Food and Wine | Reijosfood

Wine review: Dominio de Tares Cepas Viejas Mencía 2011

1 02 2015

I have been lazy that I have not been written about wines tasted and enjoyed. This will change 2015!

I was planning to purchase Spanish red wine for lamb and original intention was to buy Aalto wine. Nearby Alko did not had it, so decided to try full-bodied Dominio de Tares Cepas Viejas Mencía 2011. Wine is produced from Mencia grapes at Dominio de Tares bodega. Actually all that info is in the name of wine :). I can not remember that I have tasted before wine produced from Mencia, but I can be wrong. Mencia is not so common as many other Spanish grapes like Tempranillo.

Dominio de Tares is located in the region of El Bierzo (León) and settled in an exceptional area surrounded by high quality vineyards. Also main area for Mencia. The vineyard, with indigenous varieties mencía and godello, has been selected after an exahustive search of the best pagos under de D.O. Bierzo, by looking for the most interesting soils and settlements.

******************************************************************************************************************************
THE LOOK

Cherry red colour with violet tones on the rim. WIne is darker than Pinot Noir which is usually benchmark for Mencia when it comes to color.

THE NOSE

Powerful nose of intense fruity aromas of raspberries and cherries, as well as flowery hints of violets in perfect combination with oak spices and fragrances of liquorice.

THE TASTE

Nuanced and developed. Boysen berries, spicy and warm. The tannins are firm, but well integrated, the acidity is lively. Amount of alcohol can be just regognized.

Facts:

Alcohol:	14,5%
Extract:	32 g/l
Acidity:	5 g/l
Energy:	90 kcal/100 ml (390 kJ/100 ml)

Wine is excellent and especially paired perfectly well with overcooked lamb shank. Wine can be found from upper shelf in Alko due to price, but it is worth of it.

REVIEW: OVERALL GRADE 4,5/5 – BANG FOR THE BUCK +++ / +++

Home – Dominio de Tares.

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Tags: Dominio de Tares, Dominio de Tares Cepas Viejas Mencía 2011, Mencia, red wine, Spanish wine
Categories : Fine Dining at Home, Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, recipe, Recipes, Wine, Wine review

Restaurant review: Grill Faro – Costa Meloneras, Spain

25 01 2015

Grill Faro is the first restaurant in the “restaurant alley” in Costa Meloneras, if you come from north/west. Part of the restaurant is at upper level and the crowdiest area at the same level as all other “alley” restaurants.

Restaurants praises to serve over 200 dishes, is it really good? Anyhow, Grill Faro serves many different meat and fish dishes, which are actually quite delicious.

Dined at Grill Faro twice and this review concerns 2nd visit.

Dinner started with salad and delicous Pulpo, octopus. Actually I ordered Chipirones, tiny fried squid. Maybe restaurant did not had those and thought that any octopus is good enough? All the same, Pulpo is really delicous and not so greasy as chipirones. With some olive oil had to eat all 5 pieces.

For main courses we had Fresh fish prepared with Canarian style and Braised Lamb.

Fish was prepared on a pan with vegetables. It was delicious but quite small after skin and fish bones were removed. Lamb was over cooked as braised lamb should be. Some salt, please, and perfect meat dish.

With dessert cheeses had glass of Malaga Virgen sweet wine which is produced from 100% Pedro Ximenez grapes. Excellent wine at least with cheeses because it was not too sweet.

Grill Faro is one of the two most popular restaurants in the “alley”. You have to wait for the table, if you arrive late. Also you might need to wait for the food because of popularity. Restaurant is a safe choice for first restaurant to visit in Costa Meloneras.

REVIEW: FOOD 4-/5 – SERVICE 4-/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4-/5

http://www.restaurantegrillfaro.com/index.php/en/

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Costa Meloneras, Faro, fish, Gran Canaria, Grill Faro, Meat, Spain
Categories : Food, Food and Wine, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: The House Meloneras at Costa Meloneras

23 01 2015

Restaurant The House Meloneras is one of the 6 restaurants at “restaurant alley”. All restaurants are close to each other and actually do not differ so much from each other (except Chinese and Sushi/Mexican restaurants).

https://www.youtube.com/enhance?v=t4NJa6RHjrA&video_referrer=watch

Visited The House Meloneras twice, but review concerns latter visit. Restaurant is the newest one and replaced Casa something which tried to be local, typical Spanish restaurant.

Started the dinner with Pan y Jamon Serrano, really delicious starter. Warm cheese between bread and ham made the combinations excellent though quite heavy.

For main course ordered Sea bass baked under salt cover, which is also spectacle to watch as waiter prepares fish to be eaten near yout table. Of course most splashy is the burning of salt cover, some fun anyway. It is also important that waiter can really open up the fish and serve it. Otherwise part of the fish will stay on the tray and you get too many fish bones on your plate.

At The House Meloneras all parts of serving the fish were in order.

Side dishes, Canarian potoes and Salad were suitable for fish. Also the potato sauces matched well with white meated sea bass.

For wine we had Gran Vina Sol from Torres. Big brother of Vina Sol, made from Chardonnay and Parrelada grapes. Paired quite well with sea bass we had for main course.

Propably The House Meloneras is the best of all 6 restaurants. It is not as popular as Grill Faro and Grand Italia, which are over-crowded and sometimes service is a little bit arrogant due to success.

The House Meloneras has wide menu, something for everyone and polite service. If you are in Costa Meloneras, worth to visit.

REVIEW: FOOD 4/5 – SERVICE 4-/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4/5

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Costa Meloneras, Gran Vina Sol, Spain, Spanish wine, The House Meloneras
Categories : Food, Food and Wine, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Ovo – Gourmet restaurant at hotel Lopesan Villa del Conde

16 01 2015

Restaurant Ovo

The distinguished Club Restaurant Ovo is situated in the central building of hotel Lopesan Villa del Conde next to the central square. In its envolving interior of simple elegance, the Ovo permits to taste pleasantly a virtuos creative cuisine.

Visited Ovo twice, New Year’s Eve Gala dinner and few days later. Review is combination of these two visits, which differed quite a lot from each other.

NEW YEAR’S EVE (SYLVESTER) DINNER

New Year’s Celebration is spectacular not only because of better climate compared to Finland but also way of celebrating and enjoying party. Dinner was also perfect as well as service. What was extremely unique, hotel gave a food allergy card in check-in, which was useful whole stay. And it proved to be working already during New Years’ Eve dinner although menu was fixed.

Dinner started with Appetizer consisting of three delicacies. Names of goodies can be seen on Menu above.

Then came the soup where you could see how well restaurant took into account the food allergy card. Tomato soup instead of cream.

Lobster with side dishes was great! Cooking was perfect because lobster meat was soft, not chewy.

Meat, beef tenderloin, was prepared with talent and it was one of the best red meats eaten ever.

For dessert combination of sweet goodies but not too sweet. Perfect ending for the dinner. Ups, forgot glass of Lanson, which actuallu ended the dinner.

RE-VISIT and STANDARD A LA CARTE LIST

Second visit was few days after New Year’s Eve. Expectations were high as we were amazed by the service and food served last time. We did not need food allergy card because main waiter remembered changes what needed to be made, excellent!

Dinner started with greetings from the kitchen, soup and vitello tonnato Ovo way. Best part of the dinner, unfortunately.

Starters, giant shrimps and Ceasar salad, were ok but not that impressive as we expected. Ceasar salad missed taste of anchovy and garlic.

Main course, sea bass, was prepared too early. It was not anymore enough warm and crisp.

But service, it was again professional and polite.

Restaurant Ovo can be gourmet restaurant if it wants. Service is outstanding and it really takes into account customer. But gourmet restaurant needs to serve stable quality when it comes to food. This was not the fact at second visit. However, Ovo maybe is the best restaurant in Costa Meloneras.

REVIEW: FOOD 4/5 – SERVICE 5-/5 -OVERALL GRADE 4+/5

Comments : 5 Comments »
Tags: Costa Meloneras, food allergy, Lopesan Villa del Conde, Ovo, restaurant Ovo, Spain
Categories : Champagne, Food, Food and Wine, Hotel, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant reviews in Helsinki 2014 – many new restaurants opened, many closed

13 01 2015

It is time to summarize restaurant year 2014 in Helsinki by reijosfood.com!

Many restaurants visited, not enough many, but below you can find reijosfood.com TOP “dozen” ranking of visited restaurants. All reviews are opinions of at least two diners. Bon appetit!

Demo

Demo 14+

Pastor, Rikhards Gastropub, PureBistro and Havis 13,5

Pirate, Copas y Tapas, Strindberg and Ragu 13,00

Gastrobar Emo, Yume and NJK 12,75

Whole list can be found at page “Restaurant reviews – rankings”

Demo proved to be real Michelin star restaurant and took the first place, food and service were perfect.

Pastor with Peruvian cuisine, Rikhards Gastropub and Italian restaurant Ragu were opened 2014, which means that there is still place for good restaurants in Helsinki. But Rikhards informed just recently that they are renewing concept and will reopen in February 2015.

Pastor

Rikhards Gastropub

Ragu

Havis and Pirate offered excellent Christimas Dinner and Christmas Eve experiences and improved rankings a lot due to that. Visited Havis restaurant twice last year.

Havis

Pirate

PureBistro and Gastrobar Emo continue with right path like Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants should be.

PureBistro

Gastrobar Emo

Copas y Tapas has Spanish touch and Yume serves delicious Asian cuisine.

Copas y Tapas

Yume

NJK is summer island restaurant worth to visit due to building and location.

NJK

NJK

From last year TOP list Spis, Muru and Farang were not visited but need to do that 2015! Already hungry?

————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

2013 rankings were (*restaurant has closed):

1. Spis 13,50

2. Gastrobar Emo and Grotesk Winebar* 13,25

3. Glogatan 4*, Meche* and Muru 13,00

4. Farang 12,75

Year 2012 results can be found from blog page Restaurant reviews – rankings.

Thanks for following my blog, commenting posts and liking at least some of them!

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: Bistro, Copas y Tapas, Gastrobar Emo, Helsinki, Travel
Categories : Champagne, Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Happy New Year 2015 from reijosfood.com!

4 01 2015

WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015!

Instead of Finland, again with same setup, from Spain.

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: New Year 2015, Spain
Categories : Champagne, Food, Food and Wine, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Kaarna – bar and kitchen

28 12 2014

Restaurant Kaarna is located in the Forum Shopping Center serving Finnish traditional food. Concept includes dining area and so called living room (bar) at the 2nd floor and small bar at the first floor.

Ask for window table and you can the follow passers-by at Mannerheim Street. If they say that restaurant is fully booked (phone or email) you might anyway get the table you requested.

The food itself:

From the Nordic Tapas plates we chose Kaarna fish plate Smoked vendace from Kitka, cold-smoked pike, pickled vegetables and rye malt breadcrumbs. This is THE starter you have to choose, if you like fish. Of course you can order same dishes as separate starters but one part of experience is setting of food pieces.

Tapas might mislead you, but word Nordic before it explains everything. They are small Finnish or Scandinavian dishes.

For main course we had Smoked salmon with pickled vegetables, shrimp mayonnaise and potato rösti and Fried whitefish with potato rösti, spinach and whitefish roe.

Unfortunately kitchen did not succeed with these portions. Salmon seemed to be smoked and fried, because it was so dry and even greasy. Pickled vegetables were the same as in starter.

Also whitefish was over-fried. We asked to replace spinach with someting else and best choise was salad. Also asked not to include onion but got plenty of it. Potato röstis in both portions were like fast food stuff.

Wine list is is short, Kaarna focuses more on beers. Had bottle of Albet i Noya Xarel·lo Classic from Spain. All white wines were organic like this one. Light and fruity wine paired well with starters and fishes.

Main courses dropped points a lot. Service was customer friendly and as restaurant was not so crowded, waiter and waitress had time to serve us. Maybe Boxing Day affected the level of food. On the other hand last time was not either succesful when it came to main courses.

Kaarna library bar is worth to visit, cozy couches and so on. You should also taste Nordic tapas but choose main course carefully. Meat dishes might be best choise.

REVIEW: FOOD 2+/5 – SERVICE 3,5/5 – OVERALL GRADE 3+/5

Ravintola Kaarna: Suomalaista ruokaa – suomalainen keittiö – forum.

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Tags: Finland, Finnish restaurant, Forum, Ravintola Kaarna, tapas
Categories : Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Havis – Christmas Eve buffet 2014 + MERRY CHRISTMAS!

25 12 2014

Helsinki closes on Christmas Eve afternoon. Only few restaurants are open and most of them are hotel restaurants like Havis, which serves hotel Haven guests.

Winter came suddenly although one week ago all weather forecasts knew that there would be “black” Christmas. Snow makes Christmas atmosphere more real (if you happen to like snow)

Havis Christmas Eve buffet menu includes traditional Finnish Christmas dishes, even Christmas ham is available. Turkey has taken some place from ham, but not much. Herrings, roes and salted salmon or salted whitefish are must on Finnish Christmas table.

Buffet was not as generous as at restaurant Pirate (see previous post). However, each dish was prepared carefully and they were tasty.

Even Christmas ham tasted better than usually. Ham was partly smoked which made the taste delicious. Roe and salted salmon with side dishes were as they should be.

Food is prepared at open kitchen which is located in dining room Kitchen (of course).

Main courses were served to the tables. You could choose from Smoked salmon or Braised lamb shoulder. We ordered salmon which was one of the best salmon dishes ever eaten. Cooking time for fish was perfect and side dishes, carrot puree, small roasted potatoes and Hollandaise sauce paired brilliantly with fish.

And dessert Bundt cake with ice-cream was scrumptious. Cake was spiced with Christmas and it matched brilliantly with apple ice-cream.

Restaurant Havis is one of our favourite restaurants. We usually prefer to dine at dining room Havis, because it mirrors best the origins of Havis as you can see in the picture on the wall.

Restaurant was almost full all the time and most diners were hotel guests.

And of course we always ask for window table, which allows us to observe bustle at Market Square and near Old Market Hall. But on Christmas Eve no one rushes anymore anywhere. It is time for relaxing and enjoying good food and company.

You should visit hotel Haven bar at the 2nd floor. It is worth of seeing not only because of wide selection of drinks. It is decorated as member of Small Luxury hotels of the World should be.

Food was excellent due to main course and dessert. Because Havis is open also on Christmas time it earns high grade.

We had Veuve Clicquot and Vodka Martinis for aperitif. Best way to start Christmas dinner as you had already had some mulled wine earlier.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

REVIEW: FOOD 4,5/5 – SERVICE 4+/5 – OVERALL GRADE 5-/5

CHRISTMAS EVE MENU | Menu.

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Tags: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Finland, Finnish Christmas, Havis, Hotel Haven, Restaurant Havis
Categories : Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Hotel, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Pirate Helsinki – Christmas buffet 2014

20 12 2014

Santa Claus at Pirate Helsinki

Traditional Finnish Christmas buffet usually includes freshly salted fishes, roes, Christmas ham, casseroles and rosolli (beetroot, pickled cucumber, apple, carrot and whipped cream). Restaurant Pirate Helsinki serves instead of “basic” christmas food many rare delicacy traditional dishes.

Pirate Helsinki served 6th time Christmas buffet in cozy and vivacious athmosphere. This was our second visit in a row. Decision to reserve table was made right after our first visit last year.

Again, one of the most famous Finnish chef’s Markus Maulavirta, was helping in the kitchen.

Menu is unfortunately only in Finnish but it includes for instance herrings, roes, smoked fishes, game dishes and different type of side dishes. For dessert you can choose Finnish cheeses and sweet desserts.

Only dish served to the table, first on the menu, Mushroom-truffle soup, was delicious.

All other foods and dishes were on the buffet tables. Because of the wide selection of dishes available, I am not going to bore you by writing detailed description and review of each piece of food tasted. Instead, picture is worth of thousand words.

Buffets can be insidious, you can eat too much and you notice it only after you have finished dinner. But if you decide just to taste small pieces of each food, then you can survive.

Pirate manages well in serving Christmas buffet dinner. In the summer time going is more simple but as relaxed.

One + more for the overall grade, if wine list would have been as luxorious as buffet. Three white and red wines do not necessarily pair with all available savory foods. We had for white wine Petit Chablis, which is enough “neutral” for most of the dishes. Of course beer would be one option as it is quite common drink with christmas time.

See you next year again!

REVIEW: FOOD 4,5/5 – SERVICE 4+/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4+/5

Pirate – Etusivu.

Comments : 8 Comments »
Tags: buffet, Christmas, Finland, Helsinki, Pirate Helsinki, Restaurant Pirate
Categories : Bar, Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Wine review: Best mulled wines 2014

18 12 2014

Mulled wines

First two important questions: Is mulled wine a wine at all? Are mulled wines available in your country or is there some other Christmas drink more popular?

Mulled wines (Glögi or Hehkuviini in Finnish) are really popular in Finland during Christmas time. They can be purchased at Alko’s already at the end of October. As the assortment of mulled wines is quite wide it is important to select right ones. Many of the mulled wines at Alko are too sweet, too strong or strangely flavored. Once we had to pour present down the drain because it was so awful.

So, we have picked three best mulled wines available at Alko: Perinteinen Punaviiniglögi, Hehkuviini and Rauschgoldengel Organic Glühwein (1 litre bottle!)

What is odd that first two come from Denmark, which seems to be THE country of mulled wines, if conclusion is based on Alko selection. So, most of the mulled wines are not made in Finland. As a matter in fact, most of them are imported or specially manufactured for Alko and bottled in Finland.

Gluhwein comes from Germany, of course. Very popular drink with several producers in Central Europe, but only one brand to be chosen in Finland.

THE LOOK

The labels of Danish mulled wine bottles look similar, same red ground and golden decorations. Organic gluhwein label is not so flashy, nice winter picture on it.

Hehkuviini is a little bit darker red than Perinteinen Punaviiniglögi. Gluhwine is even more lighter than Punaviiniglögi.

However, the difference of the look of mulled wines is usually negligible.

THE NOSE

The aroma of Perinteinen Punaviiniglögi is softer due to amount of less alcohol. Clove dominates but not disturbingly.

Hehkuviini smells like raisin and Christmas spices but alcohol tries to come up. The scent of both wines is christmassy, which is most important savor of mulled wines.

Gluhwein bouquet is nice, not too much alcohol which makes sniffing more pleasant.

THE TASTE

You can find cardamon form Perinteinen Punaviiniglögi. Taste is well balanced and spices are in harmony.

In Hehkuviini mostly you can taste almond and gingerbread. As it has more alcohol that can also be noticed. Quite a lot calories too…..

Gluhwein tasted much better than last years version. Balanced spiced taste and tempranillo grapes made this drink winner of the year. And most of all, it is not too sweet.

Facts:

……………Gluhwein………….Punaviiniglögi…..Hehkuviini
Alcohol:   10.00 %                 13.00%                  22.00%
Extract:   105 g/l                   120 g/l                   170 g/l
Acidity:    4.9 g/l                    5.7 g/l                    4.7 g/l
Sugar:     85 g/l                     95 g/l                    150 g/l
Energy:   100 kcal / 100 ml 120 kcal / 100 ml 190 kcal / 100 ml

Mulled wines are part of Christmas time, at least in Finland. It is a pity that Alko does not provide wider selection of Gluhweins, only one choice available but fortunately excellent. Gluhweins are quite close to mulled wines, but not so sweet.

One option is to buy low-alcohol mulled wines from super markets, but then you also to need to know which ones to pick. Most of them are actually juices.

REVIEWS:

Perinteinen Punaviini: OVERALL GRADE 4,5/5 – BANG FOR THE BUCK +++/+++

Hehkuviini: OVERALL GRADE 4/5 – BANG FOR THE BUCK ++/+++

Gluhwein: OVERALL GRADE 5-/5 – BANG FOR THE BUCK +++/+++

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Tags: Alko, Finland, Glögi, Gluhwine, Mulled wine, Wine
Categories : Fine Dining at Home, Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Travel, Wine, Wine review

Wine review: Taittinger Nocturne – Champagne for Finnish Independence Day

6 12 2014

Taittinger Nocturne

Taittinger Nocturne is a “sec” champagne composed of chardonnay (40%), Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (60%). Taittinger suggests that Nocturne should be enjoyed at the end of evening. That is partly because of amount of sugar, 17.5g/l dosage of sugar, which might be needed in the wee hours. Champagne for parties? Let’s taste!

However, we decided to taste Nocturne in the evening on Finnish Independence Day, but not at the end of the evening. Did it make any difference? Tasting from Riedel Vitis champagne glass.

Had enjoyed one tasting glass earlier in the afternoon, when we participated at Wine, food & good living fair in October and then it did not taste as good as we hoped. Wine was also a little bit warm at that time.

THE LOOK

The design of the bottle is elegant and colorful purple. There is also standard bottle available but I would choose this special release.

The body of the wine is pale yellow in color. Rich amount of small bubbles makes you desire to taste before sniffing.

THE NOSE

From delicate bouquet you can find peach but also the “sec” which means a little bit more sweetness than in brut champagne

THE TASTE

Amount of sugar is noticeable, but when wine is enough cold, it does not bother too much. Taste is balanced and stylish.

Facts:

Alcohol:	12.50 %
Extract:	39 g/l
Acidity:	6.9 g/l
Sugar:	17,5 g/l
Energy:	80 kcal / 100 ml (340 kJ / 100 ml)

Taittinger Nocturne is champagne for special occasions especially if you do not like too dry (brut) champagnes. Cool it enough cold and you do not even notice the sweetness.

Happy 97th Independence Day!

REVIEW: OVERALL GRADE 4+/5 – BANG FOR THE BUCK ++/+++

Taittinger – CUVÉES GALLERY

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Tags: Champagne, champagne glass, Finland, Finnish Independence Day, Nocturne, Taittinger, Taittinger Nocturne
Categories : Champagne, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Home Cuisine, Wine, Wine review

Restaurant review: Pastor – Drink & Dine

29 11 2014

Pastor was opened in August 2014 adding new cuisine in Helsinki restaurant scene. Inspiration comes from the Peruvian kitchen with add on’s from east Asian ingredients. Really fusion cuisine as there are some hints from sushi culture and Spanish kitchen. The portions can be eaten alone or they can be shared, of course nowadays.

Decor is simple, maybe even rugged. But as Pastor is also open until 3AM on Friday’s and Saturday’s and transforms even more laid-back socializing place, it does not matter. Background music is played quite loud but does not disturb too much. Room height between dining room and bar hides part of it.

Menu consists of Ceviche bar snacks, starters, main courses, side dishes and desserts. Ceviche dishes are popular in the coastal regions of the South and Central Americas. The dish is typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced with chili. One proof of Peruvian kitchen!

Decided to order for aperitives glass of champagne, Lassaigne Les Vignes de Montgueuz and drink, which was recommended by waiter, Twinkly. By ordering that you also support Movember movement with 1€ donation.

Wine world is the best part of Pastor. One of the most famous sommerliers in Finland, Pekka Koiranen, chose the wines for us. Recommend to let him to do so, that is the most easiest way to get right wines for complicated flavors.

With fish and shellfish we were suggested to try Von Winning riesling which paired extremely well with tart cheviche. Easy to continue with salmon. With ribs enjoyed glass of Serva azon Pinot Nero from J.Hofstätter, excellent match with spicy pork. And with dessert tasted Beerenauslese Cuvee from grapes 60 % Welschriesling and 40 % Chardonnay, from Weinlaubenhof Kracher. Again perfect match with partly sweet and partly pungent dish.

You have 2 1/2 hours time enough for eating. As we had starters, main courses, desserts and espressos and we arrived 15 minutes late, we had to finish wines at the bar. At that time restaurant and bar were already filled with hungry and thirsty customers. And it seems that this is a fact for most of the evenings. Therefore prepare to book table on time.

Pastor is fresh and welcomed dining experience with new flavors. Service was enough quick, which seemed to be challenge during the first months after opening. Although restaurant was full booked our portions arrived in appropriate schedule.

Overall grade raises because of the focus in wines. And it is needed, because wines are maybe not the most common beverage in Peruvian cuisine, are they?

REVIEW: FOOD 4+/5 – SERVICE 4,5/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4,5/5

http://www.pastorrestaurant.fi/

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: Finland, Pastor, Peruvian cuisine, Restaurant Pastor
Categories : Bar, Champagne, Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Gastrobar Emo – Michelin Bib Gourmand status

23 11 2014

Gastrobar Emo

Gastrobar Emo provides easygoing service and good food. Emo (Dam in english) was opened in August 2013 in the same place where Michelin star restaurant Olo used to be. Owners are also partly the same. Emo earned Michelin Bib Gourmand status quite soon after opening, which is a proof of quality food and reasonable prices.

Gastrobar Emo at Kasarimikatu

Gastrobar Emo dining room

There is also separate wine bar which provides opportunity to enjoy an aperitif or glass of wine. With drinks you can order snacks from bar menu.

Emo wine bar

Quite soon after you arrive you will get fresh bread, but only one slice for each diner.

Paper bag for bread

We also ordered some Snacks with glasses of Taittinger. Unfortunately some bubbles had already dissapeared, because we got the last drops from the bottle.

Champagne Taittinger

For snacks we had Salami, which is actually basic salami slices and Dried tuna, which was delicious with mayonnaise. There are about 8 different alternatives to choose from, each cost you 4€. Good way to start the dinner.

Snacks – salami

Snacks – dried tuna

You can choose your dinner from 13 different choises, each cost 10€. The sizes of portions are like starters, except new main courses, which could also be shared. Sharing food portions is THE TREND now, but we decided to order Salt baked Rainbow trout just for one.

Our dinner started with Potato pancake with whitefish roe and warm smoked salmon and Roasted saithe with vegetables.

Pancakes or blinis with roe are usually top class starters and so there were also at Emo. Excellent combination, really worth to try. Saithe was well roasted, but included a little bit too much salty ingredients like olives and capers. However, tomatoes softened the taste to a turn.

Potato pancakes with whitefish roe and smoked salmon

Roasted saithe

Next came the fish! Preparing local Finnish fish under salt cover is really rare at restaurants in Helsinki. And this one was bull’s eye! Right cooking, not over or under, just perfect. Some add on’s like fried potatoes and green salad was there, but focus was on fish.

Second “starter” was Shellfish paella, excellent composite of small octopus, clam and rice.

Salt baked rainbow trout

Rainbow trout

Shellfish paella

Third “starter” was Piglet with sauerkraut and apple compote. Sauerkraut was hidden under three pieces of meat pieces. Nice and soft composite.

Hoped that this dish would have arrived a little bit earlier because rainbow trout was almost eaten while waiting piglet.

Piglet

Fourth and last “starter” was Charcoal grilled horse skewer with mayonnaise. Meat was a little bit dry, but taste of charcoal is always attractive.

Horse skewer

We ordered wine, which was suggested on the blackboard. Dry and fruit riesling, Boeckel, from Alsace, France paired well with seafood. For meats ordered glass of suggested Merlot which paired well with piglet and horse.

Boeckel riesling

Waitering by about 5 different waitresses/waiters was professional. Saithe had to be changed, because it was first served with one ingredient we were asked to leave away.

All seafoods are close to 5, especially salt baked fish earns special note. 4 dishes from the list is enough, 3 might leave you hungry.

Gastrobar Emo is Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant and it deserves to be such.

REVIEW: FOOD 4,5/5 – SERVICE 4/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4+/5

Home – Ravintola EMO

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: Emo, Finland, Gastrobar Emo, Helsinki, Michelin Bib Gourmand, Michelin star restaurant Olo, riesling
Categories : Bar, Champagne, Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Wine review: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau & Château des Loges Beaujolais Villages Nouveau

21 11 2014

Beaujolais Nouveau

Beaujolais Nouveau is a red wine made from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. Wine is released for sale on the third Thursday of November. “Beaujolais Nouveau Day” used to see heavy marketing, with races to get the first bottles to different markets around the globe.

The current release practice is to ship the wine ahead of the third Thursday of November, and release it to the local markets at 00.01 AM local time. In Finland Alko, monopoly company selling wines and alcohol, starts selling these wines at 09.00 on Thursday 20th November.

Luckily 2014 we are able to taste 2 different wines, both cost to consumers less than 10€.

These wines are Château des Loges Beaujolais Villages Nouveau and Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau.

THE LOOK

Label of last year’s wine from Georges Duboeuf was much more colorful. Maybe it is time to slow down a bit? Did it scare consumers?

Both wines are almost violet, blue-reddish like young wines always are. The color in the first picture is a little too dark than wine is in natural.

THE NOSE

Fruity, even sweet aroma especially when using tasting glass. Rasberry and fruit candy scent came in to the nose from both wines.

It seems that Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau has more deep bouquet.

THE TASTE

Young, light fruity wines. Berries dominate, but on the other hand taste is skinny. Aroma is better than taste, but with unspiced food and pizzas, both wines pair well.

Beaujolais Nouveau wines in Finland

Facts:

                             Georges Duboeuf                                         Chateau des Loges
Alcohol:        12,00 %                                             12,50 %
Extract:        26 g/l                                                27 g/l
Acidity:         5,5 g/l                                               5,7 g/l
Energy:         80 kcal / 100 ml (320 kJ / 100 ml)   80 kcal / 100 ml (340 kJ / 100 ml)

Do not know exactly what has happened, but 2014 Beaujolais Nouveau wines taste better than 2013 wine. Maybe better vintage? Any other opinions?

REVIEW:

Georges Duboeuf OVERALL GRADE 4-/5 – BANG FOR THE BUCK ++/+++

Chateau des Loges OVERALL GRADE 3,5/5 – BANG FOR THE BUCK ++/+++

Comments : 5 Comments »
Tags: Alko, Beaujolais Nouveau, Beaujolais region of France, Château des Loges Beaujolais Villages Nouveau, Finland, Georges Duboeuf, Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau
Categories : Fine Dining at Home, Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Wine, Wine review

Restaurant review: Hanko Sushi – largest sushi bar chain in Finland

14 11 2014

Sushi from Hanko Sushi Bar

Hanko Sushi is Finland’s largest sushi restaurant or bar chain. The first Sushi Bar was founded in summer town Hanko (reason for name) and today chain has 15 Sushi Bar’s in several localities, most of them in the capital area. Many of the sushi spots are bar’s and take-away places, but for instance the one in Hanko can be called as restaurant. Larger dining room with several tables and summer terrace.

As fans of Sushi, tried first time Hanko Sushi Ruoholahti a two months ago and after that several times. Usually have dropped by some small sushi bar in shopping centers.

Hanko Sushi Ruoholahti

From Hanko Sushi picked up each time assortments. They have three different sizes and this review covers all of them.

Small Assortment consists of 10 sushi pieces

4 Nigiri’s: 2 Shake (Salmon*), 1 Ebi (Shrimp), Tamago (Omelet**)

6 Maki roll’s: 2 Kappa (Cucumber), 2 Shake (Salmon), 2 Lohiura (Salmon, avocado, sesame seeds)

Ginger, Wasabi, Soy sauce

Maki roll’s were great especially Shake and Lohiura. Pure Kappa is too simple, but with wasabi and soy sauce simple taste improves a lot.

Nigiri’s are our favourite, especially basic Shake. One Shake piece was replaced this time with Yakishake*, which is also delicious. Ebi is most difficult to eat and better leave Tamago as last piece because it is so scrumtiously sweet.

Small Assortment at Hanko Sushi

Medium Assortment has 12 sushi pieces which means two Nigiri’s more:

1 Yakishake (Grilled salmon), 1 Tara (Cod)

All Nigiri’s were again really scrumptious except Tara, which was quite chewy. Yakishake with mayonnaise was especially enjoyable. Tara was the reason for dropping 1/4 points.

*Tamago was in this medium assortment replaced with Seaweed, which actually was delicious. Almost conjured when saw Tamago missing, but not anymore when enjoyed Seaweed first of 12 sushi’s.

Medium Assortment at Hanko Sushi

With Large Assortment you get again two Nigiri’s more but also some changes:

1 Unagi (Grilled eel), 1 Avocado, 1 Gunga Masako (Capelin roe)***

Again some changes because Tara*** was there and had replaced Gunka Masako. Why Tara, not our favourite… Anyhow, again delicious assortment and extreme sushi enjoyment. Especially Unagi was nice surprise. Ate it first time and it will not be the last. One of the best Sushi pieces ever tasted.

Large Assortment at Hanko Sushi

Soy sauce is the sweetest ever tasted at sushi bar’s. Almost too sweet because saltiness seems to remain hidden. But it is excellent, no need to say it. And wasabi is enough strong but not that strong that is makes your eyes drain.

Sushi’s at Hanko Sushi are excellent; fresh and tasty. So far takeaway portions have been the best in Helsinki.

I do not rate service, if one has the to order from cashier.

Next summer have to visit Hanko Sushi Hanko and have light lunch at the terrace in order to be able to compare quality and service. Hanko Sushi Iso-Omena in Espoo also has wider dining room with several tables.

No wine available, which urges you to purchase sushi’s with you and enjoy them with wine at home.

Overall grade is also difficult to rate, but visits to Hanko Sushi Ruoholahti have been quick but pleasant experiences.

Hanko Sushi bar Ruoholahti

REVIEW: FOOD 4,5/5 – SERVICE N/A – OVERALL GRADE 4+/5

Hanko Sushi.

Comments : 8 Comments »
Tags: Finland, Hanko Sushi, Hanko Sushi Ruoholahti, Maki roll, Nigiri, sushi, Sushi bar
Categories : Bar, Food, Food and Wine, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel

Reijosfood

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