8.6.2012

Turku’s food culture is flourishing

Above: The French food market has the feel of an international market.

Above: Traders happily serve customers.

Above: Baskets brimful of nuts and dried fruit delicacies.

Above: Buying French olives.

Above: Beautifully scented French soap.

Over the past few years, the food culture in Turku has grown tremendously. Every Turkulainen’s second lounge, i.e. the riverside, has seen new food restaurants opening alongside old ones.

The riverside now fills up every summer with good food and people enjoying life. From Vähätori onwards towards the Castle the riverside contains a variety of restaurants for every taste. At a  freshly set table you can sit down to eat or just enjoy a glass of fine wine. Grand old buildings have been refurbished as new restaurants with terraces, enlivening Turku's riverside and life.

During Capital of Culture Year, food culture in Turku was promoted by, amongst others, restaurants having local food produce campaigns as well as the Kaffeli Association promoted Neitsytperunafestivaali (New Potato Festival). The festival was so successful it won Turku Touring’s Tourism Act of the Year Award.

New potatoes will also be celebrated this summer as the New Potato Festival returns to Vähätori in the week before midsummer from 14 to 16 June. Friends of the potato can quench their thirst at the jointly held micro-brewery festival Suuret Oluet Pienet Panimot (Large Beers Small Breweries), which brings together the best malt beverages from eight micro-breweries for you to taste.

Scents and flavours from France at Vähätori

The very popular French food market has arrived in Turku. You can indulge in a French taste experience until Tuesday of next week. The market is open every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Team Fantastique travels around Europe and has over ten traders who sell freshly baked bread and croissants, fragrant spices, sweets and dried fruits as well as a variety of pâtés, quiches, preserves, and handmade soaps.

The French food market will return to Vähätori from the 1^st to the 5^th of August, 2012.

• See more photographs of the French food market
• The New Potato Festival from 14 to 16 June