Forget the Ektorp

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Ever wondered what's up with the Ikea meatballs? Chew on this: The hot dish was an afterthought, initially dreamed up by the chain's founder Ingvar Kamprad. He worried that shoppers might get peckish while browsing his giant warehouse, and tasked then-store-manager Sören Hullberg with developing a short, cost-friendly menu. The original lineup also included salmon, roast beef, and—uh—smoked reindeer steak. Santa was not available for comment. [Racked National]