For you who does not know what Finnish and Swedish food is like, let us give you a short introduction.
Monika: “Finnish cuisine is based on fresh ingredients that come from our lakes and forests. Our traditional dishes are usually quite simple. This stems from the harsh and cold climate so people had to use whichever seasonal ingredients were available. Finns enjoy the simple things in life, such as hanging out at the summer house, which sometimes does not have gas or electricity, foraging berries and mushrooms, and just enjoying nature. This kind of mindset translates to cooking as well.
We eat a lot of fish, meat, mushrooms, berries and whole wheat products. We cannot live without that rye bread! In most recipes only salt and pepper is used for flavouring, letting the main ingredients shine. Essentially Finnish food is meat, sauce and potatoes. Can not forget the potatoes. We love to eat potatoes with everything.
Finns love all sorts of casseroles, hearty stews (such as reindeer stew), sweet buns, berry pies and so on. I’d say Finnish food is quite close to Swedish food as we share a common history and celebrate the same holidays. For me Finnish food is fast, simple and perfect for a weekday when you don’t feel like spending the whole evening in the kitchen. The traditional dishes also make me feel nostalgic, it feels like I am eating at grandma’s place.
Erik: Internationally, when people hear about Swedish food the first thing that comes to mind is usually “Surströmming” or “Köttbullar” from IKEA… but it is so much more than that. Sure, basically every main holiday contains eggs, pickled herring, snaps and potatoes, but the Swedish culinary experience can vary very much depending on where in the country you are.
Typical Swedish food, the so called “Husmanskost” have traditionally followed what was available in the region throughout the seasons. Nowadays it is focused on being simple and easy to make, to balance our busy schedules throughout the week.
Another food culture that has put Sweden on the map internationally is the social construct known as Fika, where you meet up with friends, or your colleauges during your workday breaks, to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, often accompanied with some kind of baked goods.
Sweden is also the birth place of the Cinnamon bun, or “Kanelbulle” as we call it, and the kanelbulle has it’s very own special day in Sweden as October 4th is the official Cinnamon bun day. We also have other days dedicated to other baked goods and cakes. All to have that extra reason to meet up with friends for a proper Swedish Fika.
