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02.08.2023 - 14:37 / forbes.com
Move over Mediterranean, bon vivant vacationers are setting their sights on northern Europe this year.
Finland has gained a reputation as an emerging food destination thanks to stellar fresh ingredients and an emphasis on sustainability.
Hungry travelers are getting a taste of the Nordic nation at zero-waste and Michelin-star restaurants, traditional festivals and food experiences like foraging.
Here’s how to have a gourmet getaway in Finland.
Head to Finland’s capital in October, and you’ll have the chance to sample one of the country’s culinary staples at a centuries-old festival.
In the heart of Helsinki, the Baltic Herring Festival takes over Market Square from the first Sunday of the month until the following Saturday.
Be prepared for a sensory overload as fishermen gather to sell their fresh catch while stalls and stands sell herring prepared in myriad ways: pickled, marinated, salted, in paella or in a soup.
There’s no shortage of entertainment either, from a race of traditional sailing ships to a herring filleting competition.
First held in 1743, the event is one of the oldest ongoing traditions in Finland
HOW: The Helsinki Baltic Herring Festival takes place between Sun, 1st Oct - Sat, 7th Oct.
Turku is the oldest city in Finland, but it’s one of the country’s newest food hotspots.
Gourmands are heading to the coastal city for Finland’s first Michelin-star restaurant outside Helsinki.
Chef Erik Mansikka recently earned the accolade for his culinary creations at Kaskis.
The emphasis is on celebrating the region’s wide-randing natural bounty, from ingredients foraged in the forests to seafood fished in the sea.
Some of Mansikka's most popular dishes include cured rainbow trout with pickled rhubarb, turnip, local apple and wild truffle from the nearby island of Ruissalo, and Finnish caviar from the archipelago’s native sturgeon.
HOW: Set menu prices at Kaskis start from the wine package at €69 pp.
Finland’s countryside is a natural larder and foraging is a popular activity, especially during harvest seasons of spring and fall.
The country’s ‘everyman’s right’ means you can head out into the vast forests and pick all sorts of treasures like wild berries, mushrooms and fresh herbs.
HOW: Wild Nordic Finland offers a 5-hour mushroom picking tour in the famous Punkaharju Ridge Area. Prices from €107.
Eco-minded epicureans are flocking to one famed restaurant in Helsinki for a super sustainable experience.
Nolla uses local plants and produce for its seasonal, organic menu, planning dishes carefully based on what is in season.
Plus, it has become renowned for its zero-waste policy in the kitchen.
HOW: Nolla ’s Chef’s Choice menu of four courses starts at €59.
Finland
I know what you're thinking.
Fancy sleeping in a see-through dome? Built for two, Finn Lough’s bubbles are set in private woodland and come with double beds and rolltop baths. All of which makes them perfect for stargazing or just relaxing in — particularly with the rain pinging off their transparent shells. An on-site spa adds a Finnish sauna, hot tubs and float room, and The Barn serves small plates that go big on local flavours.
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