FOOD CULTURE: Tallinn and Turku – Culture Capitals of Europe 2011
A private group tour, 4 days / 3 nights
With the emphasis on fresh and pure ingredients, Estonian and Finnish cuisine is hip and modern while at the same time deeply rooted in traditional values. Come and see how the food is locally grown, learn to bake traditional pastries, or prepare lunch for yourself with a professional chef.

Day 1 – Tallinn
Arrival in Tallinn, transfer to the hotel.
Gastronomic tour – cheese & cheers!
This gastronomic tour takes you to the outskirts of Tallinn. At the family farm Esko you will learn about cheese and curd making. The tour of the household is followed by tasting of their award winning produce including ecological cheese, curd and yoghurt. The second stop on the tour will be the Saku Brewery Museum where you can examine history of brewing and its modern production process as well as taste the products of Saku Brewery. Duration: 4 hours.
Supplements: Coffee break at Esko Farm, visit to the Saku Manor which is one of the best examples of classical architecture in Estonia, lunch at Saku Manor or Saku Brewery.
Afternoon/Evening: Estonian food and drinks – culinary adventure through time
This tour is a unique time travel, combination of different dining experiences and walking tour in the Old Town. Every course of the lunch/dinner will be served in a different restaurant, starting from medieval delicacies, continuing with tradional food and finishing it all with the modern Estonian cooking. The walk from one restaurant to another is enriched with tales of the Old Town.
Overnight at Sokos Hotel Viru or a similar centrally located hotel.

Day 2 – Tallinn
Cooking course with an Estonian chef
Precise content of the cooking course will be decided according to the group’s interests while despite the chosen cuisine, the course will certainly feature hands-on experience as well as useful tips from the professional chef. And indeed the hard work will end with a delicious lunch that you have cooked yourself! Afternoon: free for food shopping and sampling of Tallinn’s many cafés. Transfer to the ferry port, depart Tallinn for Turku by ferry to Helsinki, overnight aboard the ferry.

Day 3 – Turku
Transfer to Turku by private motor coach.
Food for the Kings – Follow in the footsteps of Duke John and Catherine the Jageillonian, who introduced fork and potatoes to the people of Turku and Finland. Modern food influences came along the sea with the emperors first to the Castle of Turku and from there to the citizens of the town.
Food traditions are looked into at the Turku castle. From Turku Castle we move on to Ruissalo park to enjoy lunch at Aurinkoravintola seeing PikkuPukki villa on the way.
Finnish farm experience - Summer evening at Taattinen farm in Merimasku by lake Taattinen. This farm dates back to 16th century and is still an active farm. While the hosts tell about the farm’s history and how the food is grown today, you will taste a delicious archipelago buffet.
Overnight at Sokos Hotel Hamburger Börs – a hotel full of restaurants and history, starting with the establishment of the Hamburger Bierhalle in 1894.

Day 4 -Turku
Near food – slow food. In today’s world people appreciate ecological food production and trends show simple near food is being valued. Visit the local marketplace and market hall where local vendors sell the best local vegetables and fish. Proceed from market place to Restaurant Herman where the chef tells you where Finnish top restaurants are now going to and how they insure the best possible food experience for the guests. Restaurant Herman is a brewery restaurant, so drinks are also created here with special care.
Fishing & cooking – During fishing excursion local fisherman tells about fishing in the archipelago and shows you his best fishing tricks. After fishing excursion he will teach how best to handle the fish and you can participate in making traditional fish soup or smoked fish.
Transfer to the airport, departure.


For more info about Cultural Capital Travel Packages and bookings, please contact: info@grandbaltics.com