Fazer Culinary Team introduces Lahti2017 guests to the best in Finnish cuisine
The Lahti2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (22 February–5 March 2017), which will open this Wednesday, will also be an international forum for presenting Finnish food culture: the Culinary Olympic winners, Fazer Culinary Team, are in charge of the VIP catering in eight onsite restaurants. The food is inspired by Finnish nature and the aromatic, pure ingredients it offers, combined with innovative Finnish culinary skills.
Fazer is the official Lahti2017 partner for bakery goods, sweets and VIP catering. During the championships, Fazer Food Services will be offering exclusive Finnish dining experiences to international and Finnish sports fans. Approximately 21,000 VIP guests are expected to arrive in Lahti. The VIP restaurants have a staff of one hundred top professionals taking care of the myriad tasks that each day brings with it. The aim is to create an unforgettable culinary and sporting experience.
Finnish flavours with a modern twist
The menus for the Lahti2017 event are designed by Mika Pesonen, who led Finland to a Culinary Olympic victory as the captain of Fazer Culinary Team. The menu is built on traditional Finnish ingredients and flavours. The menu respects tradition, while offering a modern twist. The innovative and delicious food is created with the best gastronomic skills by some of the very best chefs in Finland.
“The philosophy behind the menus is locally sourced Finnish flavours. We focus heavily on Finnish natural ingredients and seasonal delicacies. Each of the eight restaurants serves its own individual menus. The menus also have a strong focus on vegetarian dishes: exciting taste combinations using a wide range of Finnish vegetables in a new way. Ceps, chanterelles and juniper give a taste of the Finnish forests. From our fields come rye, oats, spelt and broad beans. Whitefish, roach and pike are among our delicious freshwater fish. All this plus fantastic Finnish vegetables, dairy products, meat and rye bread freshly baked by Fazer in its Lahti bakery,” says Mika Pesonen.
Eight VIP restaurants
Fazer Food Services will be catering for approximately 21,000 VIP guests during the Lahti2017 games. In addition, the team also manages the catering for the 1,200 volunteers working at the games. VIP catering is provided in eight different on-site restaurants. The main venue is restaurant Voitto, which will house the Executive Lounge, Salppurin Salonki, Salppurin Tupa and Salppurin Sauna. There is also Presidenttiklubi at the spectator stand and Lumilounge and Teivaan Studio, complete with conference rooms, at the Fair Centre. The specialty for these games is Metsälinna, a restaurant located in the middle of the forest near the cross-country ski tracks.
The VIP restaurants have a staff of one hundred top professionals taking care of the myriad tasks that each day brings with it. The team consists of Fazer’s own catering staff, specially recruited project workers and students through a training scheme.
“We have our dedicated and passionate professionals to make sure that the catering for thousands of guests goes smoothly. This will be a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Jari Taurén, Restaurant Manager at Voitto.
The Fazer Group, who celebrated its 125th anniversary last year, has notable presence in Lahti with a mill and a bakery. Fazer’s rye bread is made at the Lahti bakery, from Finnish-grown rye produced by Fazer’s own mill. . In addition, Fazer Food Services has several restaurants in the city. In total, Fazer has 570 employees in Lahti.
Further information
Satu Ikäheimo, Communications Director, Fazer Group/ Fazer Food Services Finland, tel. +358 50 380 4996
Mika Pesonen, Captain of Fazer Culinary Team Finland, Head Chef, Fazer Food Services Finland, +358 40 653 0363
Fazer’s media phone line is open Mon–Fri from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., tel. +358 40 6682 998
E-mail addresses: firstname.lastname@fazer.com
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Print-ready pictures:
www.fazergroup.com/pictures (Media_Press – Lahti2017)
Minnamari Mattila, Communications coordinator, tel. +358 46 851 3552
