Restaurant industry professionals from all over the Nordics will head to Helsinki in the coming days as the city prepares to host one of the world’s most prestigious restaurant events, the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony.
The event, which takes place on May 27th at Helsinki’s Savoy Theatre, comes as Helsinki continues to strengthen its profile as a culinary destination, preparing for a summer filled with food-themed events. Visitors can sample the city’s rich culinary culture by enjoying food and drinks at the many restaurants participating in the Feast Helsinki food weeks and by watching the award ceremony live at a viewing grandstand.
Next Monday, May 27th, the city will host the Michelin Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony, during which the latest Michelin stars awarded to Nordic restaurants will be revealed. This is the first time the ceremony will be held in Helsinki, Finland’s capital city.
During the weekend leading up to the ceremony, the Feast Helsinki food event, kicking off on May 24th, gives locals and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy the city’s top restaurants, extending their opening hours on Sunday and Monday. Feast Helsinki, a significant joint effort by the region’s restaurant, tourism and event sectors, will continue until June 16th, highlighting the vibrant food scene in Helsinki by putting on over 100 events.
Feast Helsinki is a highlight of a food-themed year, during which the city will host more than 450 events. “Gastronomy plays a vital role when people decide where to travel. It is important that Helsinki has culinary experiences to offer visitors year-round,” commented Anu Syrmä, Brand, Marketing, and Communications Director of Helsinki Partners.
Helsinki’s Growing Culinary Reputation
The Michelin Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony, hosted by the city in cooperation with Visit Finland, as well as the Finnish food and drink industry firms of Fazer, The Helsinki Distilling Company, Kespro and Valio Aimo, gathers the Nordic region’s top chefs and other industry professionals at the Savoy Theatre and the City Hall on Monday evening.
The Michelin Guide Nordic Countries publication highlights exceptional food in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. The Michelin stars awarded at the ceremony are the most coveted and respected recognition of excellence in the restaurant industry.
In addition to them, other awards, such as the Michelin Green Stars, awarded to restaurants that offer first-class environmentally friendly and sustainable dining experiences, will be presented at the reveal. The event is expected to attract hundreds of restaurant industry professionals and international media representatives to Helsinki.
“We are thrilled and honoured to host the upcoming Michelin Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony next week. We can’t wait to welcome everyone and showcase our excellent offerings and unique culinary scene to our quests. Helsinki undoubtedly deserves its spot on the gastronomic map”, says Nina Vesterinen, Tourism Director, City of Helsinki.
The 2023 edition of the Nordic Guide contained 271 restaurants, with 81 rated with one, two or three stars.
Five of Finland’s Michelin-starred restaurants are located in Helsinki. Finnjävel Salonki, Olo, Demo and Grön hold one star, while Palace is rated as Finland’s only two-star restaurant. Kaskis in the southwest coastal city of Turku and Vår in the southern town of Porvoo have one star each, with Vår also boasting a Michelin Green Star. In addition, three restaurants in Helsinki – Natura, Nolla and Grön – currently hold a Green Star.
Food is an important tourist attraction factor for the whole of Finland, and Helsinki plays a vital role as the country’s largest city and capital.
Over the past decade, Finland’s food scene has seen rapid transformations, with its first Michelin-star restaurant being Palace in 1987, after which the number of top-rated restaurants has continued to increase.
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