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FYI
SOUTH Magazine,
May 2003. VOL.3 ISSUE 5
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Suomalainen
Ravintola
156, WeiShin St., TzuoYing, Kaohsiung City
(07) 558-5796
Hours: Lunch 11-30 am-1-30 pm; Afternoon Tea 2-30 pm-5 pm;
Dinner 6 pm-9 pm. Closed Sunday lunchtime.
http://sr.kaoh.com.tw
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YOUR RATING & REVIEW | VIEW
VISITOR RATINGS & REVIEWS
Dining in Finnish
style
By Steven Crook
| Suomalainen
Ravintola, which has been open for a little over two years,
is unusual in a number of ways. It operates on a quiet suburban
street. It is one of very few places in Taiwan--perhaps the
only one--where Finnish cuisine can be enjoyed. And it was established
by a Scandanavian missionary to (as the restaurant's webpages
put it), give local people a "taste of clean and healthy
Finnish food at a reasonable price." |
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This
goal is being achieved. Meals here are healthy, high-quality, and
good value. Lunch sets are priced at NT$160 to NT$200; dinner is
NT$200 to N$260. Afternoon tea is NT$60.
There
are both indoor and outdoor seating areas, the latter being in a
garden behind the building, away from the road.
A
good part of Finland lies north of the Artic Circle. Finnish cooking
therefore uses quite different ingredients to Taiwanese cuisine.
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At
the time of my visit, the choices included salmon, pork rolled
in apple sauce, and chopped pork sausage, all served with
mashed potato, mixed vegetables, plus--an apparent concession
to local eating habits--a scoop of white rice. Western-style
cutlery takes the place of chopsticks.
Customers
help themselves to soup, salad, and bread made on the premises
(this can be purchased separately). There's hot coffee and
tea, plus fruit for those coming at dinnertime.
I've
never been to Finland, but Suomalainen Ravintola conforms
perfectly to my impressions of that country. In no way ostentatious,
but quietly professional and courteous, very clean, and wholly
decent.
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There's
another reason to eat here: The restaurant's profits go to a charity
which helps disabled people.
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