Dining with Finnair: A Taste of Finland Across the Skies
When you fly with Finnair, the dining aims to showcase Finland’s rich culinary traditions. Across all cabins, Finnair focuses on providing quality Nordic-inspired inflight cuisine using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
In this extensive post, we’ll explore Finnair’s food and drink menus across cabins. Read on for a look at the culinary offerings, locally-sourced dishes, premium wines, and service that make dining with Finnair a distinctly Nordic gastronomic journey.
Overview of Dining with Finnair:
- Locally-inspired menus reflecting Finland’s Nordic culinary heritage and seasonal essence
- Business Class dining spotlighting Finland’s acclaimed chefs and artisanal ingredients
- Premium wines like the exclusive Marimekko wines solely available with Finnair
- Complimentary dining including beer, wine and Nordic bites across all classes
- Caring, efficient service providing an enjoyable mealtime experience in the skies
With quality ingredients and preparations, dining with Finnair is a treat for Nordic cuisine devotees.
A Look at the Finnair Onboard Dining Experience
As someone who travels frequently between Asia and Europe, I was excited to finally try Finnair’s promoted Nordic dining on my Helsinki to Tokyo trip. Their Airbus A350 business-class cabin felt sleek, spacious and quiet – the ideal setting for a singular culinary experience reflecting Finland’s flavors. Here’s an inside look at the satisfying dining I enjoyed while crossing latitudes aboard Finnair.
The Friendly, Efficient Service Style
The gracious crew struck the right balance of efficiency and care:
- Politely taking orders after boarding was complete, not rushed
- Rapid meal delivery with servings timed properly
- Clearing courses quickly once finished while double-checking I was done
- Responding promptly and happily to any additional requests
Dining felt pleasantly paced, unrushed, and attentive – well orchestrated by the cabin staff.
A Showcase of Modern Nordic Excellence
From the welcome drink to dessert, the cuisine highlighted Finland’s bounty through:
- Foraged ingredients like cloudberries, birch sap, wild herbs
- Reindeer tartare salad with rye crisps, celebrating local game
- Finnish milk chocolate mousse, a premium Nordic comfort dessert
It was a master class in modern Nordic gastronomy at cruising altitude. Bravo to Finnair’s talented culinary team!
The Essence of Pure, Seasonal Ingredients
Finnair’s menus focused on premium Nordic ingredients:
- Sweet, lush Finnish cloudberries
- House-made gravlax from Baltic salmon
- Pork from free-range Finnish farms
- Emmer wheat crisps from Kyrö distillery
The care put into sourcing radiated from each plate or bowl.
Classic Nordic Beverages with a Twist
Smart beverage pairings complemented the cuisine:
- Lingonberry gin and tonic
- Funky juniper lemonade
- Limited edition blueberry-sage Marimekko wine
- Salmiakki Koskenkorva vodka from Finland
With both spirited and non-alcoholic options, the drink program pleased.
Why Finnair’s Dining Stands Apart
As a frequent business class diner, here are the aspects that impressed:
- Showcasing of modern Nordic cooking using regional ingredients
- Efficient yet warm service balancing calm and care
- Interesting Nordic-inspired craft cocktails and mocktails
- Focus on pure flavor through seasonal and foraged components
- Unique wine collaborations exclusive to Finnair
Finnair delivers destination dining at 35,000 feet – a standout for Euro carriers.
Top Flavors from My Finnair Meals
To highlight Finnair’s cuisine, here are memorable tastes from my journey:
Helsinki Lounge Visit
- Marimekko sage-blueberry wine
- Gravlax canapés
Welcome Aboard
- Refreshing juniper berry mocktail
Appetizer
- House-smoked reindeer tartare
Main
- Seared Arctic char, dill foam, pickled onions
Dessert
- Sweet cloudberry mousse cake
With craveable Nordic flavors, Finnair kept me satisfied across latitudes.
Bringing Quality Ingredients to Life
While this article focused on business class, Finnair incorporates local, seasonal Nordic ingredients across all cabins:
- Economy Class tasting bites like gravlax, Karelian pastries, Finnish cheeses
- Premium Economy 3-course meals with upgraded presentation
- First Class bespoke dining like caviar, foraged herbs and edible forest moss!
No matter how you fly, through quality sourcing and cooking, Finnair makes each meal memorable.
Experience Finland’s Essence Through Finnair’s Cuisine
By honoring Nordic traditions while incorporating modern techniques, dining with Finnair offers a singular culinary adventure reflecting Finland’s seasonal essence and new Nordic cooking.
So on your next flight over the pole, be sure to indulge – because at 35,000 feet aboard Finnair you’ll find quality ingredients prepared with care celebrating the bright flavors of Finland and the Nordic region. It’s a refined, uniquely Nordic hospitality experience.
