European Cuisine at its Finest

In Helsinki, beautiful design does not stop with the food. We enjoyed a meal at popular gastronomic restaurant, Olo, whose menu boasts first class ingredients from small Finnish producers.

It was a special meal because John and I were celebrating our second wedding anniversary, always more enjoyable when spent together in such an amazing European capital.

I began my meal with a signature cocktail from their list. We relaxed and took in our surroundings – a warm, muted and efficient room that allows you to feel comfortable and focus on the food. And for good reason – the dishes are delightful.

We were asked to choose between ‘Matka’ (‘The Journey’) with 9 courses, or ‘Retki’ (‘Shorter Way’). We chose this six course menu to be paired with wines.

I cannot remember the names of all the dishes and the menu lists only ten ingredients and their origins to whet our appetites. The wines included selections from a variety of regions, including Australia, Austria and France. Each dish was inventive and complex, with perfectly balanced flavours.

Dessert was fun – we were first presented with a fresh blueberry and lemon dessert, followed  by the aroma of cinnamon with a warm, spicy Finnish apple concoction in a pot. Just when we thought we were finished, handmade mini-popsicles appeared for a sweet end to the evening.

Andrea Spirov

Andrea Spirov is a content developer and entrepreneur currently travelling the world with her husband, John, and living as an expat when she isn't. With a Masters in Media and Communications, Andrea is a specialist in online and is fascinated by the intersection of conversations and technology. Born in the United States, Spirov is a dual American and Australian citizen and has travelled extensively in North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. She currently blogs at InspiringTravellers.com and also takes on freelance projects and consulting work in social media and community management.