Finland is not the first country that comes to mind when Europeans think of world-class cuisine. Italian, French, Spanish, and Greek dishes dominate the continent's culinary reputation. But Visit Finland, the country's tourism board, is determined to change that. This September, it will host 16 international guests on an all-expenses-paid trip designed to showcase the best of Finnish food.
The initiative, called "Have Some Finnish," invites participants to experience two distinct regions: the Coast and Archipelago area around Turku, and the wilderness of Lapland near Rovaniemi. Each region will offer an "Official Tasting Menu" created by top local chefs, based on a survey of Finnish residents about the dishes and flavours that define their country.
Two Regions, Two Chefs, Two Menus
In the Coast and Archipelago region, the menu will be prepared by Erik Mansikka, chef at Kaskis in Turku. Kaskis made history in 2022 as the first restaurant outside Helsinki to earn a Michelin star, and it received a Michelin Green Star for sustainability three years later. The menu will highlight ingredients from the archipelago, such as fresh fish, berries, and herbs.
In Lapland, chef Joel Manninen will take charge. Manninen is head chef at Sky Kitchen and View, a panoramic restaurant on the Ounasvaara fell in Rovaniemi. He won the Finnish Young Chefs Championship in 2025 and a silver medal at the Young Chefs World Championship the following year. His menu will feature reindeer, mushrooms, and cloudberries, reflecting the region's Arctic character.
Each trip lasts four days and includes a full itinerary of activities, culminating in the tasting dinner. Winners can apply alone or as a pair, and must choose which region they prefer.
How to Apply
To enter, aspiring guests must post a short video on TikTok or Instagram answering the question: "Why do you want to Have Some Finnish?" They must use the hashtag #HaveSomeFinnish and tag Visit Finland's accounts – @ourfinland on Instagram and @visitfinland.com on TikTok. Applications opened on 18 May and close on 9 June. Winners will be announced on 29 June. Full details are available at visitfinland.com.
This campaign comes as Finland continues to strengthen its international profile. The country's trade minister recently urged mutual respect in EU-US trade negotiations, and Finnish artists advanced to the Eurovision final amid broader geopolitical tensions. But for now, the focus is on food – and on convincing Europeans that Finnish cuisine deserves a place at the table.
Visit Finland hopes the initiative will put Finnish cuisine on the global foodie map, alongside the likes of Italian, French, Spanish, and Greek. Whether it succeeds will depend on the experiences of the 16 lucky guests this autumn.
