In both the old and new bakeries of Helsinki, bread, an everyday staple, is elevated to an art form. The city boasts a variety of bread and pastries, both sweet and savory. Rye bread, with its dense texture and distinctive flavour, is still a favourite in many of the bakeries, both in the city’s oldest bakery and café, Ekberg, as in everyday bakeries with several outlets, like Kanniston leipomo, Väyrynen and Gateau.
Seasonal tarts and cakes, showcasing local ingredients, are not just foods but reflections of seasons and celebrations. Some of the most special of these seasonal treats are tippaleipä, or funnel cakes, a deep fried crispy cake sold only during the First of May celebrations and the Runeberg cake, named after the National Poet Johan Ludvig Runeberg and sold in early February. Among the more common sweet pastries are blueberry and lingonberry tarts, often combined with a quark custard. Each piece, from a simple rye loaf to an elaborate seasonal tart, embodies a part of the local culinary heritage.
Handmade ice creams, coffee roasteries, and artisanal chocolates and candies, further illustrate the strong commitment to craft. These products are not mass-produced but are created with a respect for quality and tradition. When served, many cafes prefer to use minimalist Finnish design classics or ceramic tableware of Helsinkian artists.
The food of Helsinki is based on the Finnish cuisine, where old cooking techniques such as open-fire cooking, charring and smoking, have an important role. These methods, passed down through generations, add depth and complexity to the flavors. They are not just cooking techniques but a connection to the past, a link to the generations of Finnish cooks who have passed on their skills over centuries.
The word 'craft' perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Helsinki’s food and restaurant culture. It is a cuisine that celebrates the skill of the artisan, the richness of its cultural heritage, and the depth of its flavors. In every loaf of rye bread, every handmade chocolate, and in the smoky flavors of open-fire cooking, the craft of Finnish cuisine is vividly alive, inviting locals and visitors alike to enjoy its culinary delights around the capital.
