The English word smorgasbord comes from the Swedish words smörgås (sandwich) and bord (table). It first appeared in English in the late 19th century), and by the 20th century, the term had expanded beyond food-related contexts.
However, in Swedish smörgåsbord can only mean one thing, and that is - a table full of various traditional Swedish dishes.
Now that we have clarified what smörgåsbord refers to, what about smörgåstårta?
Smörgåstårta translates to “sandwich cake” in English. It is a popular Swedish dish consisting of layers of sandwich bread with fillings such as seafood, cold cuts, vegetables, and a mayonnaise-based sauce. The dish even has its own official day - every year you can celebrate “the day of smörgåstårta” on the 13th of November.
So might you eat smörgåstårta at a smörgåsbord? No, because smörgåstårta is a dish that is usually eaten by its own, and it is (surprisingly) not one of the traditional dishes that you might find at a smörgåsbord!
In conclusion, it can be a bit confusing to differentiate between the English word smorgasbord, and the Swedish terms smörgåsbord and smörgåstårta. But if you are still a little confused, here is a quick dictionary to help you sort out sandwiches, tables, and cakes!
Dictionary
Smörgås - open sandwhich
Bord - table
Tårta - cake
Smörgåsbord - a buffet-style collection of various cold and hot Swedish dishes, usually eaten at Easter, Christmas and Midsummer
Smörgåstårta - a Swedish savory cake made up of layers of sandwhich bread, meats or seafood and vegetables, with a mayo-based sauce, usually eaten at parties and big gatherings.
Smorgasbord (english) - something that comprises a mixture or assemblage of different parts
