When the Colorado Avalanche play in Stockholm, Sweden, this month (November 10 and 11), it will be a homecoming for Swedish captain Gabriel Landeskog. With international travel in mind, we asked Landy and two of his fellow foreign Avs where they find a taste of home in Denver and what we should do if (when!) we tour their native countries.

Gabriel Landeskog
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden>
Position: Forward (left wing)
Taste Of Home: The closest thing to a Scandinavian meal Landy has found is at IKEA in Centennial. Seriously: The Swedish retailer serves those famous meatballs as well as a traditional “julbord” (a Christmas smorgasbord with ham, Swedish rice pudding, and more) around the holidays.
Tourist For A Day: Visiting Stockholm? Landeskog likes the cobblestone streets of the Gamla Stan area, or Old Town, which is home to the Royal Palace, the medieval Riddarholmen Church, and numerous restaurants.

5280 November 2017
5280 November 2017
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Semyon Varlamov
Hometown: Samara, Russia
Position: Goalie
Taste Of Home: Varlamov swears by the pierogies and “pelmeni” (Russian dumplings) at Red Square Bistro in downtown’s Larimer Square.
Tourist For A Day: Stop about 650 miles west of Varlamov’s hometown, in Moscow, where “you never get bored,” he says. Must-see sights in the Russian capital include the symbolic monumental architecture of Red Square, the nearby Kremlin buildings, and the shops and clubs along Tverskaya Street, the city’s main thoroughfare.

Mikko Rantanen
Hometown: Nousiainen, Finland
Position: Forward (right wing)
Taste Of Home: Rantanen hasn’t found a Denver restaurant that serves Finnish seafood the way he likes it, but we have good news for him: Every January, Lakewood’s Trollheim Lodge—home to the Sons of Norway, a fraternal society that celebrates Scandinavian culture—serves a lutefisk dinner. The traditional dish of codfish preserved in lye is enjoyed in Sweden, Norway, and parts of Finland.
Tourist For A Day: The Finn’s favorite cities are Helsinki—for the cafe culture—and Turku (near his hometown) for its frequent music festivals.

Other Games To Watch This Month
Nov. 16 vs. Washington Capitals
Nov. 18 @ Nashville Predators
Nov. 19 @ Detroit Red Wings

This article was originally published in 5280 November 2017.
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.