Usually food porn is related to high fat and calorie content, basically all the sweet and sugary stuff that we’re constantly told not to eat but can’t resist anyway. But I’ve got good news. Many of the dishes which I’m about to show you prove eating healthy can look and taste just as good as the naughty calorific stuff.
I wedged all these dishes down my bottomless pit on a recent work trip to south and central Finland. The food was a big highlight of my visit and now that I’m back my tastebuds have felt depressed ever since. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about it, so any suggestions are welcomed…
In recent years Scandinavia and the Nordic countries have been going through a culinary renaissance, so I wasn’t surprised by how good the food was in Sweden or Denmark. These two countries have been getting a lot of attention recently, especially with restaurants like Noma in Copenhagen and Frantzén in Stockholm winning countless awards.
However, my culinary knowledge of Finland was severely lacking, in fact it was completely non-existent. Surely, if the food was as good as its neighbours then I would have heard it on the grapevine?
This doesn’t mean I expected the food to be bad because I’m sure I would have been forewarned in one way or another. The conclusion, I therefore came to was not to expect anything out of the ordinary. Actually, I expected potatoes. Lots of potatoes like you get in Norway (please stop with the potatoes Norway!) and Russia.
But, oh my word. It was anything but ordinary.
And bar one meal, I wasn’t subjected to a single potato. Not that I have anything against potatoes, I love ’em mashed but please – don’t give me them boiled.
I found there is a strong emphasis on keeping things local, so eating fish caught from the nearby lake, having berries specific to the region and seasons, and using meats which are found on home turf, such as reindeer and lamb, goes without saying.
A couple of days after I came back from Finland, one of my best friends Lee (who I’m going to Glasgow with next week for the Commonwealth Games, so stay tuned for that) coincidentally happened to be going to Helsinki too and experienced the same food pleasures as me.
Being a journalist, Lee decided to do some investigating and asked a few people basically how come the food was so good in Finland yet there seemed to be zero awareness of it elsewhere in the world? And this is what he discovered in a nutshell:
Apparently, the majority are happy eating tasteless junk from gas stations, but there’s actually an oversupply of talent (chefs) that have nowhere to execute their means. Though the younger generation is trying to change this and the food culture is growing, albeit slowly. Also, the legislation is holding it back as well, the food hygiene laws are incredibly tight and it’s very difficult for new eateries, especially hip or experimental pop-up restaurants, to get going here.
One thing I disagree with about this quote is that I bet the junk food isn’t even tasteless! But I didn’t have any to test my theory. The closest thing I got to eating fast-food was in the train station, and even the salad I got seemed to have some magic seasoning that made it suspiciously delicious.
I also clocked a curious looking brown cake that looked a little bit like a mandarin cake. I simply had to try it, so you can understand my surprise as I took my first bite and discovered a filling of sweet bilberries. The tasty treat is called Mustikka Kukkonen and is something cheap and cheerful that you must try if you get the chance.
There are only so many superlatives I can use for Finnish food, so I’ll let the photos do the talking now.
Place: Restaurant Näsinneula in Tampere.
Dish: Salmon and hollandaise with puy lentil salad.
Place: Restaurant Näsinneula in Tampere.
Dish: Pike on a bed of risotto and pea purée.
Place: Restaurant Näsinneula in Tampere.
Dish: Reindeer on carrot purée.
Place: Restaurant Näsinneula in Tampere.
Dish: Sour milk, blueberry and malt aka The Palette Cleanser.
Place: Ravintola Pöllöwaari in Jyväskylä.
Dish: Pike-perch & potato with celery, pea and lemon.
Place: Pappailan Pidot in Jyväskylä region.
Dish: Even a salmon sandwich looks elegant!
Okay, being healthy can only last for so long. It's dessert time.
Place: Farang in Helsinki.
Dish: Dark chocolate, lime, crystalized white chocolate, mint milk chocolate ice cream. This bad boy was devoured by Lee
Place: Restaurant Näsinneula in Tampere.
Dish: Carrot cake, sea buckthorn and liquorice
Place: Ravintola Pöllöwaari in Jyväskylä.
Dish: Strawberry & Mascarpone.
16 Responses
The presentation of the dishes is amazing! They must take so long to design and construct.
I know, right Charlie? Some chefs really are artists too!
Ahhhh, Shing (he says with a very satisfied, deep sigh). You know that the dog sledding post still remains my #1 so far to date. But, this food porn post just shot right into my Top 5 of yours! Huge fellow foodie happiness written all over my face and in my own growling stomach. I too get quite irritable if I haven’t eaten after too long of a time. You mention Kettle Chips…I just got turned on to those last year. Now, the big question…how do you feel about Pringles and Cheetos? Yummers! 🙂
I’m not going to comment on every single dish other than to say I want them ALL!! What made you a rock star in my book is that you gave the restaurant and name of each dish to go with the pictures. It drives me CRAZY when bloggers leave me twisting in the food craving wind wondering with no answer! LOVE, LOVED this post our friend! 🙂
Crisps are my vice Mike, so naturally I feel very affectionate towards Pringles :s Cheetos aren’t as common in England, we have Wotsits which are like Cheetos but cheesier! I’m not sure how popular they are in the US….
Glad you enjoyed the post and found the dish descriptions useful, they can be needed when the food is creatively plated and knowing what it might be can be difficult!
Stupid me… I’m having a not-so-big Big Mac while looking at these pictures! I’m so depressed now!
I know how it feels to be food pampered on work trips. My friends asked me for cheapo food guide in the US, and all I know is Red Lobster and all the steakhouses.
Oh dear, next time you see Maccy Ds just put your head down and walk on!! You have too much amazing food in Malaysia to be eating that 😀 Mmmmm now I’m thinking of Char Kway Teow… must. go.to.Malaysia.soon.
You’re absolutely right. Finnish cuisine and most of the dishes you present here look very healthy! They either consist of fresh veggies or seafood which I truly love. What’s my favourite dish here? Definitely the risotto and pea purée – amazing looking and I bet it tastes good as well :). Omomomomomom! 😀
The desserts weren’t exactly healthy but they were fresh and light so could have been a lot worse 😀 The risotto and pea purée was incredible Agness!
Awesome writing.
Thank you 🙂
Now I’m planning on adding Finland to my list of Scandinavian countries to visit…and I thought it was all about the scenery! Healthy and delicious…a combination that can’t be beaten…including those stunning desserts! Fabulous mouth watering photos Shing!
Admittedly, I’ve never been somewhere so green before (Finland should be called Greenland!) but it was the food that has left a lasting impression. I feel like I need to go back to make sure it wasn’t beginner’s luck!
So much gorgeous food! These plates look like pieces of art. I have to say I’ve been impressed with the Latvian cuisine, which is also beautifully presented. So far, it’s been a pleasing blend of Scandinavian and German influences. I’ve had quite a few boiled potatoes, but they’ve been the best boiled potatoes I’ve ever tasted!
Mmm I want to try Latvian food now! Boiled potatoes taste good? I’ll have to try it to believe it!
Those desserts!! WANT.
Me too, I don’t even like looking at these photo any more, it’s too frustrating!