Finland might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of a food-focused holiday, but the country has been named the happiest place in the world for no less than the ninth consecutive year – and they do say the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, after all.
Tourism board Visit Finland is keen to shed some light on Finland’s foodie culture, which they claim is ‘the world’s last undiscovered cuisine’. To do so, they’ve launched Finland’s Official Tasting Table, and they’re inviting 16 very lucky (and hopefully hungry) travellers to pull up a seat.
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What that actually means is two exclusive, all-expenses-paid trips are being run in September, and everyone is invited to apply for a spot.
The first is a journey curated by founder of Michelin-starred Restaurant Kaskis Erik Mansikka, which meanders along the coast and across the archipelago, showcasing how Finns have harnessed the sea, how it’s shaped their cooking practices, and all the kinds of seasonal produce on offer.
The other ventures to Lapland and has been organised by rising culinary star Joel Manninen, whose cuisine is inspired by the Arctic and ingredients from Finland’s far north. Think bowls of salmon soup and sauteed reindeer.
Both itineraries will feature activities and cultural experiences to ‘engage all the senses’, along with (of course) plenty of food. Below are some snaps of what your days could look like.
How do you apply for a seat at the table?
Firstly, you’ll have the tricky decision of which region to plump for. When you’ve done that, a social media challenge awaits.
You’ll need to share a short video on either Instagram or TikTok introducing yourself and explaining why you’d like to get involved. Applications are open from now until 11.59pm EEST on June 9, and winning candidates should find out if they’ve been successful on June 29.
More information can be found on the official website.
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