In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Finns get ready for their big annual feast. Christmas treats are served from the beginning of the month onwards at pre-Christmas parties, including the standard classics like smoked ham. But these days Finns are also keen to try new ideas. For the local restaurant Sipuli, the Christmas ham is still number one in its seasonal buffet that it serves at its “Christmas Land” at the Winter Garden, but it is certainly not alone.

Head chef Antti Asujamaa has prepared the Christmas buffet at the restaurant Sipuli in the Katajanokka district of Helsinki for the past four years. Initially, he was surprised by the continued popularity of smoked ham and the baked casseroles made from rutabaga, potato and carrot.

“It’s amazing how much ham and many casseroles we go through. Everyone eats them. We also go through an unbelievable amount of whitefish roe that we serve with sour cream and red onions,” Antti tells us.