Crayfish Party for Two

Some years ago Pete and I both thought that we were allergic to crustacean. We both have the allergy for fish so that's why we thought it was the crustacean as well. Then Pete read this article that said that it is really rare to have an allergy for fish and crustacean both. As culinarists we were really excited and went to the market hall and bought different kind of oysters and mussels. It was amazing. After that I have been eating a lot of crustacean especially shrimp.

We decided to spend last weekend together at the cottage because the hunting season is starting and Pete and our hunting dog Mimi will be away most of the time during the autumn. As it is the season for traditional Finnish ans Swedish crayfish parties we wanted to eat crayfish at the cottage.

Pete went to the market hall and bought ready boiled crayfish and few oysters for starters. For wine we had a bottle of Jacquart champagne.

Pete bought the crayfish from Eriksson at the market hall.

Poor Instagram pic of the table setting as I forgot my flash at home.

It was so good. I wish to eat more crayfish soon!

Do you prefer noble crayfish ("jokirapu") or signal crayfish ("täplärapu")? The ones we had were noble crayfish.

Wellness Evening and Garden Party

Every year we have the Cheese & Wine Party at Hanna's garden after she has made her annual trip to Grasse in France where her aunt and cousins live. This year at the cheese party we had a great idea to have a wellness evening at Hanna's garden where she has a wood-heated sauna.

Hanna invited us girls over on the Night of the Arts. She had cooked some delicious food and made a rhubarb sangria. Some of the girls brought some food and wine as well. I got some sponsored natural cosmetics from the lovely Outi at Sugar Helsinki. Also Emma got a lot of cosmetics from her work as her profession is a beauty editor. So we had quite many products to test.

We went to the sauna and had like tens of different scrubs and masks. Some of them even self-made. Liisa made a lovely scrub and I also brought a scrub that I had made at a workshop in Jolie.

Some of the products Emma brought.

Kristiina gave a yoga massage for three Anna's and one Susanna.

Products from Sugar Helsinki.

After the sauna we were testing all the different shampoos, conditioners, hair oils and masks. My favorite product was a bodywash from Less is More. It smells like grapefruit and cardamom.

After the relaxing spa moment we ate some salads and pies. Someone asked that is it proper to bring a bottle of wine to a wellness evening. I said: "We are in Finland, you have to bring booze to a wellness evening." So we drank.

We had so many different serums to test that I think I tried like three different ones on my face. There is no such thing as a serum overdose. I loved all the Mia Höytö products Emma brought, they really work well for my skin.

When the evening started to get a little colder we took a foot bath with this really interesting product Magnesium Flakes Foot and Body Soak. I would highly recommend this product if you suffer from cramps. Before I have used this Magnesium Oil Joint spray, it really works instantly. Just spray it to a sore muscle or on your legs if you suffer from cramps.

These silkie chicken of Hanna & Samuli are so cool!

I am really looking forward to the next Wellness Evening!

Cosmetics products in the pictures were given to me from Sugar Helsinki.

Home Flea Market is the New Black

As a culinarist I spend all my money on food, wine, eating out and travelling. So I really don't have much left to buy beautiful clothes and shoes not to mention expensive bags.

But I love beautiful outfits and quality materials! To save money I usually I shop at sale and at flea markets. Recently I have been really happy to discover that the flea markets held at home are quite popular now-a-days. I realized I have found really special outfits that used to belong to my friends. And I have saved a lot of time and money by this!

My talented little brother Matti Keski-Kohtamäki is an extraordinary photographer so of course I had to take advantage of him. He was kind to take these outfit photos of me wearing clothes I have bought from my friends or at flea markets and second hand shops.

I bought this scarf from Maria and the shirt (COS) from Voula.

I bought this scarf and shirt (Pierre Balmain) from Maria, leggings and shoes (both Zara) from Voula.

This jacket (Weekday) I bought from sale.

This silk shirt (Paul & Joe) used to belong to Päivi. These trousers (Marimekko) and the bag (vintage) I bough from Voula. Hertta from Vaatelainaamo gave me these colorful flower socks. Shoes (Adidas) I found from a flea market. This Pelago Brooklyn bicycle was sold as a special offer when Pelago opened their shop in Kalevankatu.

This scarf (Global) used to be Voula's and the dress (Samuji) I bought from Maria.

I used to borrow this shirt (Acne) from my friend Hertta. Finally she sold it to me. Jeans (COS), belt (Tiger of Sweden) and shoes (Toms) from sale.

“Home flea markets really are the new black.”

— Eeva Kolu, Restaurant Day, 17 August 2014

Shirt used to belong to Maria. The bag (Kenzo) is from a second hand shop (Olkkari), second hand shorts from Berlin. The shoes (Robert Clergerie) I have borrowed from Maria and she is considering to sell them for me.

Haircut by Mikko Huttunen / The Lounge. The black ring used to belong to Voula. Swatch (Orient) I bought in Kuala Lumpur.

I bought this blouse (Zara) from Voula and the silk shirt is from a second hand shop (Hazy Days). Jewelry I bought with a "friend discount" from my talented designer friend Jaana / Pioni Design. 

This shirt is from a flea market. Shoes, leggings and ring used to belong to Voula.

Marrakesh in my mind.

Photos © Matti Keski-Kohtamäki / mattikk.net

If you wish to see more fashion photos visit Matti's fashion blog matti.photography.

HOT TIP: Remember mine and Tuija's flea market at my inner yard on Siivouspäivä Saturday 30 August! Come and see how lucky you are finding new jewels into your closet. Check out the facts from here and here.

Siivouspäivä - Flea Market at My Inner Yard, 30 August

Since the Cleaning Day "Siivouspäivä" was established I have been planning to have my own flea market at our inner yard in Albertinkatu, Helsinki. During the Cleaning Day anyone can sell their old stuff on the streets and parks anywhere in Finland. That's so perfect. You don't have to pay for the table at a flea market nor you need to carry your stuff outside from your house.

So finally this year me and my friend Tuija are selling our clothes, shoes and bags at my inner yard. The clothes are flying out of our closets!

Photo © Marina Ekroos

Photo © Marina Ekroos

Photo © Marina Ekroos

Photo © Marina Ekroos

The sizes for clothing are 34-40 / XS-M. Shoe sizes are 39-41. I also sell some of my boyfriend's clothes (M-XL) and shoes (41 / 7.5). The brands we have for sell are:

• Adidas

• Bruuns Bazaar

• Cheap Monday

• Cos

• Designer's Remix

• Filippa K

• Gap

• Hankala

• Iloa

• Ivana Helsinki

• Liu Jo

• Lolly's Loundry

• Lumi

• Nanso

• Puma

• Svetlana Farafonova

• Tiger of Sweden

• Tsumori Chisato

• Velour

• Whyred

• Zara

• + some vintage.

Photo © Marina Ekroos

Photo © Marina Ekroos

Check out our Facebook Event here. And you are the most welcome to shop our stuff!

Saturday 30 August 2014,
from 11 am to 4 pm,
at Albertinkatu, Helsinki.

My talented and dear friend Marina Ekroos did the photography for us.

Siivouspaiva.com
facebook.com/siivouspaiva (Suomeksi)
facebook.com/cleaningday.org (in English)
Annan & Tuijan kirppis Siivouspäivänä 30.8. - Our Facebook Event

PS Tuija is nominated for the best dressed female at the Elle Style Awards 2014. If you like you can vote for her here!

Restaurant Day, 17 August 2014

Last Sunday it was the 14th Restaurant Day. During the day you can have your own restaurant and sell the food you want to where you want to, for example at your home or on the streets. This time I didn't have much time to attend the event so I only visited two restaurants.

At first I drove my bicycle to Ullanlinna where a blogger friend of mine Hanna had a Vietnamese restaurant Vietnomnom with her boyfriend. On my way I bumped into Mikko and Eeva with the dachshunds so I enjoyed the meal and the coffee in their lively company.

Luna & Juno

Restaurant Vietnomnom

There was a long queue and the tofu pho was already finished. Luckily the beef pho was made of organic beef. So I ordered the beef pho. It was so delicious and hot! I like to eat fresh chili so this was a meal made for me. After we had our stomachs filled we enjoyed some Vietnamese coffee. It's so sweet that you could replace a dessert with it.

I love fresh chili!

Hanna the lovely chef.

Vietnamese pho served by Hanna.

After the Vietnamise experience I went to a fleamarket that was held at my friend's home. After some shopping I drove to Fredrikintori square in Punavuori and found my friend Kirsi and two other girls serving currywurst, cookies and blueberry pie. I had the blueberry pie. It was delicious!

NYC-Helsinki-Berlin aka sausage ladies.

Currywurst for Berlin.

Blueberry pie for Helsinki.

Cookies for NYC.

It's a pitty I didn't have more time to explore the restaurants around the city. I drove by a group sitting next to the Local Register Offices but I wasn't hungry anymore so I just took their picture. If I've had more time I would have bought some coffee from 5 years old boy Sisu and his cousins at Pirkkola neighborhood.

Local Register Offices.

Crispbread.

My friend Hanna sent me this photo of her son Sisu (on the right) and his cousins selling coffee in Pirkkola. Photo © Hanna Arvela-Sarén

The next Restaurant Day will take place 15 November 2014. Maybe I will have my own restaurant then?

Where did you eat? What was the most interesting dish?

restaurantday.org
facebook.com/restaurantday

Restaurant Day is here again

Restaurant Day was invented here in Helsinki May 2011. The first time there were 45 restaurants in 13 cities. Today there are 2000 restaurants all over the world.

I have been attending the event many times, not every time but like every other I think. The most memorable restaurants for me have been Le Frog in Siltasaari (August 2011) and a restaurant at someone's home in Kruununhaka that served tasty crostinis (August 2013). There has also been many more really nice and interesting restaurants. Some years there have been so many customers that most of the restaurants run out off food. Those times I ended up eating in a real restaurant.

Frog legs were tasty. Le Frog, Restaurant Day, 2011.

Le Frog Menu, 2011.

Cup cakes at Kääntöpöytä in Pasila, 2011.

Kääntöpöytä in Pasila, 2011.

Hertta enjoying her cup cake at Kääntöpöytä, 2011.

Cosy restaurant in Torkkelinmäki, 2011.

Today I am going to test Hanna's Vietnomnom restaurant in Ullanlinna. She serves pho, banh mi and coffee + tea.

Do you have any recommendations where I should taste something delicious?

restaurantday.org, 17 August 2014
facebook.com/restaurantday