Adapting to Finn Cuisine

[ChaoticShelly]

A few months back my best friend sent me some Finnish foods, such as Salmiakki and Hapankorppuja (I think that's how it's spelled) as well as Koskenkorva vodka. Needless to say I disliked the Salmiakki and the crackers tasted like dirt to me (no offence to anyone, I apologize if I have), but I loved the vodka

Anyways, since I'm considering moving to Finland in the near future - I need to consider adapting to the Finn cuisine or I'll starve to death... hehe. But I've heard about Finnish food from two other Israeli who live in Helsinki and they told me it takes time because everything (to an Israeli) tastes like nothing or tastes horrible, and you live on cheese and what not, like basic products.

I'm not afraid to try anything and if I move to Helsinki I have friends that can show me around and let me try new things, but all and all is Finnish food that different from anywhere else? From other people description it doesn't sound so appetizing

What would you recommend trying for a foreign (vegeterian, btw)? Is there something that you specially consider as delicious - from Finn cuisine/Finn food products only, like local dishes, or local brands...

Sorry again if this offends anyone. I am willing to try!

[FIRAT]

you will have difficulties to get used of Finnish foods especially it makes it also difficult for you because you are from Israel,as far as i know Israeli foods should be similiar to Turkish foods,i mean spicy and lots of tomato so as a Turkish i still couldnt get used of Finnish cuisine but maybe you can get used easier foods here are mainly fish,meat and,bbq sousege ahmm but if you are jew you dont eat pork? so it might make everything difficult for you

[ChaoticShelly]

you will have difficulties to get used of Finnish foods especially it makes it also difficult for you because you are from Israel,as far as i know Israeli foods should be similiar to Turkish foods,i mean spicy and lots of tomato so as a Turkish i still couldnt get used of Finnish cuisine but maybe you can get used easier foods here are mainly fish,meat and,bbq sousege ahmm but if you are jew you dont eat pork? so it might make everything difficult for you

Hey thanks for the view. I'm a born Jew but live as an atheist - but anyways I'm a vegeterian so I don't eat any meat. Sometimes I eat Sushi but it's hard for me, still a dead animal after all. How would you say the vegtibles are compared to our mediterenean ones? Israel has a lot of variety and it all taste so good, and I heard it's not the same in Finland

You're probably not the right person to ask but *anyone* knows of an Israeli grocery store around Helsinki? I know there are some Jews/Israeli in Helsinki so it could be perfect if there is an Israeli grocery store where I can find at least some Israeli products, to satisfy my hunger when the time comes...

[FIRAT]

you will have difficulties to get used of Finnish foods especially it makes it also difficult for you because you are from Israel,as far as i know Israeli foods should be similiar to Turkish foods,i mean spicy and lots of tomato so as a Turkish i still couldnt get used of Finnish cuisine but maybe you can get used easier foods here are mainly fish,meat and,bbq sousege ahmm but if you are jew you dont eat pork? so it might make everything difficult for you

Hey thanks for the view. I'm a born Jew but live as an atheist - but anyways I'm a vegeterian so I don't eat any meat. Sometimes I eat Sushi but it's hard for me, still a dead animal after all. How would you say the vegtibles are compared to our mediterenean ones? Israel has a lot of variety and it all taste so good, and I heard it's not the same in Finland

You're probably not the right person to ask but *anyone* knows of an Israeli grocery store around Helsinki? I know there are some Jews/Israeli in Helsinki so it could be perfect if there is an Israeli grocery store where I can find at least some Israeli products, to satisfy my hunger when the time comes...

There are jews so there should be jewish shops but i am not living in Helsinki so i really dont know for sure,after all i am also searching for Turkish shops about vegetable foods Finnish cuisine doesnt have as many foods as we have in mediterrian cuisine but you can still find every kind of vegetables and cook on your own ahh and if you like pastries and stuff like that you wil miss Israeli pastries so much

[Pursuivant]

you are right that hapankorppu is a bit cardboardy - but then try näkkileipä... wouldn't say though that matzah bread would be far above and beyond... dunno, the produce here is more greenhouse stuff, so for example tomatoes taste blander certain times of the year... you need to try different foods... karelian pasties for example - but it also depends on where you buy and what... and then with spices the Finns serve the food in two ways, bland and extra bland...

theres the kosher store next to the synagogue but its open a few hours on a few days... here we goes "kosher Deli" wednesdays 13-17, thursdays 9-17 and fridays 9-14. then again theres a palestinian or lebanese store selling "mideast" stuff around every corner in some areas so finding hummus and harissa is quite easy...

[onkko]

Dont say you did eat Hapankorppuja without toppings? Bit butter, cheese, (ok not ham for you) and cucumber (or whatever suits your taste, those are my) , its delicious snack, for drink with is maybe some russian early grey tea... aah, now i want some Without toppings its... well it is eatable. But im finnish tho

[rinso]

What would you recommend trying for a foreign (vegeterian, btw)? Is there something that you specially consider as delicious - from Finn cuisine/

The first thing that comes to mind is Carelian pastries. Rice pudding in a rye dough crust, often eaten with a butter/boiled egg mixture.
As a vegetarian you might find it difficult to find a complete diet. The choice of vegetables is not great (climate) and imported stuff is expensive.

[ChaoticShelly]

Dont say you did eat Hapankorppuja without toppings? Bit butter, cheese, (ok not ham for you) and cucumber (or whatever suits your taste, those are my) , its delicious snack, for drink with is maybe some russian early grey tea... aah, now i want some Without toppings its... well it is eatable. But im finnish tho

I have tried it in several ways. First without topping because I wanted to see what it reaslu tastes like. I also ate it with butter, cheese, vegtebles, but the taste of the cracker was so strong - it really reminded me of dirt and being an Israeli, be asure I know what dirt tastes like LOL. No offence!

you are right that hapankorppu is a bit cardboardy - but then try näkkileipä... wouldn't say though that matzah bread would be far above and beyond... dunno, the produce here is more greenhouse stuff, so for example tomatoes taste blander certain times of the year... you need to try different foods... karelian pasties for example - but it also depends on where you buy and what... and then with spices the Finns serve the food in two ways, bland and extra bland...

theres the kosher store next to the synagogue but its open a few hours on a few days... then again theres a palestinian or lebanese store selling "mideast" stuff around every corner in some areas so finding hummus and harissa is quite easy...

Hey Matzha bread is delicious! Like, with chocolate topping or cheese, Yumm Yumm! LOL Or Matzahbrite, broken Matzah pieces with egg and spices and some milk, like an omlett. Yummy! hehe...

But I appreciate the advice on the lebanese and palestinian stores, they might have a lot more than what a kosher store had to offer for me. Like pasties and hummus of course, and much more. Kosher stores tend to have some things from Israel like snacks mostly, so I might find my fav snacks there too.

What would you recommend trying for a foreign (vegeterian, btw)? Is there something that you specially consider as delicious - from Finn cuisine/

The first thing that comes to mind is Carelian pastries. Rice pudding in a rye dough crust, often eaten with a butter/boiled egg mixture.
As a vegetarian you might find it difficult to find a complete diet. The choice of vegetables is not great (climate) and imported stuff is expensive.

Is it really expensive? or somewhat affordable? Because on top of being a veggie I am Israeli, and I am addicted to fresh veggies and fruits. We have a lot of variety as well as the prices are quite inexpensive...

[Pursuivant]

yes well guess where our fancier fruits come from? even the generic name for "orange soda" is "jaffa"... so add a little exotic import price on top... potatoes are cheap though...

[Pursuivant]

so as a Turkish i still couldnt get used of Finnish cuisine

howcome you are so prejudiced against the national foods - pizza & kebab

[ChaoticShelly]

yes well guess where our fancier fruits come from? even the generic name for "orange soda" is "jaffa"... so add a little exotic import price on top... potatoes are cheap though...

LOL. Do Israeli get a discount ?

[onkko]

Dont say you did eat Hapankorppuja without toppings? Bit butter, cheese, (ok not ham for you) and cucumber (or whatever suits your taste, those are my) , its delicious snack, for drink with is maybe some russian early grey tea... aah, now i want some Without toppings its... well it is eatable. But im finnish tho

I have tried it in several ways. First without topping because I wanted to see what it reaslu tastes like. I also ate it with butter, cheese, vegtebles, but the taste of the cracker was so strong - it really reminded me of dirt and being an Israeli, be asure I know what dirt tastes like LOL. No offence!

No offence taken, it just didnt fit your taste
Im thinking what you could try from finnish cuisine but almost all i can think has some part of animal on it, only one without meat is hernekeitto (pea soup) but that also haves meat if done "proper" way (when im cheap i buy one without)
Goddammit im having short circuits in my brain, i thought i found one and already started to write but then "hmm... where blood comes..AARGH"

[FIRAT]

so as a Turkish i still couldnt get used of Finnish cuisine

howcome you are so prejudiced against the national foods - pizza & kebab

haha yea but i dont really like those kebabs though they arent kebabs actually

[Pursuivant]

well theres kesäkeitto... and pinaattilettuja

[ChaoticShelly]

well theres kesäkeitto... and pinaattilettuja

English darling. Speak English LOL. My Finnish is still bad