I've been longing for a Finnish restaurant in London and even though Tenu was just a pop-up open for one month in December 2014, it was such a pleasure to see Brits being introduced to the delicacies of my home country. On the night we went, there were a lot of fellow Finns there too, and we spotted … [Read more...]
Finnish Christmas and Heirloom restaurant, and the Savoy…
I rashly promised someone over on Facebook that I'd blog the recipes for my Finnish Christmas vegetable bakes... sadly I never got round to it this year, but perhaps in 2015? I see from my archives that I have blogged several times about my Finnish food traditions (with pictures), so until next … [Read more...]
Christmas preparations…
Michael Bubbles Christmas CD on; Daughter making mince pies, ginger bread biscuits and Finnish christmas star pastries; a full glass of some rather excellent M&S mulled wine on table in front of me...Christmas must be getting close.Micheal Buble - isn't he just lovely?As always, at this stage, … [Read more...]
Finnish Pop-Up Shop in Camden, London
If you happen to be in London at the end of November, why not visit Finn-Guild's exclusively Finnish Pop-up shop in Camden for Christmas gifts with a difference?What is it?A sale of books, new titles (in both Finnish and English), Finnish goodies, such as famously moorish Fazer chocolate, rye … [Read more...]
A New Finnish Cookbook, Kuura, plus an Exclusive Recipe
Sini signing her cookbooks at the Kuura launch at the Finnish Ambassador's ResidenceThe flavours of Nordic cuisine have become ever more popular in recent years as Scandinavian design, lifestyle and drama have penetrated the public consciousness in the United Kingdom. In spite of its apparent ease … [Read more...]
Oh, to be in Finland…
I was feeling a bit miserable this morning when the alarm went at 5.30 am. I was getting up early for my flight to Helsinki. This, my first trip to Finland in my role as head of Finn-Guild, would include a regional meeting on Saturday in Hämeenlinna, and some hectic visits to the many organisations … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas – Hauskaa Joulua!
Today is Christmas Eve, which is when we Finns (and all the other Nordics) celebrate Christmas. In our household we've been doing two Christmases (Finnish and British) pretty much since I moved to the UK some 30 years ago. This year, Daughter has been cooking most of the Finnish foods. Her … [Read more...]
Finnish comfort food for a chilly night in London
I know I wasn't going to blog, but due to popular demand…. ;-)Last night when the weather in the UK became decidedly Nordic, I fancied a traditional Finnish comfort food dish, Kaalilaatikko. This is a stew with mince and cabbage baked for a long time in the oven, which I've been craving since Big … [Read more...]
That was the Christmas that was….
One thing is certain, I will not forget Christmas 2013 in a hurry.On the evening of the 23rd December I felt so well prepared, it was almost uncanny that things went downhill only about four or five hours later.For the week leading up to Christmas, Daughter had been my wonderful Christmas elf, … [Read more...]