Chez Dominique

Finland’s Michelin stars shine bright in Helsinki

Fancy going out for dinner? Four Helsinki restaurants have been awarded the prestigious Michelin Guide star-ranking.

Four restaurants in Helsinki were honoured by being selected to the 2010 Michelin Guide and awarded a star-ranking. The Michelin Guide has been telling European gourmands for more than a hundred years where to find the best food and atmosphere in restaurants.

One of the four restaurants, Chez Dominique on Rikhardinkatu, with the famous TV chef Hans Välimäki at the helm, was awarded two stars. Luomo in Kruununhaka joined Demo and Postres as the new addition to the list of Helsinki’s one-Michelin-star restaurants.

The 2010 guide was originally to include five Helsinki restaurants, but Carma has since been closed. In its place, a new restaurant La Table was opened, specialising in Southern French cuisine.

A one-star restaurants means “a very good restaurant in its category, worth a stop”. A two-star ranking represents "excellent cooking, worth a detour", and three stars are awarded to restaurants offering "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”.

The Bib Gourmand mention was awarded to three restaurants, Grotesk, Mecca and Solna. The recognition highlights restaurants offering “good food at moderate prices”.

2 stars - Chez Dominique
The only two-Michelin-star restaurant in Finland relies on Nordic and French flavours.Internationally acclaimed, the kitchen offers unforgettable culinary experiences made from the very finest ingredients. Chez Dominique is Scandinavian at heart and it has managed to create harmony between tradition and modern ideas.

1 star - Demo
Owned by the chefs Tommi Tuominen and Teemu Aura, the exquisite 45-seat restaurant in vibrant Punavuori offers quality-crafted cuisine. The atmosphere is casual but smart.

1 star- Postres
The cool and stylish Scandinavian restaurant Postres occupies a prime location in Eteläesplanadi. Established by Samuli Wirgentius and Vesa Parviainen, it offers first-class gastronomy and wines in innovative combinations. The house specialty at Postres is dessert, and the key to its success is the art of French cooking with a twist.

1 star - Luomo
Only a year old, Luomo is an intimate 30-seat restaurant in Kruununhaka. The expertise and skills of Jouni Toivonen and Mika Mattila have brought something genuinely new to Helsinki’s restaurant life. The food is innovative and modern, firmly rooted in classic gastronomy. It is a result of combining produce by local small producers and the best international providers. The experience is topped off by a knowledgeable and humorous staff.

Text: Noora Niemelä
Photo: Luomo/Tuukka Koski