Sólveig Eva Magnúsdóttir

Op-Comic: In troubling times, we turn to the global comfort food

By Sólveig Eva MagnúsdóttirGuest contributor

June 4, 2025 3 AM PT

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Lately I've been craving the traditional Icelandic pancakes I grew up with, thin with many little holes.

I imagine fluffy, stacked American pancakes would be concerned for their wellbeing. ("Dude, do you need syrup or something?")

These turbulent times seem to call for something comforting and familiar, like a stack of warm pancakes with loved ones.

Pancakes, or poured batter baked to deliciousness, come in many forms across the globe.

Globally we all seem to agree...

...pancakes are awesome.

But so far, I've struggled to replicate my mom's and grandma's seemingly simple Icelandic pönnukökur.

Mastering any culinary art takes time. I hold onto the hope that every bad batch brings me just a little closer to home.

Sólveig Eva Magnúsdóttir is an Icelandic American author, illustrator and actress. She has contributed to the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the New Yorker and McSweeney’s.

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