In Helsinki, beautiful design does not stop with the food. We enjoyed a meal at popular gastronomic restaurant, Olo, whose menu boasts first class ingredients from small Finnish producers. It was a special meal because John and I were celebrating our second wedding anniversary, always more enjoyable when spent together in such an amazing European capital.
After three greetings from the kitchen, we enjoyed these juicy palate cleansers before the main event.
I began my meal with a signature cocktail from their list. We relaxed and took in our surroundings – a warm, muted and efficient room that allows you to feel comfortable and focus on the food. And for good reason – the dishes are delightful. We were asked to choose between ‘Matka’ (‘The Journey’) with 9 courses, or ‘Retki’ (‘Shorter Way’). We chose this six course menu to be paired with wines.
King crab from the Arctic Ocean
Goat’s milk from cheese factory Saloniemi in Laitila
The main dish included sweetbreads, one of my favourites.
I cannot remember the names of all the dishes and the menu lists only ten ingredients and their origins to whet our appetites. The wines included selections from a variety of regions, including Australia, Austria and France. Each dish was inventive and complex, with perfectly balanced flavours. Dessert was fun – we were first presented with a fresh blueberry and lemon dessert, followed by the aroma of cinnamon with a warm, spicy Finnish apple concoction in a pot. Just when we thought we were finished, handmade mini-popsicles appeared for a sweet end to the evening.
Olo Restaurant and Bar is located at Kasarmikatu 44 in Helsinki’s Design District (ola-ravintola.fi). After a romantic meal, retreat to the comfort of your suite at Klaus K Hotel for more beautiful luxury in Finland’s capital.
