Seventh wedding anniversary at Lupolo restaurant

Seitsemäs hääpäivämme oli eilen. Olin ostanut Grouponista ravintola Lupolon kolmen ruokalajin yllätysmenu-lahjakortin (35 EUR kahdelta), jonka käytimme eilen maanantai-illan hääpäiväpäivälliseen.

Our seventh wedding anniversary was yesterday. I had once again bought a discount dinner woucher (35 EUR for two), this time for a three course dinner at restaurant Lupolo, we used  the woucher yesterday evening.

Alkuun söimme vuohenjuustoa, punajuurta ja greippiä kuivatun oliivin kera. Yleensä en pidä punajuuresta, mutta tähän se sopi.

We started with chevre, beetroot and grapefruit with dried olives. Usually I am not fond of beetroot, but it was quite tasty in this dish.

Pääruokana oli erinomaista pitkään haudutettua vasikanposkea. Monet halvemmat osat ovat yleensä jopa maukkaampia kuin kalliimmat osat, kunhan niitä malttaa hauduttaa mureiksi.

Main course was delicious calf cheek. Cheaper parts of meat are usually even tastier than pricier parts, when braised for hours.

Aterian päätti mallasjäätelö suklaan, suolapähkinöiden  ja hunajakrokantin kera.

For dessert we had malt ice cream with chocolate, salted peanuts and honey brittle.

Otimme vielä kahvit, joiden kera tuotiin tuhdit Kirchtryffelit.

We ended the dinner with coffee and Kirch truffles.

Sisustus oli aika simppeli ja retrohenkinen, entistä ruokabaaria oli lähinnä vähän ehostettu.

Interior was quite simple & retro style, the former lunch bar had gone trough only a light face lift.

 

Ruoan kuittasimme woucherilla, juomalasku tuotiin hauskassa kansiossa.
Lupolo oli kaiken kaikkiaan miellyttävä paikka ja ruoka oli erinomaista, tänne voisin mennä uudestaan ilman diiliäkin.

Food we paid by woucher, check for beverages was brought in a fun little box.
Lupolo was nice place, food was excellent. I could dine here again, even without a discount deal.

Blog challenge

Sain Marialta Pinkki työhuone-blogista haasteen kirjoittaa kymmenestä viime vuoden parhaimmasta, hauskimmasta, ihanimmasta tai kamalimmasta mutta mieleenpainuvimmasta muistosta ja tapahtumasta vuodelta 2011.

I received a challenge from Pinkki työhuone blog to tell about ten worst or best things during last year.

Aloitetaan "kamalimmista"; mitään erityisen kamalaa ei onneksi viime vuonna sattunut. Edellinen vuosi oli raskaampi.

No, talvi oli pitkä, enkä ole mikään talvifani... Viime talvena tolkuton lumen tulo oli rasittavaa eikä kevät näyttänyt saapuvan koskaan....

Let's start with the worst. Fortunately nothing really horrible happened last year. The year before that was harder.

Well, winter was very long... I am not very fond of winter. It seemed to snow endlessly last winter and it felt like spring would never arrive.


Ruokamuistot tuntuvat olevan päällimmäisenä. Helmikuussa pääsin työmatkalla Pariisissa syömään Le Comptoiriin.

Many of my highlights of the past year seem to be related to food...

In Febryary I had a great dinner in Paris at  Le Comptoir.

6. hääpäivää vietettiin Aito-ravintolassa.

6th wedding anniversary we celebrated at restaurant Aito.


Vappua vietimme hyvien ystävien kanssa maittavan ruoan ja kuohuvan kera.

May Day we celebrated with good friends.

Kun kevät viimein saapui, ihailin kotikadun kukkivia puita. Olin suorastaan lapsellisen iloinen kun ne vihdoin puhkesivat kukkaan.

Finally spring came along blooming trees.

Ravintolapäivä toukokuussa ihastutti, kävimme testaamassa monta "ravintolaa".

We loved "Restaurant day" in May and tested many pop up "restaurants" that day.




Kesäkuussa vietin ylityövapaaviikkoa ja kiertelin Helsingissä kuin turisti.

In June I had a week off and I enjoyed Helsinki like a tourist.



Kesäkuussa appivanhempieni luo saapui nuoria uuhia kesälaitumelle.

In June over 30 young sheep came to my in laws land for the summer.

Yksi kesän kohokohdista on ehdottomasti Fiskarsin & Billnäsin-retki, yhdistämme antiikkimarkkinat ja picnicin. Sääkin on aina suosinut.

One of the highlights of the sumemr is absolutely  a day trip to Fiskars & Billnäs.

New Yorkin matka oli varmaankin koko vuoden kohokohta. Ikuinen suosikkikaupunkini, josta löytyy aina uutta.

Trip to New York was The Hightlight of the year. My favorite destination; always so many new things to discover!


Elokuussa juhlittiin rapukautta.

In August we celebrated crayfish season.




Elokuun Ravintolapäivänä kiertelimme taas monessa paikassa nauttimassa tämän hauskan ruokakulttuuritapahtuman annista.

On August Restaurant Day we visited several places in Helsinki and enjoyed the fun food culture event.




Syyskuussa olin jälleen yhdistetyllä työ- ja viikonloppumatkalla Pariisissa.

In September I was in Paris for business and pleasure.




Syyskuussa Tarmo seurusteli lampaiden kanssa.

In October Tarmo played with sheep.




Marraskuussa minä ja Mariia olimme Ravintolapäivässä mukana.

In November I and Mariia were pop up restauranteurs.




Joulahjaksi suloinen Siippa osti ihanan laukun.

For Christmas my dear Husband bought a lovely weekender.

Tässä taisi tulla jo enemmänkin kuin kymmenen kohokohtaa vuodesta... Paljon muutakin kivaa tapahtui, blogia selaamalla löytyy lisää.

Ok, I mentinded more than ten events from last year, actually so much more also happened. Read my blog to find out more.

Tea and honey

I am not a "tea person", actually I am not even a "coffee person". I do drink coffee four or five days a week at work, but almost never make coffee at home. I like to sit in a café and sip latte, but I don't crave for coffee and could easily live without it. Tea I drink very rarely.

I had flu last week, watned to drink something warm and did remeber the tea I bougft from a little tea shop on 6th arr. in Paris. I bought the tea mainly because of the stylish tin, but it has divine fragance and tasted delicious, especially wiht this honey I have bought from a friend. Maybe I will drink more tea fom now on.

En ole "teeihmisiä", ekä oikeastaan edes "kahvi-ihmisiäkään". Juon kyllä kahvia töissä kupin tai kaksi päivässä, mutta kotona tuskin koskaan. Kahvilassa istun kyllä mielelläni siemailemassa lattea, mutta pystyisin kuitenkin helposti elämään ilman kahvia. Teetä juon hyvin harvakseltaan.

Olin viime viikolla flunssassa ja hausin juoda jotain kuumaa. Muistin Parisiin 6. kaupunginosasta pienestä teepuodista ostamani teen. Ostin sen lähinnä kauniin purkin takia, mutta tee myös tuoksuu ja maistuu todella hyvälle, etenkin ystäväni tuottaman hunajan kanssa. Saatan siis juoda teetä useamminkin.

Potato bread and working form home

Instead of real sick leaves I usually work from home if I have just a "light" flu, but not fever. On Monday my nose was running and I coughed fiercely, so I decided to stay home on Tuesday. Fortunately on Tuesday I was feeling better already, so besides checking my mails I made potato flatbread for breakfast and cleaned our oven. Husband was of course in opinion that I should have rested, even though he enjoyed the bread...

Potato flat bread

1 cup potato mash

1 cup flour

1 egg

salt

Mix ingredients, make flat rounds on pan and bake in oven 250 C for 12-15 min.

Jos olen pikku flunssassa, mutten kuumeessa, jään kotiin työskentelemään vähän kevyemmin kuin raahaudun toimistoon.
Maanantaina viikonloppuna alkanut nuha paheni ja yskä oli kamalan kuuloinen, joten jäin kotiin tiistaina. Onneksi tiistaina olin jo paremmassa kunnossa, joten energiaa riitti sähköpostien seuraamisen lisäksi myös perunarieskan paistamiseen ja uunin puhdistukseen. Siipan mielestä minun olisi kyllä pitänyt levätä, vaikka kyllä hänellekin rieska maistui...


Perunarieska


2,5 dl perunamuusia
2,5 dl vehnäjauhoja
1 muna
suolaa


Sekoita ainekset, taputtele taikinasta litteitä pyörylöitä leivinpaperille ja paista uunissa 250 C, 12-15 min.

New family member

My inlaws got today a new dog from a shelter. Their beloved 15 year old dogs died last year, now they were ready for a new family member.

Tarmo is about one year old, happy and kind boy. He has now a loving, good home.

Appivanhempani saivat tänään uuden koiran Helsingin eläinsuojeluyhdisykseltä. Edelliset rakastetut viisitoistavuotiaat koirat kuolivat viime vuonna lyhyen ajan sisään toisistaan. Suruajan jälkeen oltiin valmiita uuteen perheenjäseneen.

Tarmo on noin yksivuotias kiltti ja iloinen uros. Nyt sillä on hyvä, rakastava koti.

Christmas holiday

Christmas holiday is perfect time to take it easy, take naps, read gift books, eat chocolate and just relax...

Joululoma on hyvää aikaa rennosti ottamiseen, nokosten ottamiseen, lahjakirjojen lukemiseen, suklaan syömiseen ja ihan vain rentoutumiseen...

Holiday cocktails

Ordered Husband an addition to his cocktail book collection. He has loved his Mr. Boston's official bartender's guide. He picks up one cocktail per week (well... sometimes two...). Hope he will like this holiday edition as well.

Tilasin Siipalle Mr. Boston's Holiday cocktails-kirjan. Hän on ollut ihastunut New Yorkista ostamaansa Mr. Boston's official bartender's guide-kirjaan ja valitsee sieltä viikon cocktailin (joinain viikkoina jopa kaksi...). Toivottavasti hän pitää myös tästä juhlapäiväversiosta.

Good hair day

Hope to have as good hair day as this Egyprian beauty has! Finally managed to book a hairdresser for this afternoon (although I should have had an appointment already weeks earlier...); an early departure from work, new hairstyle and highlights! Happy Friday to me!

Toivottavasti tästä tulee yhtä hyvä hiuspäivä kuin kuvan egyptiläisellä kaunottarella... Muistin viimein varata kampaajan (vaikka syytäolisi ollut jo viikkoja aiemmin...) Aikainen poistuminen töistä, uusi hiustyyli ja raidat - iloista perjantaita minulle!

Pink ribbon

This week is the Pink Ribbon Day in Finland to raise breast cancer awareness. I have a personal reason to wear pink on Friday; my very dear friend is diagnosed with breast cancer. So many of us are touched by breast cancer; we all have a sister, mother, aunt, friend, colleague, neighbor diagnosed with it...

So use pink and be there for your diagnosed loved ones.

 

picture www.pinkribbonshop.com

 

picture www.cancer.fi

picture www.cancer.fi

picture www.pinkribbonshop.com

One way to show support is to buy Breast Cancer Awarness products.

Warm luxury mohair for fall

These delicious looking plush and warm handmade mohair shawls are sold at Villisilkki for 190 EUR/pc. They are made by Finnish textile artists Lena Rewell, who has made the same mohair shawls and throws also for international well known luxury brands.

Tony Bennett and Dean Martin

I had the priviledge to see Tony Bennett singing in Copenhagen Tivoli six years ago. He was extremely stylish, had a great voice at age of 75 (he is 81 now), very professional and charmed all the ladies on the front row and further. Actually he looked more stylish than in this video...

I also have always liked to be entertained by Dean Martin. Here the two crooners are in the same show. Sip a cocktail, listen and enjoy.

If you don't knit...

... you are like me. But, there are other uses for yarn. This interesting lamp is in Tertti mansion. I was in a wedding reception there in August. Wonderful place; full of antique, vintage and innovative conversation pieces and good, beautifully arranged food!

In the spirit of weekend

While you starting weekend and are sipping cocktails, Engelbert Humperdinck is an entertaining companion.

Weekend reading

Mr. Boston's official bartender's guide is our cocktail bible for Friday night drinks. If we drink one new cocktail every week, there will be recipies for the next 29 years...

The official filthy rich handbook by Cristopher Tennant is an entertaining, decadent road map to help navigate through lifestyle choices of the über-rich.

Antique items

We received the engraved monogram sterling candle holder from my in lawsfor engagement present five years ago. It has belonged to Husband's grandfather, who happened to have the same initials as I do.

My aunt gave me the monogrammed cigarette box, which has belonged to my granfather. He received it from his sisters as a gift when he got a position as university professor. It's not sterling silver, but it does not matter to me, it is a pretty little box and a family heirloom.

This still makes me smile

Found this moose video with Finnish music over a year ago, but is still makes me smile. I am not sure if the moose was Finnish also, but she sure is a cute pet...

Main steam

Husband and I take every opportunity to browse flea markets, antique and vintage stores on our trips. We have now quite a collection of different signs around the house. This "Main steam" sign found at Billnäs antique market few years ago is on our kitchen hood.

Animal friends

These two adorable fellows are our house guests now and then. Our guesthouse is open for friends; animals or people...

Detox tea

 

Bought this tea box in Paris last spring at La Grand Epicerie at Au Bon Marche (one of the old, grand department stores of Paris). I was drawn by the design and drawing on the box. I am not sure about the detox power, maybe I should drink this frequently and not just now and then. Anyhow, it tastes good, there is a hint of liquorice in taste. I will be in Paris again end this week, hopefully I will have time to visit at Au Bon Marche again.

Helsinki design week

Visited today Kaapelitehdas, old cable factory in Ruoholahti, Helsinki, now home to several design companies, restaurants, theatre, culture events, concerts, exhibitions, festivals and fairs etc. They had this weekend Design Market, the biggest design outlet sale in Finland gathering together dozens of vendors and thousands of shoppers. It was very busy still at 4 pm today, even though they closed at 5 pm. I bought a Lumi canvas and leather bag, not for myself, but for Christmas present. A great deal; normally 170 € now only 40 €.

It was part of Helsinki desing week, there are different events, the biggest and most well known will be Habitare, a five day furniture, building and interior design fair. Check out also Design District events during the coming week; late night shopping on Thursday etc.