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Helsinki is Developing a Loving Feeling for Foodies

December 23, 2010 at 4:20 PM | by | Comment (1)

Helsinki is perfect for a winter holiday for those who are not afraid of snow and some nippy weather. Over this week and next, Jaunted’s Vancouver-based, Finland-born contributor Tuija Seipell of The Cool Hunter, will report on some of her recent finds in the cold temps of her homeland.

Helsinki’s restaurant culture is really starting to “arrive.” We've seen more and more great food, inventive menus, authentic atmosphere, consistency and real value begin to arrive at the city's eateries, both pricey and budget.

Recently, we found a great breakfast buffet at Klaus K Hotel, the only hotel in Helsinki that's part of the Design Hotels network. Delicacies such as smoked trout, sauna-smoked ham, special local cheeses, free-range eggs, mushroom salad, oven-baked barley porridge and homemade blueberry soup were on offer. Additionally, the printed menu’s map of Finland shows the location of the small farms where each item originates. Amazingly, the buffet is included in the room price, but costs 21 Euros if you are not a guest of the hotel. If you eat late (the buffet closes at 10), you can easily skip lunch for the day.

Another positive find on our latest visit was Farang, a year-old restaurant located at the beautifully restored Taidehalli (the Art Museum built in 1928) at No. 3 Aino’s Street ( Ainonkatu ) in the downtown district of Töölö. Its young chef-owners, Tomi Björk and Matti Wikberg, serve up South Asian food in a minimalist space. We recommend the tasting menus as the very best way to get to know the cuisine, and your waiter will also explain how to properly eat each inventive course.

And to finish off our Helsinki winter series, here’s something to light up the first part of 2011: This far north, the winter months are dark, which is why the City of Helsinki presents Season of Light (Valon Vuodenaika) from December 31 to January 9. Various significant sites and buildings in the downtown core will be lit up with light installations by three artists from Finland, Germany and Sweden. The light spectacles go on continuously every evening from 5 pm to 11 pm.

[Photos: The City of Helsinki, Helsinki Tourism]

Related Stories:
· Christmas Markets are a Solid Reason to Brave the Cold in Helsinki [Jaunted]
· Where to Shop in Helsinki for the Best of Finnish Design [Jaunted]
· Keeping Warm with Coffee: Where to Sip and Shop in Helsinki [Jaunted]

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Know this about Helsinki

It has a LONG way to go before it's foodie-friendly. All the restaurants here get a fan fare in the beginning but in under a season, they have faded into the vast grayness that is Food in Finland. We have nothing here - don't come here to eat.
kotn on December 27, 2010 at 5:02 AM #Permalink

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