Finland 4 - Blini for Bleenie

This post is dedicated to my 4 magnificent kids, who, for some reason I can't even remember, call me Bleenie. Friday night dinners will never be the same again!

Blini.

I saw them in the markets in Helsinki and was a bit, well, nonchalant about the whole thing. I mean in Oz, you see Blini often (which are Russian pancakes by the way, usually served with sour cream and caviar) but they have been bastardised the world over, turning into rubbery small pikelets served with whatever you want as an hors d'oeuvres. It's a food crime of the worst sort.

I was having a chat with a woman in the old foodhall down by the harbour who didn't want to sell me her Blini to eat there (it was really for take home), she said I should go to a restaurant and eat the real stuff - straight from the kitchen.

Well, as you can imagine, I didn't need to be old twice after my previous Russian experience. I was going back to Troikka to eat Blini (see previous post).

Troikka is closed on a Monday. Bugger.

Never fear, the lads at Reception pointed me in the direction of Saslik, THE most famous Russian restaurant in Helsinki, and only a 5 minute walk down the back streets of my hotel. Oh yeah baby. Off I went.

Well, it was Bear Feast week at Saslik! Can you imagine??!!! But I wasn't seduced, I was there for Blini...and well perhaps a little bear as well!

Blini is served as an entree - you could choose from Blini with Wild Mushroom Salad, or Blini with a range of different fish roe and caviar. I went for my waitress's recommendation of the Blini with Whitefish Roe. And I sat back, in major anticipation, enjoying the dark green and gold interior, feeling transported back to pre-Revolutionary Russia. Beautiful.

She arrived. With the Blini. Piping pot and smelling divine. Clarified butter is poured over the thick crispy pancake, then the topping plate is carefully set down - you can see there above, red onion, chopped egg, wonderful sour cream, and a huge spoonful of Whitefish Roe. Oh my!!! The ceremony of it all was magnificent, the smells fantastic, and the simplicity pure art.

Bleenie was about to do the Blini! At first, I was tentative with my toppings...a lit bit of everything all on top. Cutting in...and tasting....OH ME OH MY. I closed my eyes, and tears welled up. Seriously. It was so good I couldn't quite believe it. Another mouthful, then another. The tanginess of the crispy on the outside fluffy on the inside pancake, with the creamy, tangy, crunchy, salty, fishy flavour of all those toppings...it was a euphoric experience. The perfect mouthful.

I am proud to say I ate my Blini with the reverence and passion it deserved. That's all a food can ask for.

Sigh. This sort of bliss is almost too much. Sigh again.

I had my Bear Pelmenis (see previous post on these succulent Russian dumplings) to follow, which were beautiful - done in a wonderful mushroom cream, and then a Cranberry Iced Souffle with Hot Caramel Sauce for dessert. But, dear readers, this day was all about the Blini.

Blini forever. Bleenie and Blini forever.