Finnish food has been influenced by both climate and its location between Sweden and Russia. Fish (salmon, zander, herring, perch, char above all) is a staple and delicious whether eaten fresh or smoked/pickled accompanied by dark rye bread. Typical meat dishes include meatballs; reindeer and elk meat are also eaten. In summer, things come alive, as the land rapidly produces an abundance of delicacies. Tender new potatoes, dill, numerous wild mushrooms and a fabulous assortment of wild berries add fresh color and texture to the Finnish plate. You’ll find snacks in a
kahvila (cafe), of which
there are many - Finns drink more coffee than anyone else in the world. A
ravintola is a restaurant, and may serve homestyle cooking, international dishes or new Finnish cuisine, with elaborate creations derived from traditional ingredients, such as reindeer carpaccio with cloudberry coulis. Finnish chain restaurants are common but unremarkable. A
lounasravintola serves a lunchtime buffet - the main meal of the day, while a
grilli is a no-frills kiosk serving sausages and fried potatoes.
Things to know: Waiter service is common although there are many self-service snack bars. Bars and cafes may have table and/or counter service and internationally-known beverages are available. All alcohol is served until half an hour before the restaurant closes.
National specialties:
•
Pulla (a sweet cardamom-flavored bun and the traditional accompaniment to coffee).
• Poronkäristys (sauteed reindeer traditionally eaten by the Sámi).
• Lakka (
hilla) (the Arctic cloudberry, a real treat with creamy texture offset by tart acidity).
•
Kalakukko (a thick rye loaf stuffed with tiny lake fish, a specialty of Kuopio).
• Karjalanpiirakka (a savoury pastry of rye flour stuffed with rice pudding and eaten with egg butter).
National drinks:
• Koskenkorva (a vodka-style spirit. Salty liquorice sweets are often added to make
salmiakkikossu).
• Berry liqueurs -
mesimarja (arctic bramble),
lakka (cloudberry) and
polar (cranberry).
• Finnish beer is of a high quality and graded according to alcohol content.
Legal drinking age: 18 years; 20 for anything over 20% ABV.
Tipping: A service charge is added in hotels and restaurants (14-15%). A tip for doormen usually takes the form of an obligatory cloakroom charge.
NightlifeFinns are enthusiastic party people, and nightlife choices range from
grungy dives to
boat pubs to ultra-cool
vodka bars to traditional
dance halls filled with couples dancing the
Finnish tango. Young Finns favor
nightclubs playing dance music or Finnish summer pop, while quieter clubs might have a minimum age of up to 25. Nightclubs are typically open until 0200, or up to 0400 at weekends. Look out for ’little Saturday’, which is Wednesday night, when things can get as lively as if it were Friday.
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