I tasted my way through IKEA, you should too

COLUMBUS, Ohio – I love shopping outside my standard stores. On my list of side trips are Park to Shop (Asian) in Cleveland’s Asiatown, Gust Gallucci’s (Italian) in midtown, West Side Market and even Trader Joe’s. I found a new food market to add to the list of favorites-- IKEA. Sure, they have furniture and organizers to equip your home. They also have food. In fact, their Swedish Food Market has substantial culinary offerings with more than 100 products beyond frozen bags of famous meatballs. Next summer, Northeast Ohio will have an IKEA store in Crocker Park, Westlake. In anticipation, I traveled to its Columbus store to see what foods are offered. While food will be part of the Northeast Ohio product mix, corporate spokespeople weren’t quite sure which items.So, I gathered a cartful. Here are some of my favorites. RELATED: Cleveland’s long, frustrating road to finally landing an IKEA Cleveland IKEA: What to expect from the smaller-style store planned for Crocker ParkSavory EntreesIKEA's signature meatballs.Paris WolfeHUVUDROLL meatballs ($14.99) – IKEA’s iconic meatballs come frozen in a 2.2 pounds bag. The serving information says it’s enough for 13 servings of five meatballs each. I like them because they’re easy to warm up in a skillet or air fryer, speeding me through dinner prep. They taste just like they did in the restaurant ... if you buy the gravy mix to go with them. Protein balls are also available in vegetable, chicken, salmon and plant-based versions.Savory meatball gravy.Paris WolfeALLEMANSRÄTTEN gravy ($1.69) – IKEA’s meatballs need the gravy. This savory sauce mix is easy to cook with water and a splash of cream. Buy several packets and use this gravy for everything. Potato, vegetable and cheese medallions.Paris WolfeGRONSKASKAKA potato cakes ($8.99) -- These potato cakes are my ultimate carb-y side dish with meatballs. Or pork, chicken, steak. They’re slightly sweet from leeks and plenty cheesy. The gooey sauce holds together potato shreds with leeks, onions and broccoli. Don’t wait until the last minute to decide you’re hungry. Give yourself 20-30 minutes to cook them, better if they’re brown on both sides. Smoked, uncured pork hot dogsParis WolfeSMOKED, UNCURED PORK HOT DOGS ($10.99) -- The smokiness makes them seem more sophisticated than a regular hot dog. And though I’m not a big hot dog fan, I could easily eat at least one, maybe two, for a quick lunch. Granola with nuts and berries.Paris WolfeHJALTEROLL, Granola with nuts and berries ($7.49) -- The 14.1-ounce box is full of cereal, not air. The mix includes a more than generous mix of cashews, dried berries, coconut shavings and more. With just 4 grams of sugar per serving, it felt like a healthy option. Moosehead-shaped pasta.Paris WolfeBASTISAR, moose-shaped pasta ($3.99)-- What’s not to love about pasta shaped like moose heads?! Except the $3.99 price for just 14.1 ounces. Still, it’s a playful base for mac n cheese or antipasto pasta salad. Sweet SnacksPrincess cake.Paris WolfePRINCESS CAKE ($7.99) – One of my favorites. I want this cake for my birthday. Sponge cake is layered with raspberry jam and creamy filling and covered with a pink marzipan blanket. It’s light and indulgent at the same time.Cinnamon roll.Paris WolfeCINNAMON ROLLS ($5.99/6) – Two of my coworkers insist these are a must when visiting IKEA. But wait until you’re home and warm them up in the microwave. The heat releases the full cinnamon experience. Pastry with almond paste.Paris WolfePastry with almond paste ($2.99/6) … The six pastries in this package are essentially marzipan (almond paste) with chocolate-wrapped ends. They’re so rich you only need half to satisfy a sweets craving. Swedish persipan tarts.Paris WolfeMAZARIN ($4.99/4) -- These Swedish persipan tarts in a shortbread crust are topped with icing for a rich treat. For those unfamiliar with persipan (like me), it’s like marzipan. But, instead of almonds, it’s made from ground apricot or peach kernels mixed with sugar. Filled shortbread cookie sandwiches.Paris WolfeKAFFEREP cookies ($1.99) – These cookies come in sleeves of lemon, chocolate, raspberry. They’re a shortbread-like cookie with the signature filling as an accent flavor. Buy these! Choose your favorite flavor or try all three. Salty and sweet licorice.Paris WolfeFYRTAKT – Sweet licorice or salty licorice ($2.19) – I grew up coveting black jellybeans, enjoying that sweet anise profile. Scandinavian salty licorice is new to me. It has a less sweet profile and hints of minerality. It’s semi-medicinal and an acquired taste. Savory SnacksRosemary and paprika potato chips.Paris WolfePOTATO CHIPS – ($1.79/1.5 oz. to $3.99/5.3 oz.) – Lant Chips are single serving bags in paprika or rosemary flavors, while FESTLIGT are five-serving bags in salt or sour cream and onion flavors. All have the texture of kettle-cooked chips. Signature SpreadsThree signature jams.Paris WolfeVAGGSANG Fruit spreads ($4.99) – Available in three flavors Lingonberry – served with Swedish meatballs, but also good on toast and in yogurt. Lingonberries, also known as mountain cranberries, or foxberries, grow on small evergreen shrubs in cold climates. They’re related to blueberries and cranberries. The spread has a faint hint of cranberry, but not much flavor. Orange and elderflower – A bit like marmalade, the combination of orange and elderflower is delightful. The spread carries a suggestion of honey with a balance of acidity. Elderflowers are the delicate, sweet blossoms of the elderberry tree. Raspberry and bilberry – Of Scandinavian origin, bilberries are a deeply colored, low growing European blueberry. The fruit spread is rich with raspberry and blueberry flavors. BeveragesFruit and vegetable juice boxes.Paris WolfeLANGLUR juice boxes ($2.49 to $3.99) – Blends of fruit or fruit and vegetable juices, these are refreshing and leave one feeling like they’ve consumed something healthy.Bubbly, NA juiceParis WolfeDRYCK BUBBEL sparkling fruit beverages ($5.49 to $5.99) – The bottles look a bit like champagne but lack the cork. This bubbly non-alcoholic fruit beverage comes in pear or apple/lingonberry. It adds an air of festivity to dinner or the holidays.IKEA drink concentrates in lingonberry, elderflower and blueberry.Paris WolfeDRYK drink concentrate ($5.49) – Available in elderflower, blueberry and lingonberry, these beverage syrups are a great way to add flavor to water, plain sparkling water or even lemonade. They can add creativity to your home bar. Directions call for a six to one dilution. RELATED: IKEA Crocker Park Westlake: What to expect from the food menu