In Finnish restaurants, potatoes are a staple—mashed or boiled, they pair perfectly with fish dishes like grilled, smoked, or marinated varieties. Favorites include gravlax (brined salmon), herring, fish roe, and freshwater lake fish. Bread is essential too; ruisleipä, a tangy sourdough rye bread, graces every menu. Don't miss kukko pies stuffed with rutabaga, potatoes, or fish, or karjalanpiirakka, traditional rye-flour pies. Their larger kin, kalakukko, feature fish fillings. Finish with grillimakkara—grilled sausages enjoyed with beer and mustard.
No trip to Finland is complete without tasting reindeer (unless you're vegetarian). This delicacy shines in stews served with mashed potatoes and cranberries. Adventurous eaters can try poronkieli (reindeer tongue) or opt for tender fillets and dried slices. For luxury, seek elk meat—richer in flavor but rarer and pricier. Another highlight: roast ptarmigan, a prized upland bird.
Beyond savory dishes, Finland excels in pastries like korvapuusti cinnamon rolls. Summer berries reign supreme, especially lingonberries in sauces, jams, or desserts. Sample leipäjuusto (also called juustoleipä), a squeaky cheese from cow, reindeer, or goat milk. Pair your meal with piimä, refreshing fermented milk.
