Food – Blue Moment

Day 233: Birthday Dinner

October 12, 2026October 12, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Family, Helsinki, Kiara, night, StuartTagged 365 Project, Alanna, family, Food, Kiara, StuartLeave a comment

Stuart, Alanna and Kiara took me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday.

Over the years, Stuart and I have perfected the art of maximising the number of dishes you can taste in a restaurant. We never order the same dish, and often go half-and-half on starters, sometimes even on mains.

The girls complicate the maths, as they are just as keen to taste everything. With you have half a starter to start with, sharing it with two other people tends to leave you with very little.

When the dish is very small – or exceptionally good – we claim it is super spicy. But even that doesn’t always work anymore.

Day 227: ‘Shrooming

October 6, 2026October 6, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Fall, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, WildlifeTagged 365 Project, Activities, Fall, Finland, Food, Learning, Nature, OutdoorsLeave a comment

Everyman’s rights are a fantastic concept, recognised throughout the Nordics. They allow anyone to walk, camp or gather berries and mushrooms in forests – no matter who owns the land.

Picking mushrooms is therefore all the rage among us middle-aged Finns.

In all seriosness, I have been interested in mushrooming for a long time. But it is not something you should attempt if you are totally clueless.

Out of the approx 400 species of mushrooms in Finland, only 5-6 can kill you. Another 50 or so just make you sick. However, those are not odds I am willing to gamble on. Especially as only about 30 actually taste good.

So, I took a course. Six hours with a very competent teacher in a sunny forest.

Now I believe I can confidently recognize five edible ones.

Day 206: A Great Steak

September 17, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Cooking, Helsinki, WorkTagged 365 Project, Food, HelsinkiLeave a comment

The older I get, the less likely I am to order a steak in a restaurant. It’s heavy. And often quite boring.

But a really, really good steak?

Still the food of gods.

Day 193: Chai Latte

September 1, 2026September 1, 2026Posted in 365 Project, FinlandTagged 365 Project, Finland, FoodLeave a comment

As said before, I don’t drink coffee. I simply don’t like the taste.

Chai lattes are my guilty pleasure. A really good one is what I imagine great, fancy coffee feels like to a coffee lover. A treat for all the senses.

Unfortunately, a genuinely good chai latte is too rare in Finland.

Day 191: Bicycles and Baquette

August 31, 2026September 1, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Family, Kiara, Outdoors, Sport, StuartTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Food, Kiara, Outdoors, Sport, Stuart, SummerLeave a comment

Cycling slightly longer distances is easier when you have a fun destination. Even if it is just a picnic in a park.

I nearly craned my neck keeping an eye on the rainclouds. The forecast promised rain only later, but the 6km back home would feel long in the rain.

We made it with at least 4 minutes to spare.

Day 135: Muikku

July 1, 2026July 1, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Asikkala, Cooking, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Food, Summer CottageLeave a comment

Pan-fried muikku (vendace) is a Finnish delicacy. The girls and I absolutely love it. Stuart thinks it is good, but as with many good things, Finns tend to overdo it.

You can get muikku at many lakeside restaurants during the summer, and I even make it myself from time to time. But the best muikku is made by ukki in the boathouse. The boathouse is as important part of the meal than the muikku itself.

Day 133: Midsummer Moods

June 29, 2026June 29, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Asikkala, Cooking, Family, Festivals, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, family, Finland, Food, Holidays, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Summer CottageLeave a comment

Finns are always surprised when the weather is good at Midsummer. Although, I could be a spoilsport and note that every single one of the five Midsummers since we moved bach has been beautiful.

Then again, I still remember the years of +9°C and rain, so I mostly let people enjoy their weather debates.

Anyway, it is hard to capture the essence of Midsummer in single picture. I cheated and made a collage. Good food, good drinks, the midnight sun, summer…

Day 129: Sausage

June 25, 2026June 25, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Asikkala, Cooking, Kiara, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Food, Kiara, Summer CottageLeave a comment

Despite being a foodie, even I admit that frying sausages over the fire is part of summer at the summer cottage.

Day 128: Just A Bit Better Food

June 24, 2026June 24, 2026Posted in Activities, Cooking, FamilyTagged 365 Project, Activities, family, Food, Summer CottageLeave a comment

According to my dad, my mum and I cook far too complicated food in the summer cottage. Then again, he considers anything more time-consuming than fried sausage or pasta too complicated. (Unless it is fish, in which case it is never too time-consuming.)

To be fair, we do occassionally go a bit overboard. Or rather, we like trying new things. And more often than not, one element doesn’t quite work out, so we end up improvising as we go.

Generally, though, we have fun.

And my dad has yet to refuse any of it.

So I would call it a win-win.

Day 123: Seaside Picnic

June 19, 2026June 19, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Family, Kiara, Outdoors, Stuart, WaterTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, family, Food, Kiara, Stuart, WineLeave a comment

Food tastes better when eaten outside.

The nearest “beach” to us is just a quick hop away. It’s a secluded little strech of sand, and you can’t get there with a car. Consequently, it is often pretty quiet.

With the weather being great, we went for a picnic on a whim. We grabbed whatever we fancied from a store and cycled to the “beach” for a few hours of games, snacks and scenery. The girls even waded to the water, but it was still way too cold for a swim.

Best night of the week.