I have to admit, I wasn't sure what kind of culinary experiences to expect in Finland. Which made it even more exciting to discover the great food scene in Helsinki. From market stalls to the finest of fine dining, it was all delicious. I literally did not have a bad meal.

The summers in Finland are a little cool. Luckily, there is an abundance of great coffee and hot chocolate. I also fell in love the salmon soup. A local specialty, it contains healthy amounts of tender salmon, dill, carrots, onions, and yummy seasonings. I was surprised to find that there are creamy and brothy varieties. I loved both. I can't wait to try to make some!

I think my favorite meal was lunch at a local bistro. Pompeir was one of the best lunches I've ever had. For sixteen euro, I had a coconut curry soup with chicken, access to the salad table (with the most amazing watermelon salad and a fantastic salad with sweet potatoes), and the most delicious halibut with new potatoes and veggies. All with an option to add a glass of rose for five euro, which of course I took advantage of. It was so delicious that I completely forgot to take photos...so you'll just have to trust me. If you're ever in Helsinki, go!!!

On our last night, we tried Juuri, a modern Scandinavian restaurant featuring "sapas," a Finnish take on tapas. The smoked whitefish and pork neck were both standouts. 

I would definitely go back to Helsinki. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves to eat as much as I do.

Portland! Land of hipsters, food trucks, and putting a bird on, well...everything. Portland is definitely an interesting town. It's much more diverse than I imagined--not in terms of racial composition (pretty homogenous), but in terms of what the city has to offer. Portland is green and urban and cute and gritty all at once. 

That's enough of an intro. Let's get to the food. On our first night, we had the best happy hour at Vitaly Paley's Imperial. We started with oysters on a half shell with the most delicious horseradish and grilled lemon (grilling the lemon really does make a difference). We also had steak frites, an artisan cheese plate, fried chicken with a honey/hot sauce combination, and the signature flat top burger. It was one of the most elevated happy hours I've ever experienced. Everything was phenomenal. The only thing I could have done without was the burger--and that was still pretty good. The house wines were solid at a very reasonable $8.00. 

Then there were the donuts, which Portland is famous for. We had to try the lauded (and some say, overrated) Voodoo Doughnuts. We had several, including the maple bacon, one coated with Fruit Loops, a peanut butter chocolate concoction, and a classic glazed. The maple bacon was definitely one I would go back for. We actually preferred Blue Star Donuts (which I later found out has a Los Angeles location). Blue Star was much more my speed. I'm obsessed with the lemon poppy buttermilk. It was sweet and tangy with just the right ratio if icing to cakey donut. Side note: the coffee is as great as you'd expect, no matter where you go.

Portland is a food truck city. I honestly have to say that the best meals I had there actually came from those trucks. There was amazing Thai, Hawaiian, Greek, Lebanese--you name it. There were also some great burgers...check out Tilt and Killer Burger if you're in town. I'm glad I finally made it to quirky Portland. The next time I'm there, I'll know what to eat.

After many years of planning and canceling, I finally made it to the Aspen Food and Wine Festival. 

Aspen is absolutely stunning in the summer. I'd been in the winter, and it is beautiful during that season, but I can't express how lush and green Aspen is in June. You literally feel like you're in a postcard. A trip to Maroon Bells is a must...looking at the sparkling lake and mountains above gives you a real appreciation for Colorado's stunning natural beauty.

We stayed at the St. Regis Aspen, which was absolute perfection. The service was impeccable, and the location was incredibly convenient. Several of the seminars and events we attended were right at the hotel.

The highlight of my weekend was seeing Jacques Pepin in action. With the assistance of his daughter, Claudine, Jacques made six dishes in 45 minutes. He was charming and funny. His techniques were amazing to watch, particularly his knife skills. First up was cheese crusted with crushed pistachios and dried fruit--easy and beautiful. I'll definitely be using that one at my next dinner party. Next up was a hummus-inspired dip made in just minutes with beans, olive oil, and some basic seasonings. Then there were baked eggs and cheese in hollowed out green peppers. Jacques also made a grilled chicken with chimichurri sauce, a mushroom carpaccio, and a pound cake with marzipan and jam (drowned in Grand Marnier and garnished with grapefruit).

My second favorite experience was Swine and Dine, with Jean-Paul Bourgeois of Blue Smoke in New York. We sampled great barbecue including cracklin, deviled ham sandwiches, and torchon, with a diverse variety of red and white wines. Delicious. There were also some great wine seminars, including one on rose (perfect at 10:00 AM), and another pairing sparkling wines with popcorn.

The Grand Tastings were always fun, despite the warm weather. One standout that I had to return to at each tasting (five total throughout the weekend) was Cooper's Hawk. This winery and restaurant group from Illinois was completely unknown to me prior to the Festival. Luckily, that is no longer the case. Chef Matt McMillin created the most delectable ahi tuna sashimi with ponzu, avocado, radish, and a wasabi cream. I had to have it...I love ahi sashimi, and I'd put it in my all-time top three ahi dishes. In addition to the ridiculously good food, Cooper's Hawk has some standout wines. Rob Warren, the incredibly friendly and engaging winemaker, was under the tent daily, pouring some very solid reds including a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Pinot Noir.

I also loved the Best New Chefs feature, hosted by Food and Wine and featuring two of the anointed chefs at a time. The line was a bit long but worth it. Edouardo Jordan (of Salare in Seattle), Michael Gulotta (of MoPho in New Orleans--which I will be checking out in November), and Kris Yenbamroong (of Night + Market in Los Angeles--one of my favorites) were all phenomenal.

I'll be back, Aspen. See you in a few summers!