Suomi 100

In 1917, Finland became an independent nation.

On any given day in Thunder Bay (the Canadian city with the largest population of Finnish people living outside of Finland), you can get a small taste of Finnish culture with a meal at The Hoito and a sauna at Kangas’, but this year is different.

This year is… Suomi 100!

At Finnish Embassies across the globe, Suomi 100 will be celebrated with a special menu; the same menu will be prepared and served around the world. This menu was co-created by Kim Palhus, Finnish Chef, restaurateur and food ambassador and aims to bring people together to share a meal and also export the message of Finnish food and drink culture. "The menu provides a springboard for interesting stories about food and for discussions round the table," Mr. Palhus says.

What exactly is on this special menu?

• Finnish tidbits: salted fillet of beef, sea buckthorn jam; forest mushroom salad on rye crisps; horseradish mousse and smoked vendace, rainbow trout roe; lingonberry bun
• Tar-marinated salmon, dill cucumbers and green potato salad
• Sirloin of lamb, cabbage rolls stuffed with oats, lamb sausage and allspice gravy
• Brita cake

The Suomi 100 menu combines refined tastes that are both dear and well-known to Finns. The salmon of the first course is salt-cured and then infused with an emulsion made from tar pastilles. The fish is served with green potato salad, dill cucumbers and beetroot purée. The ingredients of the main course are sirloin of lamb, cabbage rolls stuffed with oats and lamb sausage seasoned with pine tip powder. Dark allspice gravy completes the dish.

Suomi 100 will celebrate Finland around the world, what makes the Thunder Bay celebration so special?

Well, the Finlandia Association of Thunder Bay (FATB) is honoured to welcome the co-creator of the worldwide celebration menu, Kim Palhus, to Thunder Bay to oversee two exciting culinary events taking place in October .

The events in October begin with a draw on October 13 for a gourmet sit-down dinner with wine pairings for one lucky winner and seven of his/her friends. The meal will comprise elements of the Suomi 100 menu, as well as a few surprise twists—a prize valued at approximately $1000. Second prize is a 10-piece gourmet cooking set valued at $780, and third prize is a gourmet gift basket worth $250. Only 1000 tickets have been printed and tickets are available for $10.00 each, or three for $25.00, at the Hoito, the Kitchen Nook/Finnish Book Store, Current River Bakery, Thunder Bay Country Market, Muloin’s Garage and Lappe Store. 

If you’re more focused on the food than the prizes, you can guarantee your place at the table by buying a ticket to the Suomi 100 dinner to be held on October 19, after-hours at The Hoito. This four-course dinner will delight your taste buds and show you a glimpse into the soul of Finnish food. Tickets are available for $100 each, also at the Hoito, Thunder Bay Country Market and the Finnish Book Store.

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