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Restaurant review: Alberga – dinner and comedy theatre

8 02 2014

Our visit to Alberga, one of the oldest theatre restaurants in Finland, was probably the 20th or at least something like that. And proof of our long history with Alberga was warm welcome handshake by owner, when we arrived.

Theatre restaurant Alberga is family owned scene in Espoo, Leppävaara (Alberga in Swedish). Restaurant was established 1988 and since then it has presented over 1000 plays, mostly comedies.

We came to see “Rich, Dear and Work” performed by Minna Kivelä and Annu Valonen. Both are well known comediennes from TV series “Handy hostess”.

What a play! These comediennes are the best in Finland and made us laugh bellies ache.

There is always special theatre menu available consisting of one starter, two alternative main courses and one dessert. Dinner is served before the show which usually starts at 20.00.

Dinner started with Beetroot flavored salmon which is basic delicious Finnish dish and never let’s you down. Salmon must be enough thin in order not be chewy.

For main courses kitchen served Roasted Arctic char with lingonberry sauce and Fried sirloin with red wine sauce.

Fish included cooked potatoes and made portion again basic scrumptious Finnish plate. Sirloin was tender and properly roasted, meat inside was rose. Side dishes, oven potato and roasted root vegetables complemented the dose perfectly.

Dessert served was Parfait which included orange, chocolate and strawberry. Could have eaten three of them.

Theatre restaurant Alberga is more sedate than Kaksi kanaa, which is also popular scene (review was posted 4.3.2012).

You should visit Alberga although you would not like theatre. It is totally different to follow up the show two meters from the small stage than sit in the back row of big hall. And most of the plays are enjoyable, well written and acted out. Athmosphere is relaxed and informal. Therefore Alberga earns 4,5 for overall grade.

REVIEW: FOOD 3,5/5 – SERVICE 4-/5 – OVERALL GRADE – 4,5/5

http://www.ravintolaalberga.fi/

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Tags: Alberga, Arctic char, Espoo, food, Kaksi Kanaa, restaurant, Restaurant Alberga, restaurant review, Salmon, Sirloin, Theatre restaurant, Theatre restaurant Alberga
Categories : Art, Food, Food and Wine, Restaurant, Restaurant review

Restaurant review: Blue Peter – all year round open yacht club

2 02 2014

Blue Peter, covered by snow and ice, is a restaurant in Lappland…….Not exactly, but snowfall during the past 24 hours made me imagine so.

Actually Blue Peter is situated on Lauttasaari island by Gulf of Finland 4 km from Helsinki city centre. In the summer time it is really popular due to large terraces and HSK sailing club members. Restaurant is open all year around hosting private events also in the winter time. On the evening we dined, there was a private party for 140 people. Not bad at all for summer restaurant.

For starters decided to order Smoked salmon mousse with malt bread and Thai-salmon soup from Soup and Salad menu, which ended the same day we dined.

Smoked salmon was more like hash than mousse because it was quite dry. Otherwise tasty starter. To add asian style spices to salmon soup is brilliant idea and must try also at home.

Main courses were Reindeer fillet with game sauce and potato gratin and Whitefish, soy-ginger sauce and jasmin rice.

Reindeer was soft and tender and perfectly prepared. Potato gratin, I think, might have been more or less convenience food or not. Whitefish could have been fresher than it felt and sauce seemed to be more soy than ginger based. But whitefish is always delicious, choose it always if it is available in restaurant you eat.

For desserts had to order the favourite one; Crepe with strawbarry jam and vanilla ice-cream. As the only lactose free dessert was sorbet we asked if kitchen could prepare something else and they did; Chocolate muffin with vanilla ice-cream.

Crepes are best in Helsinki, as I have stated in previous reviews, and can confirm it again. But pimped dessert was bull’s-eye, just baked muffin with ice-cream was really a sweet. We even suggested that restaurant should add it to their a la carte list. Let’s see if that will happen.

For wine we had Weingut Liebfrauenstift Riesling QbA Trocken which is guaranteed safe choice. Suitable amount of acidity and minerals.

As you will get Geisha and/or Fazerin Sininen chocolate with coffee and bill that might be enough for dessert. Or nice take away to pamper yourself later.

Blue Peter is especially summer restaurant but it does not mean that in can be cozy also in the winter time. Evening we visited there were decorations from past DTM, German Touring Car Masters, race in Helsinki. Wonder if there was some kind of remembrance earlier on coming next weekend?

Desserts earned 4+ for Food but unevennes in starters and main courses dropped points. Our waitress forgot one of our orders, but as we got espresso and green tea for free, it corrected the event.

But it is great that there is stylish dining place outside of Helsinki centre because it is not easy to survive all year round. Especially in the summer one of the restaurants you should visit.

REVIEW: FOOD 3,5/5 – SERVICE 3,5/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4-/5

http://www.bluepeter.fi/articles/632/

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Tags: Blue Peter, food, Helsinki, Lauttasaari, Reindeer, restaurant, Restaurant Blue Peter, restaurant review, Smoked salmon mousse, summer restaurant, Weingut Liebfrauenstift Riesling QbA Trocken, Whitefish, Wine
Categories : Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Pastis – French bistro

26 01 2014

Pastis is an anis-flavored liqueur and aperitif from France, but it is also French style “fine dining” bistro in Helsinki.

Pastis was opened in April 2013 by restaurant Muru celebrity chef owners. Similar concept but focus in French kitchen. Always available a la carte dishes in changing list are mussels, snails, sausages, fish and meat from France. On Fridays and Saturdays you can also enjoy fresh oysters for 5€ each or 12€, if you take 3.

Tables are located on two levels in small dining rooms but you could also try to pop in for a look if there is room by the bar counter. Reservations are for 2 1/2 hours which is just enough to eat three couse dinner. This is nowadays typical custome for popular “gourmet” bistros.

Started the dinner with Pastis, of course, Ricard. First hesitated a little bit to order ice cold aperitif, because if was freezing outside, around -13C degrees.

For starters we ordered Roquefort gratinated Bourgogne snails in pastis butter and Smoked mackerel, cucumber and fennel salad, marinated red onion.

Usually you get snails in snail pan where all snails are in small cups but Pastis served them in small open pan. Taste of Roquefort was perfect because if it would had dominated, starter would have been to salty. Mackarel was served with toast instead of brioche, as we asked it too be without lactose.

For main courses ordered only available fish portion Catch of the day Antiboise. Fish, “Cliff sole” was accompanied by tomato-based sauce/stew and by one of the 3 side dishes, Mixed salad with sherry vinegar, which had to be ordered separately. Also ordered large portion of Mussels á la Pastis with curry and Truffle salted french fries for side dish.

Fish was fried in oil and the level of maturity was perfect. It was a pity that it was over-salted. Mussels were smaller than you usually see, which was good as the big ones are chewy. About 10 had already came loose from the shells. Salt in fish and mussels under the broth were minor grievances, but took one quarter point out of the Food scores.

Dinner had to be ended with Calvados Domfrontains which is mix of apple and at least 30% pear. Had only tasted apple Calvados earlier and noticed that pear makes the flavor softer. Also ordered one House chocolate, which was truffle.

Restaurant or bistro Pastis is refreshing piece of French kitchen in Helsinki. Concept, which might by expanded to another locations, is French from decor to music. Chansons sang by Edith Piaf and check in a nice tin were the frosting for the French dinner.

Wines come mainly from France, of course, but it would be convenient to list also those which are available in glasses. Asked recommendations for wines for dishes ordered. Pinot Noir for snails was good choice but white wine for salty macarel not so felicitous. Riesling Vignoble d’E, Domaine Ostertag from Alsace for both main courses was excellent choice.

Extra + for overall grade comes from the well planned and implemented French concept.

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

etusivu

https://fi-fi.facebook.com/pages/Ravintola-Pastis/249978811804861

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Tags: Calvados, Edith Piaf, food, French bistro, Helsinki, Muru, Mussels, Pastis, restaurant, Restaurant Pastis, restaurant review, Ricard, snails, Travel
Categories : Bar, Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: GOCE Bar & Kitchen – “gourmet” tapas in Helsinki

16 01 2014

After vacation in Spain it was important to arrange smooth return to everyday life. Especially as winter arrived in Helsinki the same day. Therefore we decided to dine at new “gourmet” tapas place GOCE Bar & Kitchen.

Restaurant was re-opened in new premises in November 2013. We made reservation on 6th Jan and noticed couple of days later that a la carte list had shortened. Only two main courses and desserts. Reason why we decided to try a big bunch of tapas portions, which sounded delicious and were familiar from previous visits to Spain.

Chose 9 portions from the list. 10th, Grilled Secreto and Sofrito, was recommended by waitress. All portions looked well prepared when they arrived to the table.

First we got Pimientos de Padron, which were exactly as they should be. Warm, soft and not too salty.

Then arrived Gambas Plancha, see the burning flame in the middle of the plate! Delicious ones, but only three pieces.

Annoying events started at this point.

As we were early diners, in fact the first ones, after restaurant had opened at 5PM, kitchen decided to prepare everything at once. That might be typical for affordable tapas bars, but at GOCE‘s price level, you expect to be able to enjoy warm dishes warm.

Our gambas were still uneaten when we got Patatas Bravas and Beetroot to the table. Both were delicious especially beetroot but we were now confused; which portions to eat next?

We already had 4 dishes on the table and got 5th, Pulpo – Octopus. This one was not so successful as previous portions. It should have been more crisp or solid, but instead was too soft.

We managed to fill up our small plates in a hurry with mixed selection of 4 tapas portions but during we emptied plates came Boquerones, Chorizos, Iberico -pork and soon after that Green salad and Manchego cheese. It was easier to take a picture of all of them than to try photograph portions one by one.

Unfortunately we had to send back sausages and Iberico -pork because they were already cold when we started to focus to eat them. However, had tasted pork plate and did not want a replacement for that because meat pieces seemed to be mostly pigskin. Would not have done that, but waitress had encouraged us to order it.

Sausages were juicy as they should be and Manchego was ok. It could have been a little bit older compared to the price.

There was a pile of croutons on green salad which is odd, is it then green? As we were served fresh bread to start with, it would have been enough.

Restaurant and dining room are huge compared to any other bistros or tapas bars. Decoration is stylish, one of the most elegants in the city for concept GOCE has.

If we would have had enough time to enjoy tapas portions, GOCE Bar & Kitchen would have earned better scores for service. Waitress said that she tried to slow down the speed kitchen had. Therefore suggest to take couple of tapas to start with and then try main courses. Also would have appreciated if our plates would have been changed once or twice. We were asked if we want clean ones when we had only one piece of cheese left….

Would also hope that there would be more affordable choises for wines in the glass. At least found interesting basic tempranillo, Disco 2012, which paired well with all tapas portions.

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

http://goce.fi/

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Tags: Boquerones, chorizo, Disco 2012 red wine, food, Gambas, Goce Bar & Kitchen, Helsinki, Manchego, Patatas Bravas, Pulpo, restaurant, Restaurant Goce Bar & Kitchen, restaurant review, tapas, Travel
Categories : Bar, Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant reviews in Helsinki 2013 – breakthrough of “gourmet” bistros

10 01 2014

Year 2013 ended up too soon. Did not have time to visit all those restaurants had planned. Anyway, breakthrough of “gourmet” bistros highlighted the year.

Bistros are relaxed, unformal dining spots with decent service and food.

In Helsinki, there has been established during couple of last years “gourmet” bistros, which compete with unique decoration, good service and well designed, delicious dishes. They also have short a la carte list and one or to menu alternatives. We could call some of these bistros restaurants, but part of them do not use that naming.

Example of “gourmet” food can be found from picture below which is taken at Spis. Whole portion consists of fresh vegetables but also of fish, which is uniquely prepared.

As we were not able to visit all “gourmet” bistros in Helsinki, results were as follows:

1. Spis 13,50

2. Gastrobar Emo and Grotesk Winebar 13,25

3. Glogatan 4, Meche and Muru 13,00

4. Farang 12,75

From these restaurants I would say Spis, Gastrobar Emo, Grotesk Winebar, Meche and Muru are so called “gourmet” bistros. Add also PureBistro which got 12,50 points and we can really call year 2013 “year of bistros”. 4 of the restaurants above have link to Michelin star restaurants, can you guess how?

Glogatan 4 is more restaurant than bistro and Farang serves asian gourmet kitchen, which you can not miss.

How Spis differs from other “gourmet” bistros? It serves greetings from kitchen between courses which others do not. That is one reason why it took the first place this year. It also has longer menus than others (full review at reijosfood.com)

Why Grotesk Winebar succeeded although it is quite new? It serves rare delicacies which you do not get in other bistros. It also provides professional wine pairings with dishes (full review at reijosfood.com)

Why Gastrobar Emo earned 2nd place although it is one of the newest restaurants in Helsinki? It is partly owned by Pekka Terävä who owns Michelin star restaurant Olo. Olo might be the next 2 Michelin star restaurant as Chez Dominique closed down it’ doors. (full review of Emo at reijosfood.com)

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

Year 2014 will continue with review of “gourmet” bistro or tapas bar Goce which was opened in November 2013. We also might visit some of the most prestigious restaurants although “gourmet” bistros have modified restaurant field a lot.

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

Comments : 6 Comments »
Tags: 2 Michelin stars, Bistro, Chez Dominique, food, Gastrobar Emo, Grotesk Winebar, Helsinki, Michelin star, restaurant, restaurant review, Spis, Travel
Categories : Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: El Senador – two lunch experiences

6 01 2014

Had to write another post from winter holiday, because this restaurant does not let you down when it comes to Spanish food.

Restaurante El Senador is situated by the Maspalomas beach near Faro lighthouse. Have visited El Senador several times since 2006. Because of the location it seems to be quite expensive compared to the restaurant premises. But on the other hand all tapas portions are so huge that they could be shared with 4 person. Both dining areas and bar are always crowded during lunch time. This year review covers two visits.

Lunch 1:

For starters ordered Sopa de pescadores del Atlántico which was excellent. It included some bites of fish and shell-fish, mainly mussels and shrimps. Soup base was really delicious, but slightly over salted. Soup was brought to the table in big bowl. Then waitress ladled hot soup on the plates which was a proof of long tradition.

Main course was our favourite Lubina a la sal con espinacas a la crema y patatas hervidas – Sea bass baked in a salt coat. Fresh fish is baked in salt coat, then it is brought to the table, waiter removes fish bones and you just enjoy the fish and side dishes. It is easy to overcook the fish when it is prepared this way. However, the taste of fresh sea bass is unbeatable. If you travel to Finland our whitefish tastes almost the same.

Lunch 2:

Second lunch started with Pimientos de Padrón fritos – Deep-fried small green capsicums with coarse salt and Pan con ajo crujiente. As we had decided to eat Fideau for main course started had to be modest. In this restaurant Paellas and Fideua are huge. Small capsicums are, we think, the best available in Spain. Portion is huge which means two person can not empty the plate if main course will follow.

Main course was indeed Fideuà ciega (con choco, gambas y pescado limpios). Mostly Spanish eat Paella made from rice but as once ate in Salou so delicious Fideua, had to taste it also here. Unfortunately Fideua here did not beat the one is Salou. This was good no doubt about it, but as you have once had the ultimate taste experience, it is easy to be deviced slightly.

El Senador is best place to eat local food for lunch in the area. Do not set too high expectations for the service. Restaurant serves thousands of visitors per day, so do not be too upstage. Service is enough good in order to keep the mood high.

If you decide to have drinks at the bar area you can also order food there and eat it in very, very relaxed athmosphere. But not among troublemakers because everyone is enough sophisticated to enjoy life evenly.

Interesting detail is that you can find dry riesling white wine from Torres at the restaurant. That is what we had with Lubina, mostly enjoyed Vina Sol which paires enough well with tapas dishes.

REVIEW: FOOD 4-/5 – SERVICE 3,5/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4+/5

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

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Tags: Costa Meloneras, Fideua, Gran Canaria, lubina, Maspalomas, restaurant, restaurant review, Restaurante El Senador, Sea bass, Torres
Categories : Bar, Food, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Ambassador – New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner

2 01 2014

The first review in 2014 is from last day of 2013, New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner at restaurant Ambassador. Restaurant is in Hotel Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort, Spa & Casino where we stayed for couple of weeks.

One might think that Gran Canary Island is worn and old-fashioned which is partly true. But there is certain area, Costa Meloneras, which is new and peaceful. Lot’s of good restaurants but no disturbing pubs or night clubs. All hotels are 4-5 star large complexes but well designed and equipped.

Restaurant had prepared menu which sounded promising, but was it what we expected?

Dining room was decorated well beforehand in order to create solemn athmosphere.

After mojito aperitifs, dinner started with four starters which was maybe the weakest link. Clams were ok, but otherwise ensamble did not convince. However, although the expectations were high were were not disappointed.

Asparagus with quail fillet paired well. As quail was so soft all you needed was spoon.

Turbot was perfectly cooked which might be difficult when kitchen prepares it to around 100 diners in quite tight time schedule.

Between fish and meat champagne sherbet was served. It was sweet which is not typical when you still have one main course to go. Stick holding strawberry was also eatable.

Beef tenderloin continued the high level of competence kitchen has. Solomillo is popular meat dish in Spain and this one was one the best I have eaten.

Forgot to take a picture of dessert which was really delicious. There was small cake inside mousse which crowned the dessert. Fresh fruits complemented dinner also quite nicely.

Dinner included whole bottle of Taittinger Champagne which you could drink at the table or enjoy later when the year changed. That is what we did because after aperitif, couple of glasses of white and red wines it was good to have short break. Noticed that all that wine which was served was also enjoyed by couple of tables. Maybe not good idea thinking about morning feeling.

The whole dinner was real success! Food was good, service professional and you could really be satisfied for the set up arranged by hotel restaurant. Most of the diners seemed to be Spanish and I shall bet we were the only ones from Finland.

Tradition is also to get “party bags” as presents after leaving dining room. Found quite nice mask from it and used it almost he whole evening.

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

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Tags: Gran Canaria, Gran Canary Island, Hotel Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort, Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort Spa & Casino, New Year's Eve, restaurant, restaurant review, Restaurante Ambassador, Spain
Categories : Food, Hotel, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Pirate Helsinki – Christmas buffet

20 12 2013

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 did not serve casseroles but instead of that many rare delicacy traditional dishes.

Pirate Helsinki served 5th time Christmas buffet in cozy and vivacious athmosphere. Silent Santa Claus welcomed guests next to the entrance.

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

Only dish served to the table, first on the menu, was chestnut soup, which was delicious. Mulled wine, however was not the best one tasted, as it was partly based on Wana Tallin liqueur.

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 a 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.

First plate: roes, freshly salted fish and herrings

Second plate: not picture but included warm fish dishes

Third plate: raindeer and elk with parsnip pyre and boletus stew

Fourth plate: Finnish cheeses

Fifth plate: gingerbreads, gingerbread cupcake, macaroni, marmalades and chcolates

Pirate manages well in serving Christmas buffet dinner. In the summer time going is more simple but as relaxed. Chef Markus Maulavirta was helping in the kitchen which could be seen in the high level of buffet. 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.

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

http://www.pirate.fi/index.php?pinc=1&lng=joulu

Comments : 4 Comments »
Tags: buffet, Christmas, Christmas buffet, christmas ham, Finnish Christmas, Helsinki, Lauttasaari, Pirate Helsinki, Ravintola Pirate Helsinki, restaurant, Restaurant Pirate, restaurant review
Categories : Bar, Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review – Minos, piece of Greece in Helsinki

21 11 2013

Restaurant Minos is over 25 years old restaurant which serves traditional Greek food. For example you can get Tzatziki, Pita bread, Moussaka and of course Ouzo for aperitif. You can also here Greek spoken as waiters speak it to each other.

Minos has pleasant covered terrace which can be used also in winter time, as it is heated. We always choose to dine there because you can observe by-passers at the same time. In the summer Minos has it’s own spot in popular Kamppi shopping center terrace area. Note that restaurant is not open on Sundays.

Starters usually are the best part of the dinner which was true also this time. We ordered tsatsiki, marinated olives and dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with rice and herbs). But of course ouzo Plomari for aperitif; with ice it is perfect appetite initiator; Jamas!

Tsatsiki was excellent, be careful you do not eat a full stomach with fresh bread because it is just so delicious. Dolmades were warm as they should be and again with tsatsiki, perfect. Olives as starter may sound simple but the marinade made them juicy and appropriately salty.

For main courses ordered Catch of the day, grilled fresh fish which was Dorada and Tiger shrimps on skewer with garlic and lemon sauce. You can choose from 4 side dishes to supplement the main course. Alternatives are Baked potato wedges, potato gratin, rice or seasons braised vegetables. Also ordered Grilled pita bread which came after second request.

Gilt perch (Dorada) was palatable as it tasted like just caught from Mediterranean sea. Just a little bit over grilled but not too much as it did not bother. Tiger shrimp skewer was the weakest part of the dinner, a little bit too salty and vegetables were in fact the same as you could order separately as a side dish. Luckily chose potato gratin which was ok.

Then for desserts Halva and Tiramisu with Metaxa brandy + Metaxa brandy.

Halva for dessert is interesting delicacy but as there are not so many options without lactose, tasted it. And if you like Halva, you would have liked this one also. Tiramisu is Italian dessert but Minos moistened it with brandy, that transforms it Greek dessert. But of course had to make sure that there would be enough moisture and therefore ordered just in case glass of Metaxa brandy.

Restaurant Minos really is the piece of Greece in Helsinki! Even wine list consists of Greek wines which is partly good and partly not so good thing. Enjoyed white wine; 2009 Petra, Kir-Yanni. As you can see in the picture vintage is 2012, not 2009. Greek white wines pair perfeclty with Greek starters but for fish they are challenge due to lacking character. However, if you want to enjoy complete Greek package, it must include local wines.

Service was quick and polite. You might want to check menu before hand because waiters start asking for order soon after your arrival.

REVIEW: FOOD 3,5/5 – SERVICE 4-/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4-/5

http://minos.fi/

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Tags: dorada, food, Greek restaurant, Halva, Helsinki, Kamppi shopping center, Minos, olives, ouzo, Pita bread, Ravintola Minos, restaurant, restaurant review, tsatsiki
Categories : Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Why Helsinki’s restaurant scene is as its hottest right now?

15 11 2013

Great article about Helsinki restaurants!

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/why-helsinkis-restaurant-scene-hottest-now-224400031.html

Can recommend both restaurants mentioned in the article. Reviews can be found by using search.

SPIS

GROTESK WINEBAR

Again good reason to visit Helsinki!

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: food, Grotesk, Helsinki, restaurant, restaurant reviews, Spis
Categories : Bar, Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Travel

Restaurant review: PureBistro

30 08 2013

Huge improvement compared to first visit a year ago! Guess, if the food in the picture above is fish or meat? You will only know it by reading on.

PureBistro is a modern bistro and bar with two terraces next to the Market Square in Torikorttelit buildings. Restaurant serves uncomplicated but well prepared bistro food. PureBistro is owned by Michelin star restaurant Luomo chef”s Jouni Toivanen and Mika Mattila. Luomo operates in 2nd floor.

Dining room is quite small but this evening it did not bother as restaurant was not full. Ask for window table and you can enjoy sea view and observe what happens at Market Square.

Our group ordered for starters one HOT FOREST MUSHROOMS WITH ORGANIC EGG 65 Metsäsieniä, tattitoffeeta ja luomukananmuna and several portions of TOAST SKAGEN Briossia, katkarapuja, siianmätiä, chilimajoneesia.

Had tasted at Taste of Helsinki 2013 boletus toffee and organic egg 65 but must repeat did not like combination. 65 means egg has been cooked up to 65C degrees, so it is was loose. Boletus toffee is really exotic “sauce”; it is too sweet for starter looking like grey brownish tepid liquid, almost like the wash water of the mushrooms. Big chanterelles saved a bit but again whole experience was too exotic to say it in nice words.

Toast Skagen was delicious and quite spicy due to chili. Whitefish roe crowned this otherwise simple looking portion.

For main courses we had GRILLED ROOTVEGGIES, FETA CHEESE AND OAT Grillattuja juureksia, fetaa ja paahdettu ohraa, MISO-CURED SALMON AND VEGE TEMPURA JAPONESE Miso marinoitua lohta, tempuravihanneksia ja soijaa, GUINEA FOWL WITH TAPIOCA AND CURRY Helmikanaa, tapiokahelmiä ja currya and from daily menu STEAK ENTRECOTE JAPONESE STYLE.

Because of different cravings, all four main course were tasted and all of them were great.

Feta cheese paired well with rootveggies from which beetroot was welcomed choice. Salmon was a little bit raw from the middle which suited perfectly to Japonese style. Would have liked a little bit more tempura vegetables (chili, egg plant and lotus root), which were served in separate small bowl. Entrecote was tender and included also chili, which seemed to be unifying spice to most of the portions.

Now answer for the question: Meat and more specific, guinea fowl. Most of us first thought there was fish on the plate. How cleverly and skillfully set!

For desserts one LE MARQUISE AU CHOCOLAT Suklaamarkiisia ja pistaasisorbet and from daily menu most of us chose CHOCO AND BANANA Banaanijäätelöä ja suklaakastiketta. One dessert without milk succeeded also well.

All desserts were scrumptious. Sorbet did not differ from ice-cream as it was so “creamy”. However, taste of pistachio was pushy.

Food was excellent. We had eaten at PureBistro in July (no review available), so we already expected great experience. Service was also in good shape, well explained what portions included and good knowledge of wines.

One weakness was the wine list, it was short, only about 5-6 white and red wines available. You could of course choose from separate wine list but prices for quality wines would be the same (expensive) as in restaurant Luomo. We had Max Ferdinand Richter Mûlheimer Sonnelay Riesling Zeppelin as white wine. Had to taste it before ordering as it was close to semi-dry, but suspicion vanished after tasting as wine was not too sweet at all. For red wine we enjoyed Dourthe Clos de los Siete which paired well also with salmon.

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

purebistro.fi

First visit PureBistro review can be found by using search on reijosfood.com

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: entrecote, Guinea Fowl, Helsinki, PureBistro, restaurant, restaurant review, Salmon, Toast Skagen, Torikorttelit
Categories : Bar, Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

2 Michelin star restaurant Chez Dominique closes down

26 08 2013

One and only 2 Michelin star restaurant in Finland and Helsinki, Chez Dominique, shuts down on the 5th October!

Chef Hans Välimäki explains that closing the restaurant is temporary and Chez Dominique will make a comeback someday. Hopefully so, but unlikely! It must have been close to get third Michelin star. After closing there are four 1 Michelin star restaurants in Helsinki: Demo, Luomo, Olo and Postres. Hopefully we do not see similar trend with these.

If you want to visit in Hans Välimäki restaurant, Midhill is your choice. Restaurant serves gourmet hamburgers and is located in the same shopping and restaurant area as Hard Rock Cafe.

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Parts of letter from chef Hans Välimäki in my email on 26th August, 2013 (sorry for not translating text in English but one sentence was already in English):

Etsin uutta inspiraatiota Chez Dominique tulevaisuudesta koko kuluneen kesän ja se löytyikin. Päätös on nyt tehty: voin ilolla ja YLPEYDELLÄ ilmoittaa, että ravintola Chez Dominique vetäytyy 5.10.2013 jälkeen määräämättömäksi ajaksi tauolle. Olemme auki koko syyskuun neljännestä päivästä lukien 5.10.2013 saakka.

Ravintolan loppuhuipennuksessa vetovastuun keittiöstä ottavat CD:n nuoret kasvatit Eric Räty ja Toni Toivanen.

Odotettavissa onkin jotain täysin uutta ja yllättävää, josta ei kannata jäädä paitsi.

Viimeisten viikkojen konseptia voisi kuvailla seuraavasti:

Pop-up, not f*** up: searching way to unknown…

Olen viettänyt viimeiset 15 vuotta enempi tai vähempi Chez Dominiquen keittiössä, ja saanut todellista lähituntumaa suomalaiseen gastronomiaan. Kehitys on ollut huimaa, ja kokit ovat Suomessa tällä hetkellä parempia kuin koskaan. Samat sanat salin ammattilaisista.
15 vuotta vilahti nopeasti. CD:ssä on koettu useita huippuhetkiä milloin erilaisten saavutusten kautta, milloin on juhlittu uusien tekniikoiden oppimista tai kilistelty vaikkapa vain loman alkamisen kunniaksi. Kivaa on ollut, parhaimmillaan superkivaa.
Olen ylpeä Dominiquesta ja kaikesta siitä, mitä olen upean henkilökuntani kanssa saavuttanut, mutta nyt on aika tehdä muuta.
Keittämisessä en taukoa pidä. Rakastan keittämistä, ja aion vedellä vedellä isosti ja komeasti täysin uusien haasteiden parissa! Niistä sitten myöhemmin.
Kiitos, kumarrus ja tuduluu kaikille Chez Dominiquessa viihtyneille.
Nähdään ainakin Midhillissä ja kuten aiemmin mainitsin, niin muutakin on tulossa. Chez Dominique palaa vielä. Aika näyttää miten, missä ja milloin.

Hyvää ja hauskaa loppukesää

Hans Välimäki
Tuleva entinen Michelin-keittäjä

http://chezdominique.fi/home

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Tags: 2 Michelin stars, Chez Dominique, Demo, Helsinki, Luomo, Michelin star, Olo, Postres, restaurant
Categories : Food, Helsinki, Restaurant

Restaurant review: Picasso (Puerto Banus, Spain)

25 08 2013

Best Pizzas and longest queue in Puerto Banus and Marbella! There are also quite fancy boats and cars to be viewed.

Visited Picasso about 10 years ago, so obvious choise was to refresh the memories. We came just in time, because after we were seated, continuous queue was waiting for free tables. What makes this restaurant most popular in Puerto Banus is excellent price/quality ratio and relaxed athmosphere compared to any other restaurant. Of course you have decided to enjoy pizzas or pasta. Or you might just want to eat biggest ice cream desserts you have ever seen.

Decided to order Pizza Tricolor Tomate natural, mozzarella búfala, jamón ibérico, rúcula y parmesano (in english Diced tomatos, buffalo mozzarella, serrano ham, rocket and parmesan shavings). Quite interesting combination and most suprising observation was that there was no tomato sauce or melted cheese on the pizza. All pizza toppings were placed after baking pizza dough and therefore they were really fresh! Crispy pizza with well chosen combination of toppings made Tricolor one of the best pizza experiences so far.

We had for starters Andalucian Gambas Pil Pil Gambas picantes, aceite de oliva, ajo,vino blanco y chili (in english Spicy prawns in oil, garlic, white wine and chili) which were quite normal staff but this review is focusing on pizza experience.

Recommend to order pizza or pasta, no starters, and leave some room for dessert. As mentioned earlier ice cream portions are huge but it was impossible to try them after Pil Pil starter and pizza.

In most busy vacation time, you have to stand in the queue from 5 up to 60 minutes depending on your arrival time. If you are guided to 2nd floor and are not with children, prepare for some noise and action because there are more families upstairs.

REVIEW: PIZZA 4+/5 – SERVICE 3/5 – OVERALL GRADE 3,5/5

And after dinner some photos of fancy boats and cars…

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

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Tags: food, Marbella, Pil Pil, Pizza, pizzeria, Puerto Banus, restaurant, restaurant review, Restaurante Picasso, spicy prawns
Categories : Food, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel

Restaurant review: Garum (Marbella, Spain)

23 08 2013

Finnish chef in Marbella at restaurant Garum on the Paseo Maritimo!

Pleasant surprise which we did not know in advance when making table reservation. One of the waiters recognized our pronunciation and asked if we are from Finland. He mentioned it sounds the same as their chef’s.

Restaurante Garum is decorated with modern style and therefore differs quite a lot from other restaurants on the Paseo Maritimo. It has cross-kitchen with some flavours from Scandinavia and Finland. On lunch time you can order tapas and traditional Spanish food but in the evenings kitchen is more international. There is a small bar terrace in front of the restaurant if you just want to observe by-passers especially during the evening rush-hour.

Dinner started with Greetings from the kitchen. Simple snack but not bad at all.

For starters chose Japanese beef spring roll with japanese flavours served with pickled ginger and wasabi ice cream and Scandinavian style marinated herring served with wheat beer sorbet, lemon aquavit jelly and lingonberry cream.

Spring rolls were excellent and you could really find japanese flavours when diping them in wasabi and soya. If restaurant serves sour or rye bread, herring and lingonberries then there must be Finnish chef behind it. Only questiomark was the sorbet as it was smelted or should it have been frozen?

japanese beef spring roll with japanese flavours served with pickled ginger
and wasabi ice cream – See more at: http://garummarbella.com/en/night/#sthash.5hPHnyIa.dpuf

Kitchen served next food melter which was sorbet. The smaller class on the left….right one is Spanish rose.

For main courses ordered Grilled prawns served with risotto of sun dried tomatoes, parmesan cheese and sauvignon blanc with deep fried leak and Grilled sea bass served with truffle oiled green asparagus, jerusalem artichoke purée and salad of seedlings, herbs and pine seeds

You seldom find grilled that big prawns in Finnish restaurants, they are fried or prepared in oil if available at all. Therefore taste of prawns was scrumptious. Risotto was OK but maybe too much porridge type. Huge portion of sea bass, usually you get two that size of pieces. In overall, portions were generous.

For dessert Swan lake Raspberry and cucumber gazpacho with melon relish and limoncello granite.

Brilliant idea to serve gazpacho as a dessert but of course from sweeter ingredients. Cucumber pieces were next to gazpacho class and added interesting flavour. Healthy, well-being dessert.

If you find restaurant with Finnish chef during your holiday outside of Finland, then you are in safe hands. The terrace of Garum was almost full around 10PM, we came as early as 830PM. Of course location is one of the best, but restaurant can not survive long without good food and service. Restaurante Garum has them both.

REVIEW: FOOD 3,5/5 – SERVICE 4-/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4-/5

Casa

Garum offers discerning diners the dual attraction of being one of Marbella’s hippest establishments while also providing a versatile culinary experience.

Centrally located in a vibrant and picturesque setting on the Paseo Marítimo, the restaurant is one of those rare gastronomic gems with an “all-day concept” of breakfast, lunch, dinner, tapas and late-night cocktails and soft chill out sounds − the kitchen remaining open non-stop from 11.00 am to midnight, seven days a week.

– See more at: http://garummarbella.com/en/restaurant/#sthash.oBcw0rHU.dpuf

Garum offers discerning diners the dual attraction of being one of Marbella’s hippest establishments while also providing a versatile culinary experience.

– See more at: http://garummarbella.com/en/restaurant/#sthash.oBcw0rHU.dpuf

Garum offers discerning diners the dual attraction of being one of Marbella’s hippest establishments while also providing a versatile culinary experience.

– See more at: http://garummarbella.com/en/restaurant/#sthash.oBcw0rHU.dpuf

Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags: bar, Costa del Sol, Finnish, food, Garum, Gazpacho, Grilled prawns, healthy food, Herring, Marbella, Paseo Maritimo, restaurant, restaurant review, Restaurante Garum, risotto, scandinavian style, Sea bass, Spain, spring rolls, well-being food, Wine
Categories : Bar, Food, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Farang

1 08 2013

Best Asian style fine dining restaurant in Helsinki and Finland? Also one of the best restaurants in Finland? Are you ready to eat with fingers and without knife?

Restaurant Farang serves modern Asian cuisine utilizing traditional habits like only fork and spoon available for eating. Dining rooms are located within the premises of the Taidehalli. You could also enjoy aperitif in the bar at the back of the main dining room. However, we were suggested to enjoy aperitifs in our table. We had planned to visit the bar but now missed it.

Farang has been nominated on Michelin guide as charming restaurant third year in a row and it was chosen the best of the 50 restaurants in Finland 2011. Therefore it was fully booked at 6PM when we dined on last day of July as it usually is.

Our second review was now based on enjoying TASTING MENU ‘SIAM’ because Farang Menu had not changed so much. 2012 Farang got best points (see review via link below). Siam Tasting Menu included 9 dishes + rice.

GREEN SHELL MUSSEL, GREEN NAHM JIM DRESSING
coriander, seaweed caviar, crispy onion

Spicy and delicious small bites, really well prepared. Must eat with fingers.

CHA PLU LEAF WITH SMOKED EEL
roasted peanuts, seaweed caviar

Some more eel would have crowned this otherwise so scrumptious portion. Must eat with fingers.

GRILLED BLACK ANGUS BEEF ‘DRY RED CURRY’
grilled beef, salad of green papaya flavored with red curry, thai basil, organic coconut oil

Spicy and delicious, more beef thank you! Rice was served now.

PORK RIBS ‘ROASTED RICE’
red nahm jim dressing, roasted rice, ginger, coriander

Best ribs ever, if you get these you will not ask anymore for any other ribs. Must eat with fingers.

FRIED SCALLOP ON HALF SHELL ‘SATAY’
satay sauce, peanut relish, coconut cream

Scallop was splitted which released the flavours perfectly and satay sauce complimented dining pleasure.

MORNING GLORY, CRISPY FRIED SALT & PEPPER TOFU
chinese water cress, bok choy, soft bean curd, battered crispy tofu

Nice combination; if bok choy had been chopped it would have been easier to eat because knife was not available.

YELLOW CURRY ‘MALAY’, ROASTED CHICKEN
roasted peanuts, lime leaf, thai cucumber relish

Chicken was delicious! As a suprise we were not informed, that due to some of our requests one portion was replaced by salmon. As salmon (fish) is quite far from chicken, maybe it would have been fair to tell about it. However, salmon was well prepared and not too dry.

THAI JASMINE RICE

‘SAMUI SUNSET’
passion creme, lychee blood orange sorbet

‘KOPI LUWAK’
peanut cake, coconut parfait, coffee ‘gele’, mango sorbet

Both desserts were served at the same time. Mango sorbet was like ice-cream, soft and “creamy”

Tried also recommendations for wines. However, the quantity of wines (about 50 cl for one person) might be a little bit effusive. Muskateller was not perfect choise for first three dishes as it is quite modest and light. Especially with Black Angus beef it was totally lost. All other wine recommendations paired perfectly with food.

Muskateller 2011, Satterhof, Gamlitz, Sudsteiermark, Austria
Edelsatz 2012, Philipp Kuhn, Platz, Germany
Mencia 2008, Godelia, Bierzo, Spain
Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Errazuriz, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Let’s be careful out there…why use old tv series phrase? One waitress asked us not to take photos of other customers which we never do. This time customer was the red box which is in the first picture. So…..use your camera wisely. On the other hand some training for one waitress. In this modern society when all mobile phones have cameras it would be difficult to ban photographing but recommend Farang would do it in order to avoid misunderstandings. This incident dropped service and overall grades which otherwise would have been as good as last time.

However, if you like Asian fine dining and spicy food and do not convey to eat with fingers and without knife, you are in the right place. Also restaurant is really skilled to change the composition of portions according to your wishes when it comes to food allergies. Recommend to taste Farang Menu because it shows best how outstanding food you can get.

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

http://farang.fi/?lang=en

Restaurant review: Farang

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Tags: asian food, asian restaurant, Black Angus beef, Farang, Finland, food, Fried scallop, Green shell mussel, Helsinki, Jasmine rice, Kunsthalle, photo, photographing, restaurant, restaurant review, Roasted chicken, Smoked eel, Taidehalli, Wine
Categories : Bar, Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

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