Going to Finland
Written on July 6, 2007 by mimecine
Next country up is Finland, we are looking for suggestions of Finnish products, everyday things, things you love or things you hate, things you ate. Places to go in the country and in Helsinki, where to sleep, eat and have a drink. Suggestions would be appreciated! Please post them here so everyone can access later! We are going at the middle of August. Thanks! Alisa
In: Finland.
marimekko!
July 7, 2007 @ 8:17 pm
just returned from a week in Helsinki:
Don’t miss: Kiasma museum; “Sparkling Design” exhibit at Taidehalli; Design Museo; Napa Shop (@ Eerikinkatu 18);
places to eat: Knossos (Greek restaurant), just off the Hietalahden flea market; Cafe Ekberg (@ Bulevardi 9)–great rhubarb pastry in a cardomom dough; Gran Delicato Cafe (@Kalevankatu 34)–delicious sandwiches; Cafe Fazer (@Kluuviaktu 3)—try the Fazermint Macchiato and chocolates by the kg.
love the packages of Fazer “Pax” and “Super Salmiakki” candies (candies made in Norway, though)—found them in supermarkets and local delis.
July 26, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
You should visit Fiskars Village just outside of Helsinki, a colony for artists and craftspeople in the old Fiskars (see scissors) ironworks village.
http://www.fiskarsvillage.fi/en/
July 28, 2007 @ 8:35 am
thanks! these are some great suggestions, I was checking out the PAX package via a friends suggestion and it looks really beautiful, also the rhubard pastry wth cardamum dough! wow, right up my alley! we will check out the fiskars village too alisa
July 29, 2007 @ 1:59 am
[…] kaupan porukka on bloginsa mukaan tulossa Suomeen nyt elokuun puolessa välissä ja etsii vinkkejä suomalaisista tuotteista: […]
August 7, 2007 @ 12:06 am
Erittäin Hieno Suomalainen shampoos and conditioners are nice, also Ahti herrings jars are quite pretty. Restaurant Slussen is worth visiting (Punavuorenkatu 3), they serve simple but delicious Finnish food.
http://www.cederroth.fi/images/tuotekuvat/ehs.gif
http://www.ahti.fi/
August 7, 2007 @ 1:59 am
The best soup in Helsinki you get at the soup place in the Hakaniemi kauppahalli (indoors market), just next to the Hakaniemi market square.
A kitschy and colourful café is Kahvila Taikalamppu (Torkkelinkatu 21) in Kallio, just up the hill from the public library in Kallio. On the menu: whatever the owner felt like baking that morning.
Nicest park: Alppipuisto, just north of the Linnanmäki amusement park.
About Finnish products.. I always found the fake “snowballs” hilarious – sold at the Kiasma museum of contemporary art. They sound just like snowballs when you squeeze them! Amazing.
I’ll try to think of more… 😉
August 7, 2007 @ 3:17 am
hi there!
thanks again, all of these suggestions are really great! We really appreciate it and I hope others do too when they are going to Helsinki! Alisa
August 7, 2007 @ 5:16 am
I think there are as many Finnish foods that I love as I love to hate. But the good stuff includes rye bread with Oivariini, karjalanpiirakat with egg-butter mix, Valio cottage cheese, pea soup, spinach soup, smoked salmon, macaroni-minced beef casserole, meatballs; Finnish pancakes, Domino cookies, Fazer chocolates, salmiakki, licorice ice cream and liqueur.
Or some of our seasonal favorites, such as Christmas cookies (you can buy the dough all year around) , Runeberg’s pastries, Laskiaispullat (sugar buns with whipped cream and jam), glögi, sima, and mämmi. Presidentti coffee is also a big favorite. Oh, and try the Aino apple ice cream, that’s great too!
http://www.finnishfood.net/ has a great selection of food items that Finnish people miss while living abroad. The site is down at the moment for some reason, but I hope it will be up soon.
Of other products I’d recommend Lumene cosmetics (which I know are sold on the East Coast of the US already). I think the Vitalis multipurpose cream is also very popular and traditional.
Of Finnish home décor: Iittala glassware, (Alvar) Aalto-vases, Arabia dinnerware, Hackman cutlery and the excellent orange scissors they make. Marimekko curtains or sheets are a must in the bedroom of Finns, while Alvar Aalto’s Artek furniture can be found in many living rooms and dining rooms across the country. (check out: http://www.finnstyle.com)
August 7, 2007 @ 7:10 am
Get some Nokian Hai Boots if it rains (they’re pretty cheap too).
August 9, 2007 @ 3:01 am
I recommend Aarikka products (jewellery and decorations made of wood and smallish kitchen products) .
Check out teas and other products (Soaps for example) from Frantsilan yrttitila (Frantsila herb farm in English I guess).
Globe Hope clothing company make cool clothes and accessories from recyckled fabrics.
August 9, 2007 @ 4:46 am