Eating out

I wanted to touch on the subject of eating out.  First, let me say a few words about the resturants in the area.  There are a billion of them!  If you look at the Helsinki area, it is very much like any other metropolitan area: there are retail stores (mostly high end), coffee houses and resturants, and little else.  It's quite wonderful, actually.

Anyway, the resturants often have menues on their windows or a board out front, and I'd say a good 50% of them are in both Finnish and English.  The ones that are not in English we pretty much pass up at this point because goodness knows that I don't want to accidentally consume reindeer or elk!

As an aside, my husband Brian could care less what he eats as long as it tastes good.  I, on the other hand, have food issues.  I'm what you would call a fussy eater.  I don't like sauces, spices or seafood (which puts me in poor stead in Finland).  I need to know exactly what I'm eating, and I'm a bit of a food separatist (I like things separate, not together like in soups, stews, and casseroles).   I am also sensitive of gluten and onions.

All that said, we have been to a number of different resturants in the area, and the food is pretty good.  It is easier to find gluten free food here than  it is in the states, and the food is generally served fresh and hot.  There is a much greater selection of potatoes on the menues, and water is generally kept in a pitcher at each table.  The cost of eating out is much higher here than in the states, but it is not expected that you will leave a tip.

No tip?  sounds good, doesn't it?  Yeah, but it does affect the service, or so I believe.  We have been seated and waited a good ten to twenty minutes before our server appeared.  Then, waited another ten to twenty minutes before our order was taken, a normal amount of time for our food and then nothing.  No checking on our table to see if we need anything, no contact whatever.  And this seems to be typical.  It isn't so bad once you expect it, in fact it is kind of humorous.  We are so used to banter and interaction with our wait staff, that this is completely foreign to us. I can get used to it though, the time to yourself is nice, actually.  Still, I think I miss the interaction.

Now for fast food resturants.  Yes, Virginia, there is a McDonalds.  In fact there are many, many McDonalds (just like in the USA).  They are somewhat the same, though the menu is limited, and the service is slower.  BUT, they are generally two story, the food tends to be hotter and fresher, and they bring your food to your table if it is not ready right away.  Other fast food places include a southern fried chicken place, a Finnish burgers place, pizza hut and many different deli type places, including SubWay.

So those are my thoughts for now.  I'm sure there is more to come, as I have been enjoying exploring the different food establishments in the area, and I am trying to be more adventureous in my eating.  I will let you know.