Food, Lifestyle, My Work

Visit Helsinki: Savotta

May 4, 2016

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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.

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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! 🙂

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.

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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.

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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?! 😀

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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! 😀 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!”

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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

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46 Comments

  • Reply Matea May 4, 2016 at 2:32 PM

    Znala sam da ovaj post ne smijem otvoriti dok ne ručam, znala sam i sad me totalno uništila sva ova savršena hrana, diiiivno izgleda! 🙂

    • Reply natali karppinen May 4, 2016 at 8:21 PM

      Ahahah! Legendo!!! Ma puno ti hvala, kad mi ovakav kompliment da netko tko me jako inspirira kao ti i ciji rad cijenim, onda sam na 7. sebu zbog toga. 😀

  • Reply Amy Arnold May 4, 2016 at 3:11 PM

    Oh this looks like it might be one of my favorite spots you shared. The look and presentation are so cool.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

    • Reply natali karppinen May 4, 2016 at 8:20 PM

      Thank you so much Amy, your insight means a lot! I’m happy that you liked the presentation/ photos. 🙂

  • Reply ivana split May 4, 2016 at 3:36 PM

    Bože, koliko divne hrane! sreća pa se ručak kuha, inače bi sada morala nešto odmah prigristi!

    • Reply natali karppinen May 4, 2016 at 8:19 PM

      Hahah! Dobro da sam malo kasnije postala jer da sam u jutro odmah stavila… 😀

  • Reply Nada May 4, 2016 at 7:10 PM

    soo yummy !
    NEW POST : THE COLORFUL THOUGHTS

    • Reply natali karppinen May 4, 2016 at 8:18 PM

      Thank you Nada!!

  • Reply The Fashion Folks May 4, 2016 at 7:31 PM

    Lovely pictures, the desserts looks delicious!! Xx

    http://www.thefashionfolks.com

    • Reply natali karppinen May 4, 2016 at 8:18 PM

      Thank you! Both desserts were amazing!!

  • Reply Jennifer Rand May 4, 2016 at 11:44 PM

    Um, this post just made me incredibly hungry! YUM!
    xx
    Jen
    https://belledecouture.com

    • Reply natali karppinen May 5, 2016 at 4:51 AM

      Thank you dear Jen!

  • Reply Trang Do May 5, 2016 at 7:52 AM

    Food looks delicious! Love to visit this place!
    Xoxo,
    Love from http://www.trangscorner.com {a lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and food blog}

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:28 PM

      Thank you for commenting! I appreciate it! 🙂

  • Reply Alona May 5, 2016 at 9:06 AM

    The food looks absolutely amazing! And that dessert is just wow. x Alona

    gentleconfusion.blogspot.com

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:29 PM

      Thank you Alona! Everything tasted just heavenly!

  • Reply MartaBarcelonaStyle May 5, 2016 at 9:38 AM

    That salmon looks delicious 🙂

    http://www.martabarcelonastyle.com

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:29 PM

      It was artic char, but yea, almost like salmon and yes it was a wonderful dish! 🙂

  • Reply Anika May May 5, 2016 at 12:45 PM

    Amazing photos, looks so cool!

    Anika | anikamay.co.uk

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:30 PM

      Thank you Anika, glad that you liked the post. 🙂

  • Reply Patricia Lopman Blog May 5, 2016 at 1:40 PM

    mmmmm!! looks delicious!! nice pics!

    https://patricialopman.blogspot.com.es/

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:30 PM

      Thank you Patricia!

  • Reply Gemma May 5, 2016 at 2:10 PM

    I love the picture
    https://www.smallfashionews.co.uk

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:30 PM

      Thank you Gemma!

  • Reply Lola May 5, 2016 at 4:12 PM

    Soo yummy !
    please follow my blog : YOUNG BLOG

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:30 PM

      It was delish! 🙂

  • Reply Ika May 5, 2016 at 4:32 PM

    Food look soooo tasty!!

    Ika
    https://hautehardy.blogspot.com/

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:31 PM

      Thank you Ika!

  • Reply Jo May 5, 2016 at 5:02 PM

    I am not sure if I can look, or indeed, eat any more food this week. Too many meals out. Restaurants, bistros, little Italian places. I’m sure you understand my dilemma.
    However, I have cast one eye over your photos, and all the edibles look delicious.

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:32 PM

      Hehe, sounds like you had an absolutely amazing foodie week!! I also do understand the “food overdose” and not being able to look at any food photos, but I’m glad that you did take a peek. 😀

  • Reply Jo May 5, 2016 at 6:04 PM

    Oh, I notice reindeer on the menu. This I must try. When I was little we ate horse. Sliced thinly like ham, and with a rhubarb sauce. Of course, this was some time ago.

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:33 PM

      Yep! Reindeer is a must try in Finland! Besides a reindeer steak like this one, cold smoked reindeer carpaccio is one of the best delicacies Finland has to offer. 🙂

  • Reply Shannon May 5, 2016 at 7:35 PM

    Yum! This looks so amazing and fresh! That desert looks delish!!

    <3 Shannon
    Upbeat Soles

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:33 PM

      Thank you Shannon! Both desserts were to die for!

  • Reply Pippi Hepburn May 5, 2016 at 8:37 PM

    I love that you went for a visit and moved 6 months later. I went to visit Paris and moved there a year later, haha! It was great. I plan to move to a new country in the future and your story was so inspiring!
    http://www.pippihepburn.etsy.com

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:34 PM

      Thanks for sharing your story shortly too! I’m planning to move again too, just not yet sure where to exactly. 🙂

  • Reply Federica Spinelli May 5, 2016 at 9:20 PM

    i really like this palace and also the food is really delicious! kiss
    Federica – Cosa Mi Metto???

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:34 PM

      Thank you dear Federica!!

  • Reply Carina May 5, 2016 at 10:04 PM

    Ohh my! Everything looks delicious!

    xo
    http://www.carinavardie.com

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:35 PM

      It really was! Thank you for stopping by!

  • Reply Toks May 6, 2016 at 2:13 AM

    Looks an incredible place. xoxoxo

    https://www.toksblog.com/

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:35 PM

      Thank you my dear, it is!

  • Reply Marie May 6, 2016 at 5:48 PM

    it looks soooo delicious 🙂 !
    happy friday !

    • Reply natali karppinen May 7, 2016 at 7:35 PM

      Thanks Marie! Have a great weekend!

  • Reply Hadasah Love (Style to Love) May 8, 2016 at 7:12 PM

    Love it
    xx,
    Hadasah Love | http://www.styletolove.com

  • Reply Ria May 12, 2016 at 3:44 AM

    omg all this food looks so good.

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