Episode 27
This week I get to sit down with Miia Keski-Nikkola and talk food, which is no hardship for me; busting some myths, discussing Mother Nature’s offerings and looking at traditional Xmas Food.
Guests: Miia Keski-Nikkola, Restauranteur
Download an MP3 file of Episode 27 – Finnish Food – The Good , The Bad & The Weird
Show Notes
In this episode, first of all, Miia and I talk about some of the myths about Finnish food. It’s not all pickled herring here in Finland, it’s rather more ordinary; pork, chicken and beef. Miia, being a Farmer’s daughter, is the ideal person to explain how basic, everyday food has changed in Finland. Like many countries, globalisation has brought a wider variety of everything, especially fruit & vegetables.
We then talk about some of the more unusual Finnish food, you’ll hear us talking about Mämmi, Salmiakki and voileippakakku (translations below, explanations n the podcast!) Miia also tells about the hard rye bread,traditionally stored on poles across the ceiling, in days of old. Somehow we managed to overlook the subject of reindeer, although as non-Finns find the idea of Rudolph-flavoured pizza, maybe that’s for the best!
Photo Gallery: Some of Finland’s More Unusual Foods
Miia then takes me behind the scenes of Ravintola Juurella, the restaurant she co-owns in Seinäjoki. Miia explains the atmosphere they are aiming to create. The menu consists of locally sourced produce, cooked to produce ‘honest’ flavours, but presented artistically. This has earned Juurella it’s position at the head of the fine-dining restaurants in the area.
Photo Gallery: Ravintola Juurella
Finally, we discuss traditional Xmas food; roasted pork, several ‘laatikko’ dishes, various salads and smoked or salted fish. It’s got me looking forward to Xmas Eve already but, until then, I guess we’ll all have to make do with my previous blog post about my family Xmas Eve.
Photo Gallery: Christmas Dinner Finnish-style
42 Traditional Finnish Foods…
Here’s the BuzzFeed article about Finnish dishes (with links to recipes) that I recently shared on Facebook LINK
Finnish words in this Episode
- Ravintola – restaurant
- Atria – Manufacturer of processed meat
- Tatu & Patu – The names of the main characters in a series of children’s illustrated books (see links below)
- Kiisseli – Berry based concoctions somewhere between juice, jam & soup!
- Jokamiehenoikeudet – Everyman’s Rights
- Pihlajanmarja – Rowan berry
- Voikukka – Dandelion flower
- Mesiangervo – Meadowsweet or Mead Wort
- Maitohorsma – Fireweed, Great Willow-herb, or Rosebay Willowherb
- Raparperi – Rhubarb
- Mämmi – Thick rye porridge served with cream & sugar
- Salmiakki – salty licquorice
- Kropsu – thick, oven-baked pancake
- Voileipäkakku – Lit. Butter bread cake. A savoury cake made with bread, cream, salmon and salad vegetables. Usually served in family parties.
- Smörgassa – From the Swedish word Smörgås meaning sandwich
- Suppilovahvero – Funnel chanterelle mushroom, (Cantharellus tubaeformis) Listen to episode 1
- Etikka – Vinegar
- Laatikko – Lit. tray or box. In this context a dish that is pureed and baked in an oven dish.
- Rosolli – Salad made from beetroot, onion, apple carrots and whipped cream.
- Jälkiuunileipä – Lit. After Oven Bread. A hard, rye bread that was traditionally baked for 2-3 hours in an oven that is starting to cool.
Links
- Ravintola Juurella
- Explore Finland Podcast, Episode 1 – Foraging For Mushrooms with Mari
- Explore Finland blog posts about picking berries
- Tatu & Patu books in English
- The Finnish Football Show
- Also on iTunes
Next episode – The Magic of Midnight Golf in Finland
Explore Finland Radio Show 
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