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finnish summer food

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Finnish Summer Food

Fresh, simple and local.

While Finnish winter staples, such as hearty stews, keep us warm during the cold months, we prefer our summer food to be light, fresh and easy to prepare. Our cold climate gives us slow growing but intensely flavoured fresh produce. From the new potatoes of spring to the late summer berries, the tastes are pure and unique. The simpler life at the summer cottage and the closeness of nature make this a time of fresh, simple and local food.

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Coast and Archipelago

Coastal Finland with its stunningly beautiful archipelago offers a variety of fascinating destinations that are easy to reach.

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Forest harvest

The fruits of the forest, like berries and mushrooms, belong to everyone. By law, anyone who wants to pick them, is allowed to do so. Try to get a Finn to reveal their secret spot. Sometimes the location of a good picking spot has been passed down for generations.

Aside from the traditional picking and preserving, foraging has lately become very popular amongst young chefs and food professionals. The collection of wild herbs and edible flowers during the summer months is on the rise with the general population as well, but yet to reach it’s peak. You can start light and easy by making your own nettle soup, or using flowers like lilacs, violas and cornflowers to decorate your salads and baked goods.

Fresh waters

Water is always close by in Finland, the Baltic Sea and our numerous lakes and rivers make fish a staple all year round. In the summer, however, most people enjoy catching their own fish with nets or fishing rods. If you are not a local you need a license, though lure fishing is free for everyone. Cast a line and try your luck, or find some fish from you local fisherman at the market. When cooking your fish keep it simple by just frying or grilling it, or try smoking it in a box or grill.

Lumps of gold

Some say that we Finns love our potatoes the most, and this is true especially during early summer. It is impossible to imagine a summer meal without the steaming pot of small new potatoes. The new potatoes of spring are soft and smooth skinned, and full of vitamins and flavour. Boil them carefully and toss in a fragrant branch of dill in the pot before serving with butter.

Outdoor cooking

With the summer being short and sweet in the Northern hemisphere, it’s understandable that we like to do most of the cooking and eating outdoors. Yards, parks and even balconies fill with people grilling and enjoying dinner together. In the country, ex-tempore outdoor kitchens and elaborate grilling places can be found everywhere.

Better together

Cooking and eating together is at the centre of Finnish summer eating. Friends or family are often asked to come over and bring something from their garden. They can even help to row the boat while the nets are lifted. It’s a true pleasure to cook together and then enjoy a meal under the magical midnight sun.

Explore Finnish food products at My Stay

Win a weekend trip to explore culinary Finland

Name*
Country*
E-mail*
Which of the following would be the most appealing food experience in Finland for you?*
- To eat in a fine dining restaurant/ Michelin starred restaurant
- Eat outdoors in the nature f.ex. in wilderness by camp fire
- Visit a Finnish family at their home for a dinner
- Eat traditional Finnish food in a famous traditional restaurant
- Participate in guided foraging
- Eat in a modern, trendy Nordic/Finnish style restaurant
- Take part in a cooking class
- Take part in a food walk
Competition rules*
- I have read and accepted the competition rules.
1. The competition is arranged by Business Finland – Visit Finland, P.O. Box 358, Porkkalankatu 1, 00180 Helsinki, Finland, business ID 0202317-7
2. The main prize is flights to Finland for 2 persons and program as described here. The trip is valid on 1st June 2019 - 30th Sep 2019 . The trip contains round-trip tickets from a Finnair operated airport in the U.K. to Helsinki, Finland and back, 2 nights in a hotel in Helsinki, Helsinki Card, Food Walk (2 hours) and an exclusive dinner in a Michelin-starred restaurant OLO in Helsinki and a lunch.
3. There will also be 5 additional prizes of Finnish design.
4. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be claimed in cash.
5. You can participate in the competition from 5th March 2019 until 31st March 2019 at https://www.visitfinland.com/article/finnish-summer-food/ . The winners will be drawn 15th April 2019.
6. If the winner can’t be reached within 7 seven days the new winners will be drawn.
7. Visit Finland reserves the right to announce the winner on the campaign site at www.visitfinland.com/sauna as well as via Visit Finland social media channels.
8. Visit Finland will not take care of lottery tax.
9. Any personal data relating to applicants will be used solely in accordance with current Finnish data protection legislation.
10. The winner bears full risk of any damage or accidents that may be encountered by them during the trip and Visit Finland assumes no liabilities. The winner should arrange sufficient travel insurance coverage for themselves and their carry–along property at their own expense as well the passport, visa and other traveling documents.
11. Visit Finland reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition or the rules without notice.
12. Disclaimer: the winner releases organizers and any and all companies and other partners that have taken part in the planning and execution of the competition from all responsibility regarding injury or damage caused or alleged to have been caused by taking part in the competition, or by receiving the prize or by taking advantage of the prize.
13. The winners bear full risk of any damage or accidents that may be encountered by them during the trip and Visit Finland assumaes no liabilities. The winners should arrange sufficient travel insurance coverage for themselves and their carry–along property at their own expense as well the passport, visa and other traveling documents.
14. Participation is possible for adults over 18 years except the employees of Visit Finland and its cooperation partner in the competition.
15. Rules and organizers' decisions must be adhered to obeyed. By taking part in this competition the participants commit themselves to abiding by these rules. They also accept decisions eventually made later by the organizers concerning the competition or the prize.

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article

finnish summer food

Watch the video

Finnish Summer Food

Coast and Archipelago

Forest harvest

Fresh waters

Lumps of gold

Outdoor cooking

Better together

Win a weekend trip to explore culinary Finland

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