Restaurant Day May 2012

Helsinki, 13 degrees

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.

This sunny Restaurant Day I chose to try the new mint top I've recently picked up at H&M. This food carnival has become so widely popular in Helsinki that it was now organized for the fifth time, and it is nowadays arranged four times a year. I managed to convince my sis and her fiance to come along with me to see what treats Helsinki had in store for us today.

Even though I planned to go out in the sunshine with my hair open, I later decided to make a quick bun.

We started with some "One Thousand and One Night atmosphere" at restaurant Turtle's Nest in the Kamppi district of Helsinki. Arabian food is so good: hummus, pita bread, egg plant creamy paste, oriental lamb, peach raita, shakshouka, rice and cardamom ice cream! I highly recommend this restaurant since the food was delicious and the people super friendly and generous!

I liked the fact the host and hostess had combined Finnish dishes with Arabian food! That cake was a yummy!

We continued to the Punavuori district since that is where my sis lives. I had heard about an Italian mom visiting Helsinki just for the Restaurant Day so I thought I had to check out what Italian treats I could get my hands on. Apulia at cook-shop Eiring was no disappointment when it came to the food! We had some wonderful spaghetti and Italian sausage!

I loved the idea that an Italian family was responsible for the food: the whole family was there (mother, father and son). I, of course, would have wanted to talk with them some since I've never been to the heel of Italy but understandably they didn't have time to focus only on me so we exchanged only a few words. I heard that they have cooking school evenings at the cook-shop though, so I might be able to join in on those later on.

In total, the day was a success! On the way, between these two restaurants, we saw tons and tons of other pop up restaurants and cafés but there is only so much a girl can eat!

I also wanted to get home in time to see some of the ice hockey game between Finland and Russia. If we don't win today, we are out of the championships so there is a lot on stake!

Have you ever participated in the Restaurant Day? Do you have it in your country? Did you know it all started in Finland?