AUSSIE BLOG AWARDS 2014

We are so excited to be nominated in the Aussie Blog Awards this year. We are nominated in two categories: Best Newcomer and Reader's Choice. You would make us very happy by voting for us here! (The site is only in Finnish sorry!)


Heidi & Minna xx

BEAUTIFUL HELSINKI

Photos: Elina Manninen



I wanted to show you these last few pictures of our wedding night. How beautiful does Helsinki look from the heights of Savoy Restaurant?






Oh and here's one of the more "official" wedding pictures (the cheesiest one!) that very much fits the title of this post... The rest will remain in our private album :-)



Minna x

LITTLE PEAK TO OUR WEDDING RECEPTION

Photos: Elina Manninen

At our wedding we had only close family as guests so we didn't need to hire a whole venue, we just needed a large table at a good Helsinki restaurant. I considered a few of the newer and more modern options but in the end decided on Savoy. It's by no means trendy or hip but has the kind of old school glamour that I thought would be perfect for a very special occasion. Savoy was established in 1937 so the word old school is certainly appropriate and it's safe to say they know what they're doing! The restaurant is located high up overlooking Esplanadi Park so the views are beautiful especially at night. As we had guests from the UK too the view was what made me sure of my choice as I wanted them to have a very special Helsinki experience. 

As table decoration we had candles only. That looked lovely on a cold winter evening. Our dress code was black tie. I love a dress code and it makes pictures look great!

Actually we did have some added decoration... A few balloons for our girls. I knew they would be awfully disappointed to arrive at a party that had no balloons. What kind of party would that be!?

To add to the reasons for choosing Savoy I must mention their wine list... Very impressive.

To the important bits; what did we eat? First course was blinis with the choice of caviar or roe. The caviar was Finnish (usually it's Russian) and absolutely delicious!

We then continued with a little middle course of black truffle risotto. 

For main we had a choice of lamb or fish. Or salmon and chips for the two youngest guests.

The food was excellent. To be honest I had expected it to be more fine dining (read: ridiculously small portions covered in different types of foams and mousses) but it was perfect and didn't leave anyone hungry. All in all Savoy did an amazing job. We were very pleased with every aspect to our venue and I wouldn't change anything if I was to do it all over again.

As a dessert we had berry tart that was after this picture was taken soaked in to-die-for caramel sauce. 

The kids did well. In the church it was pretty much three of us that got married; Little M didn't leave my side (or she would have but it wasn't going to be worth the noise that would have followed...) so she literally kneeled down at the altar with us. However Baby M who I had expected to be the trouble maker sat down on her grandmother's knee throughout the ceremony and didn't make a beep.

Colouring, iPads and balloons kept them happy through the dinner too. Baby M again didn't make a murmur but Little M had one almighty tantrum upon arrival to the restaurant. I guess it was all a bit overwhelming and unknown to her. Surprisingly though at the end of the evening she happily left home with my mum so that we could carry on celebrating by meeting my friends for drinks. 

Cheers! We had a lovely, lovely evening to remember!

Minna x

PASTIS, HELSINKI

I'm sure this restaurant has been mentioned in a lot of Finnish blogs but I must mention it too. Pastis! What a fabulous addition to the list of Helsinki's great restaurants. That list just keeps on getting longer and longer. When a few years back I wasn't really sure where to dine when in Helsinki I'm now totally spoilt for choice. 

I had lunch in Pastis with my British guests. Let me tell you what I ate. First course an absolutely delicious seafood salad. I'm an octopus fanatic. It's probably my number one favourite food so when ever that's on the menu I'm going to go for it. Bring on the tentacles and suckers! Some people get put off by the sight of them but not me.

Second course was equally delicious; rib of pork. Slow cooked, melts in your mouth kind of thing. Alongside it they served an artichoke mash. Thinking of it makes my mouth water.

A little naughty macaroon to finish off. I went for the caramel one, obviously! 

And this was me, very happy after a delicious lunch, wrapped up in my enormous scarf yet again! I can't wait to go back to Pastis. Dinner next time. Just one question; why would they not be open for lunch on the weekend? Surely that's supposed to be prime time for restaurants?

My Mother-In-Law got to eat in Maxill, Muru, Salutorget, Pastis and Savoy. All great and all restaurants I will be going back to many times over. I'm on a bit of a Helsinki high here... One day I'd like to take all my London friends for a visit!

Minna x

HELSINKI WITH MY WEDDING GUESTS

My Mother-In-Law arrived in Helsinki a couple of days prior to our wedding. It was her first time in Finland so she wanted to have time to see a bit more than Helsinki Old Church (which btw you can see in the above picture) and the wedding dinner venue. It was quite nice for me too to walk around Helsinki as a tourist. Often you don't see and appreciate places and things very familiar to you. 

I really noticed during this visit how beautiful Helsinki is (despite the puddles..) and what amazing architecture we have. Obviously I've always known that but haven't really made a point at properly stopping to appreciate it.

During our first day out in Helsinki we stopped for lunch at the brasserie at Hotel Kamp. Their glass veranda great for watching the Helsinki people go by. For a culinary experience I wouldn't choose it but it's okay for a quick salad in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere in a top spot on Pohjoisesplanadi.

Esplanadi park in the heart of the city and one of my favourite Helsinki buildings; Kappeli restaurant.

Baby M enjoying a Karelian Pie on the rather empty market square in the port. 

Love this alley between the market and Senate square. It ended up being our venue for a few wedding pictures too!

And us on the Senate Square.

Then the stunning Helsinki Cathedral. 

I had such a nice time back home again and the moment of leaving is always sad... However the moment of seeing the lights of London and landing at Heathrow is always a happy one. If only one could split herself to live in multiple places! :-)

Minna x