Ravintola Hella & Huone

(Visited on 18.10.2010 so some details on specific ingredients are a little sketchy.) This really was an experience! H&H is definitely among the best fine dining restaurants in Tampere (perhaps even Finland). I was really looking forward to this treat and H&H did not let me down.

Our meal began with an interesting amuse of mushrooms, interesting paprika (?) flakes, creamy almost pannacota-like substance (creamy but firm) and foam. It really set the mood for the menu to come; innovative, tasty, visually pleasing and with a hint of playfulness.

For out first course we opted for the scallops and moose. Again both dishes were presented very nicely (although the moose meatball was perhaps a little strange). The pea pure in the moose dish was delicious and the bacon fried to perfection. The scallop was also cooked perfectly and the dish was packed with different flavors, which incredibly enough marred perfectly together! I think there was even some radish that was amazingly prepared; it was like some incredible radish-candy-fabulousness.

For our second course we had the chicken and whitefish. I loved the colors in the whitefish dish but the colors in the chicken dish were a bit bland, except for the lovely use of micro greens. The chicken was moist, really incredible how they manage the cook it so well (possibly sous-vide?). Unsurprisingly the whitefish was also expertly cooked. What I loved most about the dish was the use of vanilla, which was subtle yet unmistakably there. It was kind of like the secret ingredient that you’re going crazy to figure out. I still long for that feeling of it being right there on the tip of my tongue.

Next we had the cheeses. The cheeses were probably my least favorite dish. Don’t get me wrong I adore cheese and the cheeses were really good but H&H cheese plate had nothing new for me. A bit of a let down as I was expecting something to blow my mind. Still, I applaud them for incorporating Finnish cheeses into the dish.

Before having our desert we were surprised by a very interesting palate cleanser. It came in a shot glass with a pipette filled with alcohol. I think it was a watermelon soup. It did what it was supposed to but the taste was nothing too memorable. The presentation was playful and fresh.

I’m not usually a desert person. It isn’t really what I’m looking forward to the most in a menu but H&H’s deserts were a lovely ending to a lovely meal.

With all the dishes I first wanted to ‘ooh and ahh’, almost scared to disturb the innovation on my plate and at the end I wanted to pick up the plate and lick it clean. It really lived up to my expectations.

Service was knowledgeable and very professional and it crowned the whole experience. I’m yearning to go back as soon as I can! Warmly recommended if you’re open and looking for something to blow your mind!