As I know, or, as I've seen, they have always in their meal: bread (seems to be rye bread), butter or different kind of cheese creams, rice, potatoes... All of these are carbohydrates and, in a way, fat. Could it be for the cold? Could it be because of their loving for sport? I don't know, yet. But it seems they have a healthy lifestyle, generally.
During these two months that I've been here, I've tasted some Finnish food that I like. Let's see some examples:
- Salmon Soup: I think there's no secret for this dish. It's just broth with vegetables and salmon (I think boiled, isn't it?). When I tasted it I was in Helsinki, visiting the city. After a cold and tiring walking around the city, I really enjoyed this soup.
- A loooooooooot of salads. As I see, they always use to eat salad in midday, a big one.
I can't understand how they can do it. I thought they should eat warm food, because of the cold, they need something warm inside... am I right? It was one of the first surprises I got.
Karelian pasties called Riisipiirakka. Is a kind of bread that inside there's egg and rice. I haven't got the meal and the way to eat it. With something on it? In the morning? Afternoon? I can't compare it with something from Spain... So the fact is that I don't know anything about this, but I like it. Actually, is very tasteless, but when I tried I put smoked salmon and cucumber. Veeeeeeeery good!
- I also have tasted reindeer meatballs. They are quite good with a little bit of spices. I have to say that is hard for me to eat it. For me is not an animal to eat, is just a wild animal. I am not used to this. I eat different animals such as cow, pork, rabbit, lamb, and also fish... So I am sad when I think that I am eating an animal like reindeer. But, anyway, It's really good!!!!!!
I am not pretty sure that eating reindeer is common here. Yes, it is, but maybe, is more touristic than common in current Finns' lives. I don't know, but I think so.
- Now the most interesting moment for me has come: desserts. I see that people here don't eat desserts. How strange for me! Well, actually I don't use to eat desserts, I mean, maybe a piece of fruit, but nothing in special. But, on the other hand, they eat a big cake or something sweet between the lunch and dinner. I do too, but just a little thing. I have to say that I am not a big fan of cakes and sweets, or, at least, I wasn't.... Now I've discover how good they are...! There are a lot of pies, muffins, cookies to taste everywhere (especially in the university). In Spain we only use to eat cakes for a birthday celebration or for something important. Is not so common to eat them currently.
There's something that I don't understand... How many meals they have? I always see people eating. So, I don't know which are the meals and timetables...! As Spanish, for me is always late: When they have lunch, I am taking my breakfast; when they eat the cake in the afternoon, I amb having lunch (but this is not a problem, because we also eat the cake as a dessert); and then when they are having the dinner, we are taking a cup of tea or coffee (I have to say that I haven't tasted a good coffee in Finland...)... So is such a big decontrol. The fact is that now I am trying to get used to Finnish meals' timetables, so now I am always hungry. I don't know if I'm havig lunch, dinner, breakfast, everything together...!
So, as you can see, I really like food and tasting new food. I hope to try Christmas Finnish food, can be good! It's true that they are not the king's of cooking, but is not bad at all!
Comment and bon appétit!
AA.
