Sunnuntaina Helsingissä! (Sunday in Helsinki)

We began our urban hike through Helsinki by stopping at a local cafe for kahvi and vaniljapulla. While seated outside looking over the map and scanning the area for signs of life on a quiet Sunday morning, a woman crossing the street called out to us in Finnish and gestured toward the park. Seeing our shy smiles and classic shoulder shrugs, she restated in English “There will be free food in the park in just an hour! Today is Restaurant Day!” We thanked her, finished our coffee and continued toward the Central Railway Station and many of the surrounding historic sights and new features of the city’s architecture and vibrant community. 

On our way back to the harbor in the afternoon, we encountered several small tables dotting the neighborhood where we’d started. Smiling, laughing people were gathered around them, tasting and clearly enjoying what was being freshly prepared right behind each table. We stopped at one that had signs in French and discovered that Restaurant Day was definitely in full swing all over this part of the city. So, we continued down to the harbor and took advantage of a little tent that offered what looked to be a full meal.

The three friendly women running this pop-up restaurant explained to us that they were offering Vorschmack, the favorite dish of Finland’s most famous military leader and sixth president, Marshal C. G. E. Mannerheim. Vorschmack, which arguably originated in Poland, consists of a spiced mixture of minced lamb, beef and herring, and is served with smetana sour cream and accompanied by a baked peruna potato as well as punajuuri beets and suolakurkku pickled cucumbers.

To complete the meal, they offered a delicious, warm slice of mustikka kakku blueberry cake with crème anglaise. One of the women claimed having picked the berries the day before, smiling with justified pride. They made no apology that a non-Finnish drink, chai masala, an Indian spiced tea was the recommended drink with the meal. We affirmed it was a worldwide favorite and welcome to lovers of Indian food.

Restaurant Day is a pop-up trend, started in Finland in 2011 that has spread to 56 countries around the world so far. The woman preparing Vorschmack are not connected to a restaurant, rather just like to prepare food for the occasional event as a way to interact with the community. The meal was delicious and a perfect compliment to a sunny Sunday afternoon in the waterfront park. 

--Shahzore