Finnish Cuisine

Posted by Lisa Sabol-Sikorski Oct 28, 2006

Silvio Berlosconi, the former Italian Prime Minister, once famously said that "after English food, Finnish food is the worst in Europe." Needless to say, his comment riled many Finns. When I first arrived in Finland, I will admit that was disappointed by the lack of fresh, flavorful vegetables, the high price and low quality of many restaurants, and the lack of herbs and spices in the cuisine. After living here for more than a year, I have come to appreciate Finnish food and I have learned what types of foods are best to eat. The most important thing is to know what to expect so that you can adjust your expectations accordingly and experience the best of Finnish cuisine.

Mushrooms. Finnish cuisine uses a lot of mushrooms because they are plentiful. A popular autumn activity is to go mushroom picking in the countryside. I recommend that you go with someone who has done it many times before, so that your first taste of Finnish mushrooms doesn't make you sick, or worse! Chanterelles are particularly good.

Berries. Before moving to Finland, I didn’t like berries but I have since become a berry convert. Finland has dozens of varieties. I must have seen at least ten varieties of strawberries for sale in Helsinki’s Market Square this summer. Lingonberries, cloudberries, and blueberries are popular. Lingonberries are often served on top of salmon or with reindeer stew. The grocery store in Stockmann’s sells cloudberry jam, a rarity in North America and a great souvenir if you have foodie friends. Spring and summer are the seasons for berries.

Potatoes. Finnish potatoes remind me of new potatoes. The best potatoes are available in the spring. Their flavor is earthy, fresh, and delicate. They are often boiled and served with dill and a dash of salt.

Herring. They eat herring hundreds of ways here – boiled, picked, marinated, fried…If you want herring prepared the authentic way, go to Salve or the Sea Horse Restaurant, once a favorite of Marshall Mannerheim, the father of modern Finland.

Reindeer. You will most often see it served as a steak or in a stew, sort of like shepherd’s pie, with mashed potatoes. It is a tradition from the Sami people of Lapland, in northern Finland. Ravintola Lappi serves a nice dish of reindeer stew.

Soups. Most restaurants and cafes serve good soups. My favorites are split pea soup with ham (usually served in restaurants on Thursdays) and salmon soup.

See Helsinki Dining Guide: Finnish/Russian, Helsinki Dining Guide: International Cuisine, or Helsinki's Best Outdoor Cafes for my dining recommendations. Or, share your thoughts on Finnish cuisine.