The Patrons?2? Association of the Kuhmo Chamber Music has a new partner in the shape of Maritta and Asko Autio, an entrepreneurial duo from Lapland who will be involved in a new take on the Festival restaurant known as Courtyard Restaurant (Piharavintola). Its name is Courtyard Lappi, and these gourmet chefs will be dishing up some superb delicacies from their home region.

The Autios are very experienced restaurant entrepreneurs from Sodankylä, in Finnish Lapland. They run a catering company called Lapin Gourmetkokit (‘Lapland Gourmet Chefs’), which organises various functions both in Lapland and all round Finland. The company also owns Selman pirtti (‘Selma’s Cabin’), a restaurant that is available to hire for special celebrations.

The Lappi restaurant will inevitably be serving reindeer, but also salmon from the River Teno, mushrooms and different kinds of berries. The reindeer meat is sure to be first-class, as it will be coming from the couple’s own reindeer farm. Side dishes will include their own jams and jellies. Berry juices will also be used in the preparation of some of the restaurant’s beverages. The selection of wines at Piharavintola is specially designed to complement the menu. New to the event too will be salmon cooked on an open campfire and the chance to buy reindeer sausages to cook yourself.

Kuhmo Chamber Music Executive Director Sari Rusanen is enthusiastic about the new partner. “There has never been a Lapland theme like this in Kainuu or at the Festival before, so it is great to have it contributing to this year’s anniversary event. The Autios tend to use the same phrases over and over again when they talk about their products: locally sourced food, organic produce and pure, Finnish ingredients – the kind we really appreciate.’

It is a big honour for us to be at the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in its fiftieth year and to bring with us the kind of Lapland knowhow we have to offer. Come along and try us – you won’t be disappointed!’ says Maritta Autio.

The Festival café known as Amati will be serving special delicacies of Kainuu. For the fifth year running it is being managed by Veikko Huovinen, the founder of two outstanding restaurants in the small town of Suomussalmi. On the menu there will be pastries as well as some of the finest products from the bakeries of Kuhmo and Kainuu. The popular breakfasts will still be served, and there will be cold dishes available during the day. Typical Kainuu dishes at Amati are to include smoked burbot and goutweed pie, rhubarb cake and ‘Blueberry Cock’ pie with vanilla sauce.

The Lappi restaurant will be open for the duration of the Festival (14–27 July) each day from noon until 1 a.m. Light lunches will be served from 12 to three, and three-course meals and a traditional menu in honour of the Festival’s fiftieth anniversary will be available in the evening from 5 p.m. The Amati café will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Breakfast can be had until 10.30 and lunch starts at 11.

Table reservations:
Courtyard Lappi (Piharavintola)/Maritta Autio, tel. +358 40 775 8677
Amati Café, tel. +358 41 806 1870

Further information from:
Kuhmo Chamber Music, tel. +358 8 652 0936