Dinner and Show at theatre restaurant Kaksi Kanaa

4 03 2012

Kaksi Kanaa is the oldest theatre restaurant in Finland with same Dinner & Show concept over 30 years. You first dine and order from a la carte or group menu lists. At 9PM starts show which might include stand up comics, theater or even drag show. Restaurant is popular place to celebrate special occasions like birthday, as our group and at least few other tabels did. As shows are acted out in Finnish and also menu is only in Finnish, might not be the right place for visitors not understanding Finnish.

From versatile menu we chose for starters i.a. smoked reindeer soup (in the picture), toast skagen (in the picture), snails with gorgonzola and caesar -salad with chicken. Every portion was delicious and also well arranged on the plates. Garlic tasted in the snails as it should but gorgonzola was not hidden behind it. Reindeer soup consisted of tiny meat pieces which made the soup substantial. Toast skagen had plenty of shrimps on top of small white bread and whitefish roe gave extra luxury.

For main courses we ate i.a. smoked salmon with fungus sauce (in the picture), grilled white fish with spinach sauce (in the picture), roasted corn chicken with rosemary-red wine sauce and garlic potatoes, Coeur de fillet – whole roasted fillet of beef with Cafe de Paris herb butter and garlic potatoes and traditional pepper steak fillet from the house with country potatoes. Portions were not as “attractive” as starters but basically OK. Some hassle with white fish as potatoes were not ordered ones, but steward noticed it before us. If main courses would have been at the same level as starters, restaurant would have received 4 as a grade for food.

As main courses were so substantial only two of us ordered desserts. Sorbet-meringue cake and chocolate cake from the house with vanilla ice cream (in the picture). Both OK, maybe little bit more meringue would have balanced flavors.

Even though restaurant was fully booked up waitering was at good level. Time to pour wine and look out for status of dining.

REVIEW: Food 3,5/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4/5

During the evening we were at Kaksi Kanaa, Heli Sutela and Andre Wickström, stand up comedians, were on the stage. Hilarious solo performances from both; think that Heli Sutela would have won if there would have been competition.

http://www.kaksikanaa.fi/fin/Etusivu.2.html

(Kaksi Kanaa in english: Two Chickens)

There is another popular theatre restaurant in Espoo, restaurant Alberga, which has over 20 year history. Can recommend also!


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Taste of Helsinki on 14 – 17 June, 2012

26 02 2012

 

Taste Festifals in Helsinki, Finland!

Taste Festivals are unique events where the host city’s most acclaimed restaurants and chefs gather in a stunning venue to present their signature dishes to thousands of ‘foodie’ visitors.   Taste Festivals have now set a new benchmark for food and drinks worldwide with many Taste Festivals being hosted around the world, now also in Helsinki.

At each event, hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy signature dishes from the world’s finest restaurants, purchase top quality food and drink from our exhibitors and meet the most loved celebrity chefs.  For Taste of Helsinki already following chefs have indicated participations:  Tomi Björck, Kari Aihinen and Sami Tallberg.

Several restaurants will be there too:

http://www.tasteofhelsinki.fi/ (site will be opened on 14.3.2012)

http://www.tastefestivals.com/


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Namaste! at Nepalese restaurant Lumbini

25 02 2012

Ravintola Lumbini offers a delicious Nepalese menu reflecting the delicacy of Himalayan flavor. Most popular items are Chicken, Vegetable and Tandoori. You can enjoy beer, wine and tradition yoghurt lassi with wide range of menu items.

Restaurant offers 10% discount on the normal price for the take away. You can also order the food by phone as they don’t have the delivery service you have to visit the place to pick up the order. Normally, it takes about 10-15 minutes to prepare the food.

Lumbini is quite similar to other nepalese restaurants, modest and main thing is to offer traditional good food. Portions are enough big to make you saturated and they are affordable. You do not have to order starters; however Lumbini serves traditional biscuit type of appetizer for free.

But we decided to taste for starter Chicken Pakauda (deep-fried chicken with vegetables and sauce). Very tasty and enough for two to share. First picture up on the left.

For main courses we ordered  Garlic Tikka (Tandoori Chicken marinated in herb and yoghurt with garlic, onion, ginger and capsicum sauce )  and Chicken Saag (Stewed Chicken with ginger, garlic and mild spinach sauce). All portions include basmati rice, naan bread baked in Tandoori oven, raitha and vegetables. Garlic Tikka was quite generous; you would not have to eat starter in order to be full of eating. Chicken Saag is mild as it says in a la carte list which is sometimes welcomed in so spicy kitchen.

Restaurant is quite quiet in the evenings but do not let it scare you. Food is excellent as the service as well.

REVIEW: Food 4-/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 3,5/5

http://ravintolalumbini.com/home


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Restaurant review: Minos

24 02 2012

Restaurant Minos is 25 years old restaurant which serves traditional Greek food. For example you can get Tzatziki, Pita bread, Souvlaki, Moussaka and of course Ouzo for aperitive. Minos has pleasant covered terrace which can be used also in winter time as it is heated. We chose to dine at covered terrace and it was warm and pleasant place to dine; outside temperature was 0C degrees. In the summer Minos has own spot in popular Kamppi terrace area. Note that restaurant is not open on Sundays.

In Helsinki there are only few Greek restaurants as interest for asian food has increased a lot. Minos is one of the two genuine Greek restaurants focusing only on traditonal dishes; not mixing kitchens from other Mediterranean sea countries. Wine list is also based on Greek wines which provides fresh alternative for otherwise quite similar wine lists in many restaurants. But the prices for Greek wines….not the same as in Greece.

If you want to speak Greek language you can practice it in this restaurant as you could hear it all the time during dinner.

Recommend to book table by phone because we did not receive reply for email in 60 hours and decided to check the status by calling.  No comment about the email…Restaurant was full when we arrived at 6.30PM, so do not expect to get table without reservation.

For aperitives decided to taste Ouzo Plomari  and Campari. Ouzo is always fascinating….

For starters we ordered Octopus marinated in herb vinaigrette 7,90€ and Dolmades, vine leaves stuffed with rise and herbs 5,60€. Octopus was tasty and not too chewy. Dolmades were warm and at least did not seemed to be canned.

For main courses we had Catch of the day, grilled fresh fish which was Dorada with salad and Gyros, grilled pork with pita bread and tzatziki. Waitress offered to open the fish which is rare in Finland if fish is served as a whole. Must say that it is rare to get whole fish in generally in restaurants and if you are able to order it you have to fight by yourself to get rid of fishbones. Pork in gyros was fatless which is extraordinary compared to original Greek gyros taverns. So, you can happily order this portion although you would need to watch calories.

Minos is genuine Greek restaurant, would say most honest restaurant compared to many other country specific restaurants.

http://www.minos.fi (you can find english menu via link)

REVIEW: Food 4/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4/5


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Restaurant review: Tony’s deli

18 02 2012

Tony’s deli was founded out of love for the Italian kitchen. The cozy restaurant offers everything you will need to enjoy an Italian dinner. It was originally found by Sikke Sumari, nowadays famous TV chef and cookbook writer.

When you enter Tony’s deli you can see Lounge diVino on the right, which is a pleasant winebar with affordable prices and a wide sortiment. To accompany the wines restaurants recommed Antipasti. Antipasti plays an important and obvious role in the italian coulinary. There was interesting offer for by-passers; antipastotable and a glass of sparkling wine for 10 euro. Many customers used that offer during the evening we dined at Tony’s. Maybe antipasto table should be better sheltered?

Restaurant offers also different ways to enjoy food and wine, e.g. antipasto table and wine tasting Selezione di antipasti alla Tony’s deli e degustazione di vini for 22.90€. There were also Blini’s (Bliniweeks) available which is not so typical for Italian restaurant. However, blini’s are offered in many restaurants in the beginning of the year, which might attract tourists which we noticed as they were ordered next to our table.

Back to real life……

We arrived half an hour earlier before table reservation time and decided to taste sparkling wine offered at Lounge diVino. Glass of sparkling wine in flute glass was only 2,50€ but service was fumpling. You should stand in one spot with all other other customers in order to be able to buy drinks although there was plenty of room beside the bar. So we waited to see customers ordering at that spot…..before us although we were 2 meters from that spot.

It seems that  couches should be renewed as they were quite dirty. After ordering in the table our waiter told that this was his first day as he was not able to answer to all our questions. However he asked from kitchen if he did not know right away. Later after ordering Ripasso red wine for duck we were told that it was out of stock although order was accepted; odd for Italian restaurant tolet Ripasso run out.

For Antipasti we chose:

CREMOLATA CHICKEN, TOMATO AND ROCKET which is Pollo, pomodori e rucola conditi con cremolata, FRITTATA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO i.e. Frittata condita con pomodori essiccati, BUFFALO MOZZARELLA, TOMATO AND BALSAMIC so called Insalata caprese and WARM GARLIC BREAD which is Bruschetta all’aglio. Best starters were of course basic garlic bread and mozzarella. Chicken was tasteless and omelette (frittata) quite modest. Most used ingredients in all portions were rocket and cherry tomatoes. They are tasty but if you eat them also with main courses….

For main courses we chose:

SALAD WITH FRIED SALMON, VEGETABLES AND RED PESTO SAUCE  i.e Insalata di salmone fritto e verdure con salsa al pesto rosso and DUCK CONFIT WITH WARM COUSCOUS-VEGETABLE SALAD AND ROSEMARY SAUCE  i.e Confit di cosce di anatra, insalata calda di cous-cous e verdure, salsa di rosmarino. Duck was great, very tasty and crisp but otherwise the portion was not so attractive; a messy to be honest. Maybe the sauce should be in separate jar. Salmon in salad was overcooked; vegetables quite wet due to sauce.

Tony’s deli has changed from the times we visited there last time,  nowadays it is like a bistro without tablecloths on the tables. And wines are quite expensive compared to food.

It would been nice to have some spices in the table, especially black pepper and salt. One special observation from mens toilet, there was picture of Sophia Loren on the wall….

Noticed afterwards that payment was directed to Visa although asked for bank card payment.

REVIEW: Food 2/5 – Service 2,5/5 – Overall grade 2/5

http://www.tonysdeli.fi/en/index.php?pageId=1

After visiting Sasso and Tony’s deli we recommend to try Ristorante Gastone, which is private owned cozy Italian fine dining restaurant or Villetta, genuine Italian bistro.


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Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne for 39€ at HOK-Elanto restaurants

11 02 2012

HOK-Elanto restaurants offer bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne for 39€ in all their restaurants until end of 2012.

This is one the World Desing Capital Helsinki 2012 offers. There are also many WDC menus available in the same restaurants. Usually you do not get bottle of champagne under 60€ in restaurants. All HOK-Elanto restaurants can be found http://www.kattaakaupungin.fi/en.html. HOK-Elanto is one of the main sponsors fo WDC Helsinki 2012. But you have to own S-Bonus card to get the bottle for offered price.

We tasted this champagne at Restaurant Kaarna and found it tasty and crispy.

You can not even buy this champagne  from Alko which is an independent limited company wholly-owned by the Finnish Government and administered and supervised by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. You can find Alko price list in english behind this link http://www.alko.fi/products/hakutulos

More about Piper-Heidsieck champagnes http://www.piper-heidsieck.com/home.html

Also more info about World Design City Helsinki 2012 http://wdchelsinki2012.fi/en


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Restaurant review: Parrilla Espanola

4 02 2012

Bienvenidos a Parrilla Espanola.

If you are looking for native Spain restaurant (not only tapas and cava) you must visit Restaurant Parrilla Espanola with 30 years history in Helsinki restaurant life. You could even get Paella if you would prefer.

We visited restaurant during the weekend when there were lots of culture and sports events in Helsinki.  Helsinki is the capital city of desing and there was Restaurant Day on the 4th of  Feb. Same day there was also outdoor hockey game at olympic stadium.  Due to these events several passers-by noticed that restaurant was full reserved which was true as we were already seated. By 21.00 all tables were in use.

For starters we chose Tapas for two consisting of Manchego cheese, Jamon Serrano, melon, marinated mushrooms, olives, marinated red onions, chorizo, spanish meatballs,…..Tapas were fresh which is rare nowadays as canned food is too often on the plates.

Pike-Perch a la Vasca and Grilled fillet beef-steak “Parrilla Española” were main course choises we ordered. Portions were more typical to Spanish than Finnish. This is important to understant for Finnish visitors!  Taste of fish was hidden under fish-white wine sauce, sothe taste of was not easy to identify. Meat was ordered as medium but it was more or less raw and parts of side dishes were burned.

But, restaurant is the one of the best original Spanish restaurants in Helsinki. You can get several Spanish brandies including Torres and Lepanto. Decor is timeless like in restaurants in Madrid or any other city in Spain; but not the tourist ones. Worth of visiting if you want original Spanish food, but do not expect visual experience.

REVIEW: Food 3/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 3/5

http://www.parrillaespanola.fi/


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Restaurant review: Strindberg

29 01 2012

Part of the modern Kämp Gallery, Restaurant Strindberg is located alongside and offers a fascinating view of the beautiful and historic Esplanade Park.

At street level, in the heart of Strindberg is internationally fashioned café where many delicacies are prepared. Just sit down and wait to be served, there is table service available. Mari cafe was opened at the same time after restaurant complex moved 50 meters from its original location.

On the second floor is Strindberg à la carte, where we had dinner, a restaurant which combines the ever-popular Nordic home cooking -“husmanskost”- with contemporary international flavours. The atmosphere at this high quality restaurant is urban, but at the same time pleasantly peaceful. From the Caesar’s salad to the crispy, yet juicy Rydberg steak, and from fresh domestic fish to the dish of the day – there is always plenty to choose from at Strindberg. Remember to ask for window table when making reservation!

The spacious Library bar, with its soft couches, has become a popular rendez-vous spot for many. Worth a visit!

For starters we had 1 x Goat cheese with pine kernels, salad and figs; 1 x Garlic snails;  2 x Shrimps with watercress and parsnip pyre

Kitchen had added sun-dried tomatoes in goat cheese starter and lavaret which we asked to serve without milk products. As tomatoes were quite bitter we would rather had seen portions without them. On the other hand Strindberg can really take into consideration possible food allergies. One example of that is suprise dessert from the kitchen. Shrimps were delicious but portion itself was quite small.

For main courses we ordered 1 x Duck with two ways and 3 x Lavaret with vegetables.

Unfortunately duck is not anymore on the menu because is was delicios. This was the second time eating same portion and again it was bulls’s eye. Duck drumstick and stew were so tender you would not have to bite. Lavaret was maybe a little bit too roasted.

For dessert we had 1 x French toast; 1 x Oatmeal apple pie with ice cream; 1 x Sorbet; 1 x Surprise from the kitchen.  French toast does not literally describe the dessert. Exact translation is “poor knights” but that might not encourage to order if you are not familiar with this dessert. French toast as so generous that it would have enough for two. Worth a try!  Apple pie was warm and tasty; ice cream completed enjoyment. Suprise from the kitchen was close to Pavlova including fresh berries, meringue and something very tasty we could not identify. Dessert was warmly welcomed as it proved kitchens know-how to comply customers wishes.

Our waitress did a great job but when her shift ended it was quite difficult to pay the restaurant bill.

Menu changed just after we visited restaurant.

REVIEW: Food 4/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4/5

http://www.strindberg.fi/en/restaurant


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Restaurant review: Blue Peter

27 01 2012

Blue Peter, established in 1976, is situated on the island of Lauttasaari in Helsinki, in the Helsingfors Segelklubb HSK yacht club area. The complete renovation of the restaurant was finished by the beginning of 2007.  Today, Blue Peter is more spacious than before, and it feels as if the sea has come closer to the premises. Vertti Kivi has designed the decor which makes Blue Peter one ot the most modern restaurants in Finland.
You’ll find the popular terraces of Blue Peter a wonderful place to enjoy the sun and the sea atmosphere, only a short hop from the city centre. Sun shines almost the whole day to terrace as it is in three sides of the building. You can get with bus number 21v close to restaurant; only 400 meters to walk down by the sea.

Regular visitors in the summer but now had dinner in the winter as Blue Peter is also open around the year.

For starters we had Garlic snails 9.5 € and Toast Skagen 10.5 € in the pictures above. Both were excellent; enough garlic with snails and on top of toast skagen whitefish roe which made the portion more or less gourmet. For main course we had Warm goat cheese salad 18 € and Fried perch with leek-butter sauce 24 € (in the picture). Salad was generous with two slices of grilled goat cheese. Fried perch was ok, but there was too much leek-butter sauce. For dessert we had our all time favourite Crepe, old time vanilla ice cream and jam in the picture.  If you have not ever tasted crepes taste it in Blue Peter. Wine list is enough wide for the food alternatives.

Blue Peter is quite quiet in the winter if there are no private parties like weddings, but in the summer it is one of the most sophisticated restaurants with luxorious terrace.

REVIEW: Food 4/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4/5

http://www.bluepeter.fi/articles/891/


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Restaurant review: Bon Vivant – at Cruise Ship

13 01 2012

Bon Vivant is a fine dining restaurant at Tallink Silja cruise ships Symphony and Serenade on route between Helsinki and Stockholm.

Restaurant is quiet compared to buffet restautants which gives opportunity speak and hear. You could also dine “outside” at the terrace which you can see in front of the restaurant (picture below)

Menu changes occasionally and wine list is wide due to special wine bar and shop. Dinner included appetizers, main course and cheese plates.

You also get greetings from the kitchen to start with.

At Christmas cruise we had reindeer with potato crocket  and fish in stock and vegetables. Reindeer was tender and rose as you can see in the picture. Fish portion was little bit difficult to eat because vegatables were too raw and soup around them splashed easily (no spoon available).

If you take cheese as dessert you can choose them from trolley; 5 different choices. Blue cheese and white-veined cheese always as favourites.

Waitress also wrote down all choices for us as we tasted all of them.

Ship itself especially cabins need renovation. Those cruising between Helsinki and Tallinn are newer and therefore in good condition.

REVIEW: Food 3,5/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4/5

http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/shipsAndTerminals/symphony/restaurants/eating.htm

 


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Restaurant review: Kaarna

9 01 2012

Restaurant Kaarna is located in shopping center Forum and serves Finnish traditional food. Ask for window table and you can the follow passers-by. If they say that restaurant is fully booked (phone or email) you might anyway get the table on the spot.

Helsinki is one of the design capitals 2012. To celebrate this restaurant chain including Kaarna offers bottle of champagne (Piper-Heidsieck) at affordable price 39€, if you have customer loalty card.

The food itself:

From the Nordic “tapas” list we chose Toast Skagen which is traditional shrimp on the white bread combination. This time too much onion and quite dry. Could recommend though Kaarna fish plate from previous visit.

Main course was roast salmon with false morel sauce and dill-potato bake. First of all salmon was much too salty and potatoes were more or less just fried without taste of dill. Waitress claimed that sauce has always been in separate jar as it was this time which was not true as we had asked for sauce jar when we visited restaurant last time.

We were requested an order several times quite right we arrived although we had not been read the menu. But we also had to ask for water three times before we got carafe. Obviously we were even 😦

Grades below represent the visit this time. Earlier visit would have been generated better grades due to professional chef and waitresses.

REVIEW: Food 2/5 – Service 2/5 – Overall grade 3/5

Click to access kaarna_menu_english_2011.pdf


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Restaurant review: Sasso

8 01 2012

Visited Restaurant Sasso already in November 2011. Used to be one of favourite Italian restaurants because of delicious food and cozy athmosphere. Some renewals should be made now due to a little bit worn interiors.

Downstairs you can find fish restaurant if you happen to prefer frutti di mare.

Pasta is always cooked al dente. Antipasti, Primi, wine + coffee for 2 close to 150€

REVIEW: Food 4/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 3/5

http://www.palacekamp.fi/in_english/restaurants/sasso/


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Restaurant review: Food and Lounge Restaurant Namu

8 01 2012

UPDATE ON 1ST OF NOV: NAMU PROVIDES NOWADAYS CALIFORNIAN KITCHEN

Visited Food and Lounge Restaurant Namu a month after opening. Early dinner, half of the tables occupied. Decoration quite unusual for restaurants having asian menu but maybe main idea is to provide opportunity eat while spending time at lounge type of night club. Huge place from which restaurant was about 1/5. Typical customer was around 25-30 years old. It is interesting to see if huge terrace which open ups to railway station will be busy in the summer.

Menu was short consisting on Japanese, Korean and Chinese flavours. Interesting to see Kimchi was served in different modifications. Wine list was maybe too complicated for asian food.

Had Sashimi and Tsukemono  for appetizers which were really OK. Best part were main courses Kakuni to kimchi and Som tam nieriä ie trout; delicious and perfectly prepared! Kimchi with pork included kimchi which was like coleslaw salad but tasty. Pork was tender and also tasty. You have to choose side dishes for main course from 3 options. But unfortunately warm dishes came right after appetizers which is quite common way to serve asian food but as appetizers were quite big portions, had to eat warm dishes first.

Price for appetizers, main courses and bottle of rose Cava was 108€.

En

REVIEW: Food 4+/5, Service 3/5, Overall rating 3,5/5


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