Summer crayfish festival at IKEA stores Aug. 16: Wear a funny hat

Every summer, I regret the loss of the Swedish restaurant Gustaf Anders in Costa Mesa and its annual crayfish festival. Not to mention the Princess cake draped in pale green marzipan.

It won’t be the same, but here’s the thing: It’s just $9.99 per person. Kids 12 and under get in for $2.49. What is it? IKEA’s kräftskiva -- an all-you-can-eat Swedish crayfish festival on Friday, Aug. 16.

Note that seating is limited, so if you plan on going, best to buy your tickets now at the closest IKEA store.

What’s on the menu? Tossed green salad, cucumber salad, hard-boiled eggs with shrimp, shell-on prawns with cocktail sauce, Najad salmon with horseradish or mustard sauce. And then the big event, crayfish with crispbread and rolls and assorted Swedish cheeses. And for those who aren’t into crayfish, the furniture company cafe will also have its famous Swedish meatballs on hand too. As well as Swedish desserts and cookies.

In Sweden, a crayfish party usually happens in August, an email from the store explains. “Participants often wear funny hats and enjoy ‘singing drinking’ songs while taking snaps (or shots, as we call them.)”

So, bring on those funny hats. Our Image correspondent Adam Tschorn has plenty, fully documented on his blog, if you’re looking for inspiration.

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Twitter: @sirenevirbila