To celebrate Finland’s 100th anniversary of independence, Finnair is launching three new food collaborations for its onboard meals. Intended to promote Finland’s healthy and hearty food culture, the new meals have been created in partnership with the ELO Foundation, an association dedicated to the promotion of Finnish food culture.
Business class for long-haul flights leaving Helsinki
Business Class customers travelling on long-haul flights departing from Helsinki between October 4 and January 9 will be able to sample an exclusive 100 years-themed menu created by Finnair’s Signature Menu chef, Eero Vottonen.
The menu features delicacies such as Baltic herring, a Karelian stew and a cep mushroom soup flavored with cured elk. Vottonen, supported by the ELO foundation, finished sixth out of twenty-four participants at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or competition in Lyon, France last January.
“When creating Finnair’s centennial menu, I reflected on what Finland and its food culture represent for me,” says Eero Vottonen. “It’s a big honor 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 with Finnair.”
Business class for long-haul flights to Helsinki
During the same period, business class customers arriving into Helsinki on most long-haul flights will also be served a Finland 100 years menu created by the ELO Foundation. It 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.
Economy class for long-haul flights
For economy class customers on long-haul flights from July 5 to January 9, 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 was the first ever country in the world to serve free school meals in 1943 and is world-renowned for its excellent school system.
The meals were selected by students from the Cygnaeus school in Turku during a workshop at Finnair’s catering premises, and tailored to fit the aircraft environment. The meals selected by the students include traditional Finnish favorites 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,” says Maarit Keränen, Head of in-flight service at Finnair. “For example, healthy and balanced school meals are an essential element of the well-recognized Finnish school system, and we are proud to highlight these tasty meals as part of our in-cabin service.”
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 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.
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