My partner Miroand I went to Ravintola Ukkometso and ordered traditional Finnish meatballs with mashed potatoes and a hamburger. We also tried Lindemans Kriek Cherry Beer, which had a sweet and fruity taste. Through this experience, I learned more about Finnish traditional food, especially how simple and natural ingredients are used. The “house meatballs” on the menu represent typical Finnish home-style cuisine, served with creamy sauce and mashed potatoes.
We also found out that Metso means a bird (a kind of grouse) in Finnish, which made the restaurant’s name even more interesting. During our meal, we shared thoughts about Finnish and Korean food culture. I explained how Korean meals often include many side dishes and bold flavors, while my partner told me that Finnish people prefer calm eating habits and focus on fresh, local ingredients.
I learned several Finnish words related to this situation: lihapullat (meatballs), perunamuusi (mashed potatoes), olut (beer), hampurilainen (hamburger), ruoka (food), and lasku (bill). I also practiced useful Finnish expressions for paying at a restaurant, such as “Saisimmeko laskun, kiitos?” (Could we have the bill, please?), “Käykö kortti?” (Do you accept card?), “Ei tarvitse vaihtorahaa.” (Keep the change, please.), and “Maksamme erikseen.” (We’ll pay separately.).
This session was meaningful because I could experience Finnish culture through food and practice both Finnish and English in a real situation. Next time, I’d like to learn more expressions for ordering food naturally and talking about taste.
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