra Rozenberga, is the one running around the stores looking for the right kind of cabbage. She knows exactly what they should be like. We even have our own cabbage slicer, brought from Latvia.
The salmon looks like it’s swimming! (Ingrida Hawke)
Ingrīda Hawke sets tables for the Australian Latvian community — for weddings, funerals, and anniversaries. In this interview excerpt, she describes her own festive table creations: one of the main elements is often a salmon, baked in such a way that it looks as if it’s swimming!
Searching for Latvian mushrooms
Mushrooms & sauerkraut OCTOBER 2025 Searching for Latvian mushrooms Toronto, Canada When I was a little girl, my greatest joy in summer was going mushroom picking with my father in Latvia’s beautiful forests. Wandering around the world, I’ve seen many beautiful forests. I’ve walked through them, searching for the mushrooms of Latvia. I didn’t find them…” Aina Zūlis. Quote from the “Story Quilt” project by “Latvians Abroad” museum 2018 Oktober news Latvijas sēņu meklējumos Kā var kāpostus rīvēt, ja neiedzer aliņu? (Pēteris Freimanis) Mazā Māra mežā gāja… Ēriks un Aina stāsta par sēņošanu Skābēšana trijās paaudzēs Kanādā (Aija Zichmane) Liene marinē gurķus Madara Riley – “Mushroom Maddie” Sertificētā sēņotāja Mičigānā (Larisa Mednis) Jūs, ko, mani uz sēņu skolu sūtīsiet? (Austra Muižniece) Liene gatavo kotletes Skābo kāpostu meistarklase Melburnā Londonas latviešu skolas sēņošanas izbraukums Itāļiem ir nepareizi gurķi! (Austra Muižniece) Rudmiešu pilni grozi! (Iveta Leitase) Omīte iemācīja, kā skābēt kāpostus (Kalvis Mikelšteins) Divas, trīs dienas un jau skābi kāposti bija (Nestors Refbergs) Latviskā sirds un dārgās dilles (Iveta Leitase) Bergenas latvieši skābē kāpostus kopīgām svinībām Karbonāžu maratons vienā laidā (Austra Muižniece) Grāmatas “Letts Eat!” tapšana (Vija Doks) Recepte draudzībai un latviešu pavārgrāmatas diasporā (Signe Rirdance) Pavārgrāmatas izdotas ārpus Latvijas Manas vecmāmiņas recepšu grāmata (Marianna Auliciema) Kā es gatavoju rasolu (Dastins Betčers) No posts found
How can you shred cabbage without having a beer? (Pēteris Freimanis)
Pēteris Freimanis shares childhood memories of his grandmother’s sauerkraut and tells how he began fermenting cabbage himself, inspired by his friend Aigars. This activity has become a tradition for him.