Lapland Hotels and Kultá Kitchen & Bar
What a lovely surprise on a Wednesday afternoon! I was invited by a friend to tag along while she visited her friend at work. Little did I know what was in store. She mentioned that we would be going to the new Lapland Hotels location at Bulvardi 28 and that we’d have a chance to sample the menu at the on-site restaurant, Kultá Kitchen & Bar. She had me at hello. I love a new restuarant and it’s always nice to scout locations for friends to stay while they are visiting or for new places to ’staycation’ when I need a moment away but can’t leave the city.
The menu at Kultá is lovingly referential to its northern roots, which makes the carnivore in me jump for joy and slightly annoyed that I cannot order the poronkäristys. A mecca for vegetarians and vegans it is not; however, if your aim is simply sustainable, or you want to use this as your cheat day, Kultá is a great option. There were at least three fully vegetarian or vegan main courses, so even though I couldn’t have the stew, or the meatballs, or the oxtail burger (oh bestill my heart), I was easily able to order and not need to create a hodgepodge of side dishes. I got the veggie burger, though there was a salad and a tattari risotto that were more inspired choices, because I wanted to see what they’d do with the most basic. The burger was well conceived, true in flavor to the rest of the menu and a solid lunch option any day. Sometimes veggie burgers can seem like an afterthought just there to appease us veggie people, but not really made with any love. I’m always pleased when they taste like they’ve been given their due. The fries were stratospheric, so if you’re a connoisseur, mosy over and order a basket. My friend, our host, raved about the kuha and actually stayed until dinner just to have a portion. I’ll definitely be back to give that a try!
The lobby and restaurant decor are all things Lapland. All the best things. It translates into a deeply lux and sophisticated feel that is at the same time inviting and very comfortable to wile away a few hours in good company. It is easy to imagine waking up in one of the beautifully appointed rooms and wandering downstairs for a deliciously slow brunch with friends and perhaps a cocktail at the bar. We were lucky enough to be able to see an array of the accomodation options available. From the top of the price range to the most affordable, each provided an ample amount of space and almost all included a deep tub for long soaks, stand-up shower and sauna. We just got a quick peek, but it was enough to get me dreaming of reasons to come back for a longer stay!
As just a side note, we ordered a bottle of champagne for the table and decided to try something new. I was floored by how much I liked this little bubbly! It is so bright and delightful on the palate and the fizz is just perfect. If you like very dry champagne with chardonnay notes, please order this the next time you see it on a menu. Tasting notes are honey, minerals, lemon, tropical fruit and toasted bread. Oh it was gorgeous! Drink it alone or pair it with a bold fish like salmon or tuna where it’s character will stand the test.
I promised a review on the sparkling and red from my post on the kale and white bean soup. It’s coming! I just had this opportunity pop up, which I love, and so it was first. Oh and I just went to Stockmann and they are doing this great campaign about sustainability, so I’ll be writing a bit about that as well! Recipes coming soon are, for Minttu, my green papaya salad and maybe a veggie lasagna. I’ve been mulling that one around in my head for a while….
