Browsing Tag

#savotta

Food, Lifestyle, My Work

Visit Helsinki: Savotta

May 4, 2016

savotta4

About 9 years ago, I came to visit Helsinki for the first time in my life and I was overwhelmed with how beautiful, different and somewhat mysterious this city was. I knew right there and then that I must come back to this city as soon as possible… I felt that there was just something calling my name and that 7 days spent in it were “not gonna cut it”, if you know what I mean.

Only about half a year after, I had my bags packed and I have moved to Helsinki. Ever since, I’ve been all the time learning and exploring more and more about Finnish culture, traditions, food, etc.

Let’s stay on that “food” part of exploring because today, I’m bringing you a new post from my cycle of “Visit Helsinki” posts in which I’m recommending you and presenting you the finest places in this city to stay at, dine at, go shopping, etc.

savotta12

savotta2

In the past 2-3 years, there’s been a boom of fine dining cuisine restaurants opening in Helsinki. It’s been very popular to have a restaurant serving Finnish food French style with a modern twist. While I’m not the biggest fan of such dining ( not that I dislike it either ), I’ve been constantly on the lookout for a restaurant that serves traditional Finnish food, the traditional way, so to say.

Savotta has it all my dear readers, the interior, the food and an overall warm vibe of a Finnish countryside. All of the waiters are dressed in typical “workers” old traditional clothes, interior is styled in “Finnish grandma’s house” and the food is hearty, delicious and as authentic as it can be.

If you want to enjoy the best of Finnish food dinner with your family or a partner while overlooking the majestic Tuomiokirkko ( White Cathedral ) and a Senate square, then Savotta is your ultimate destination! ๐Ÿ™‚

For the starters we’ve opted to have a fish starter plate for two which consisted of: fish roll known as “kalakukko”, Carelian pastry with the egg butter, boiled and buttered new potatoes with dill, mushroom salad, salmon carpaccio cured with beetroot, marinated pickles, smoked pike with horseradish puree and baltic herring with sour cream and dill. Along with this came a small green salad and a bread basket.

savotta3

Carelian pastry was one of the best ones I ever ate in Finland during my whole 9 years of living here, salmon carpaccio cured with beetroot was something completely new which I haven’t seen in other restaurants and it was one of my favourites from the starters too.

To be honest, all of this was so delicious and filling that even just eating this platter would have been enough for the two of us. Luckily, we came hungry and “food adventurous” so we were very excited to get our mains anyway.

savotta7

savotta8

One of the main courses was arctic char with kale, caramelised onions and baked carrots and potatoes. Alongside with it came a cucumber, dill and sour cream sauce. Everything was fitting so well together and even though it was a “simple” dish, it was explosive in richness of taste. Do I need to mention that the plate was empty really fast?! ๐Ÿ˜€

savotta6

savotta5

Another main course was reindeer meat with baked parsnip and mashed almond potatoes in a “sweet & sour” like sauce. Red wine gave the sweetness to it while cranberries gave it a crunch and sour kick. Wonderful, very traditional and perfectly made dish. Highly recommend it as a main course choice.

I don’t know how, but we did managed to squeeze in some desserts too! ๐Ÿ˜€ As per tradition, we went for Finnish style french toast with berries, vanilla and whipped cream and as per “modern” choice we went for Sisu ice cream with biscuit crumble, liquorice and berry sauce. I have one sentence to say: “God Lord of my sweet tooth, that was uber delicious!”

savotta10

savotta9

Savotta is proud to use only Finnish ingredients picked from the carefully selected small business suppliers. They’re also a part of wonderful, long lasting and one of a kind experience, restaurant chain A&S ravintolat so if you wish to check some of their other restaurants read my posts about Saslik and Saaga.

*This post has been made in collaboration with A&S ravintolat/ Savotta. All of the opinions are my own.

*Thanks to Miss Johanna Haataja for making this collaboration possible!

*Photography by: Natali K. photography

Lifestyle, My Work

5 for Friday

April 15, 2016

IMG_1518

Waking up to another sunny day is truly a blessing… Days have been so much brighter and longer that I can see a huge improvement in my overall wellbeing, I’m more happier, energetic and I wake up much easier than usually.ย I’ve been doing my best to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Even though it’s still chilly and yesterday it was a very windy day, I’m loving every single moment of this beautiful Spring weather in Finland. ๐Ÿ™‚

As I listen to “Falling” from Twin Peaks TV series ( any fans here ?? ), I’m writing this post and after that I have a plan to spend this Friday outside, “playing tourist” in my own city, go for a long walk with my daughter and hopefully grab a first ice cream from an ice cream stand. First one this year! ๐Ÿ™‚ Ah those small things… They’re everything!

How about you? What are you up to this weekend?

Just like past two Fridays, I’m sharing my 5 for Friday with you, 5 randomly picked photos that have marked my Instagram feed this week. I hope that you like them and if you wish, you can follow my daily wonderings around the city on my Instagram profile.

Much love to everybody!

IMG_1434

IMG_1539

IMG_1525

IMG_1552