This winter, Oslo in Hackney will be pairing two of Scandinavia's most popular exports since Abba and Hygge for Cider & Balls, London's very first Meatball & Cider festival. Taking place from Monday 5th December to Sunday 11th December at this restaurant, bar and music venue, the festival will showcase some of the region's coolest boutique cider brands and exciting new flavours alongside a specially designed meatball menu. Oslo will also be donating profits from the Cider & Balls festival to Orchid, a male cancer charity.
Guests will be able to enjoy three styles of Scandi meatball dishes accompanied by two sides and paired with a flight of four ciders from across Sweden and Norway. Changing throughout the week, Oslo's selection of premium Swedish and Norwegian cider brands will vary in production methods, flavours and serves and this will be the first time they are showcased together for a London audience.
Examples of the ciders participating at the festival include:
Alska Cider - A fruity cider with flavours ranging from Strawberry & Lime, Pear & Lychee, Peach & Raspberry and Lemon & Ginger, with a new 'Winter' cider introduced for the festival
Herrrljunga Cider - A semi-dry drink that was Voted Sweden's No.1 cider in 2014
Brannland Sparkling Cider - A sparkling cider that combines Swedish apples and subarctic cold that should be drunk by the glass like a prosecco or sparkling wine
Brannland Iscider - Originally developed in Quebec in the early 90s Iscider is an ice-wine made using apples instead of grapes. Perfect on its own as a dessert wine or in a cocktail
Grevens - Produced by the Hansa Borg Breweries, this is a hugely popular cider in Norway, and we have it exclusively in the UK for the first time
Three meatball dishes have been created to accompany the ciders and range from the traditional Swedish meatball with gravy and lingonberry sauce to entirely new flavour combinations. The meatball and cider offering will be available from lunch time all the way through to dinner and even as pre-gig feed for those heading above the restaurant upstairs later on in the evening. To show their support to Orchid Male Cancer Charity, Oslo will donate £1 from each meatball and cider combination sold.
Set against a Nordic, atmospheric aesthetic, Oslo's ground floor restaurant and bar is cosy and relaxed - a cool environment to eat, meet and drink. The Scandi-Inspired interior displays a main bar with seating and open-plan kitchen, which is surrounded by long dark oak tables. This comforting and delicious winter offering will simultaneously warm and satisfy Londoners, whilst all the while contributing to a great cause.