Finnair to offer new food menus on long routes

The national flag carrier Finnair plans to offer new menus of its onboard meals in celebration of Finland’s upcoming centennial anniversary.

The menus which intend to promote Finland’s healthy and hearty food culture are planned in cooperation with the ELO Foundation, an association dedicated to promoting Finnish food culture.

For business class passengers flying out of Helsinki on long-haul flights between October 4, 2017 and January 9, 2018 Finnair’s signature menu Chef EeroVottonen has put together an exclusive 100 years-themed menu to celebrate the culinary nuances of Finnish food.

The menu features delicacies such as Baltic herring, a Karelian stew, and a cep mushroom soup flavoured with cured elk. Vottonen with support from the ELO Foundation finished sixth among the 24 chefs who took part in the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition in Lyon, France in January.

“When creating Finnair’s centennial menu, I reflected on what Finland and its food culture represent for me,” said Vottonen, adding, “It’s a big honour for me to collaborate with Finnair on this initiative and I’m excited to have the opportunity to introduce the tastes of Finland to thousands of passengers travelling through Finland by Finnair.”

The “Finland 100 years menu” served on Finnair flights will feature elements such as pickled salmon, rainbow trout, and a Karelian stew with beef and pork.

Variations of the ELO Foundation’s “100 years menu” will also be served at Finnish embassies around the world to commemorate Finland’s centennial celebration.

For economy class customers on long-haul flights from July 5, 2017 to January 9, 2018, Finnair has partnered with the ELO Foundation and the Cygnaeus elementary school in Turku to create meals promoting Finland’s healthy and tasty school meals.

Finland is world-renowned for its excellent school system, which also includes a free school meal for all children from grades one to nine, as well as for students in high schools and trade schools.

The meals were selected by students from the Cygnaeus school in Turku during a workshop on Finnair’s catering premises and tailored to fit the aircraft environment. The meals selected by the students include traditional Finnish favourites such as potatoes and meatballs as well as macaroni and meat casserole.

“Our main objective in partnering with the ELO Foundation on these great initiatives is to help promote Finland’s healthy and delicious food culture to hundreds of thousands of international passengers flying with us this year,” said Maarit Keränen, head of in-flight service at Finnair.

“We are extremely proud to take part in these collaboration initiatives with Finnair and to promote Finnish school meals in Finland and abroad,” said ELO Foundation Executive Director Seija Kurunmäki.

“Finland was the first country in the world to serve free school meals in 1943. Gradually, school meals in Finland have become more varied and are today part of a holistic pedagogic tool which extends far beyond the school lunch,” Kurunmäki said.

Finnair will also celebrate Finland’s 100 years by offering rye bread and Karelian pies during the meal service onboard its long-haul flights. Both the items were in the top 3 when nearly 50,000 Finns voted in a public call to find Finland’s national food as a tribute to the country’s centennial anniversary.