This Scandinavian Lunch Wrap Is Off The Charts Good

And it will probably be the best thing you eat all summer.

It must have been Fate. Years ago I worked for a national television network and my boss loved to hold working lunches. Usually, the meeting was as dry as the sandwiches he brought in from a local deli. Gag. But on that fateful day, he ordered wraps from our cafeteria run by a Scandanavian woman who was an amazing cook.

I remember nothing about that meeting. But I still remember the unusual and delicious wrap (and I’m still making it today!)

The platter was in the middle of the boardroom table. On one side, the normal roast beef wraps. On the other? Spinach wraps with chicken, cold, steamed asparagus, and long slices of mango. (Plus a few other good things — keep reading!)

I zoomed in on that wrap, took one bite and my eyes rolled to the back of my head. It was a mind-bend. I’d never eaten anything like it. So when the rest of the sales guys ignored the “weird mango thing” and ate the beef wraps — I stole all the spinach mango wraps with an evil laugh and tucked them into a little fridge in our office. And then I dashed upstairs to the cafeteria with the empty platter and to compliment the cook.

“Marja — the chicken, mango, asparagus wrap was INCREDIBLE!” I told her I’d stolen the leftover ones and she laughed.

“I’m so happy you like it, Kim! So many people here won’t try anything different.”

I reassured her I would tell everyone to try the wrap (and I did.) And then I took the rest of the wraps home, deconstructed one after work, figured it out and I’ve been happily making them every since.

They are now known as “The Wrap.”

Anyone who eats “The Wrap” does the same thing. They take a bite, their eyes bug out a bit, and they look at me with delight.

“I know. They are amazing!”

Whenever my friend Evelyn came to see me — she always requested, “The Wrap.” She had it for lunch at least once and I also made a few for her flight home.

Listen. If you were here, I’d make you one too. Prepare yourself. This is probably going to be the best thing you eat all summer.

I kid you not.

Mango, Smoked Chicken and Asparagus Wrap

1 package of medium/large spinach wraps

thinly sliced smoked chicken or turkey (do not screw with this)

spreadable cream cheese (regular or light)

baby spinach leaves

1 ripe mango — peeled and cut into long strips

cooled, steamed asparagus spears (2 per wrap)

salt and pepper to taste

Spread the cream cheese on the surface of the spinach wrap leaving a 1/2 inch border. (Don’t use a plain wrap or a red one. Stick with the green, people.)

Place baby spinach leaves all over the cream cheese.

Place 2 thin slices of smoked chicken/turkey flat on top of the spinach. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

Lay 2 asparagus spears and 2 thin slices of mango at the far side of the wrap and then start rolling the wrap from that side.

Cut the wrap in half and place it on a pretty plate. Maybe have a glass of prosecco if you’re so inclined.

Author’s note: Can you use ham? Sure but it won’t be as good. Just saying. Try it my way first.

Thanks for reading! I have loads of food essays (delicious recipes too) and thoughtful and quirky simpler living essays waiting for you. (Well over 200 of them!) And this story caught the attention of NBC News In New York!