Finnish food will set the UN for Christmas spirit

The President of the UN 55th General Assembly, Mr Harri Holkeri, and the Finnish Consul-General in New York, Mr Jukka Leino, will co-host the Finnish food event on 4-15 December at the UN designed for UN delegates and other prominent guests as well as for the New Yorkers at large.

The food event is designed by Mr Pekka Terävä, the chef at two Finnish restaurants, Havis Amanda and Alexander Nevski, who is also the captain of the Finnish chef team, and the chef of the UN restaurant, Mr Lou Piuggi.

According to Mr Holkeri, the food event will be part of Finland´s visible role as the President of the UN General Assembly. Good food unites the nations of the world and their representatives, and Finland has now a unique opportunity to demonstrate its know-how and products.

During the event, there will be large buffet as well as à la carte meals available at the UN. Selected guests will also be served with chef´s table meals.

The top team selected by Mr Terävä includes Mr Mikko Martikainen from Restaurant Havis Amanda, Mr Kai Kallio from Restaurant G.W. Sundmans, Mr Lars Lanton from Restaurant Sipuli and Mr Jarmo Laitinen, Chéf de Patissérie, from SAS Radisson Plaza Hotel.

"We want to present Finnish food at its best, to combine our regional traditions with new Finnish cuisine", says Mr Terävä.

"We would like to show how Finnish uniqueness is combined with a trendy sense of style in a modern hi-tec country in the field of gastronomy."

The main sponsors of the event are: UPM-Kymmene, Nokia, Sonera, Designor, Finnair, Valio and Moomin World.

Further information: (cuisine) Mr Pekka Terävä, Havis Amanda/Alexander Nevski, tel: +358-9-666882, e-mail: [email protected], (arrangements) Mr Ilkka Kalliomaa, Finnish Consulate-General in New York, tel: ?212-7504400, fax: +212-7504418, e-mail: [email protected]