Post by Silly Yak on Feb 18, 2011 11:02:19 GMT
GF Snowcastle Wedding in Lapland
Posted by Adrian B on 22/2/2006
GF board
Hi All,
I hope this will be of interest to some as it's not easy to go abroad and find it so simple especially for a wedding!!
Adrian
--------------
We wanted a different wedding and chose the Snowcastle in Kemi, Finland. We found everybody so friendly in such a beautiful cold place! The wedding took place in a chapel within the Snowcastle - all made of snow. It was fantastic and we both walked out for photos with some snow flakes falling. We were treated so warmly by local people congratulating us - such a magical wedding.
Many of the supermarkets including the EuroSPAR had a wide range of gluten free foods.
It was wounderful to come to Finland and not have to worry about what to eat.
Finnish people were fully aware of food intolerencies and they knew exactly what to offer me.
I wish people and restaurants at home in the UK were more aware as life would be so much easier.
Conclusion - if you are a Coeliac/food intolerant I would strongly recommend a holiday, weekend break to wherever in Finland - people understand and many menus point out if food is Gluten/Lactose free.
Previously I have been to Helsinki and too was amazed.
Day1
Flight London Heathrow to Helsinki (3hr)
Flew with Finn Air who were very friendly and had an omlette with asparagus, Gluten Free bread and a tray of grapes.
Connecting flight Helsinki to Kemi(Finnish Lapland,1hr)
Again with Finn Air, everyone had a quick sandwich so they found two Schar chocolate muffins for me.
Pizzeria San Milano
Valtakatu 5, 94100, Kemi
+ 358 (0)16 223774
Freshly made oven baked pizza. Very friendly and wasn't a problem, could choose any pizza on the menu. (2 Euro Surcharge)
Day2
Merihovi Hotel Breakfast
Keskuspuistokatu 6-8, 94100, Kemi
+ 358 (0)16 - 458 0100
www.merihovi.fi
Email: hotel@merihovi.fi
Each morning we had breakfast and there a wide range buffet with plenty of options for Gluten/Lactose Free food. Wild berries, salads, cold meats etc.
Icebreaker Sampo
Harbour Ajos
www.sampotours.com
Email: restaurant.sampo@co.inet.fi
+358 (0)400 397 045
We took a 4 hour trip on an icebreaker shp and included was a Gluten/Lactose Free meal.
They said they provided Gluten Free bread and Dairy free butter with my reindeer saute however the bread turned out not to be free from wheat.
Ankkuri Pub
Pohjoisrantakatu 5, 94100, Kemi
+ 358 (0)16 - 458 0250
www.merihovi.fi
Email: hotel@merihovi.fi
Peppered Steak with a red wine sauce and potatoes, many items to choose from.
Day3 - Day of our wedding at the Snowcastle
Merihovi ç la carte
Pohjoisrantakatu 5, 94100, Kemi
+ 358 (0)16 - 458 0250
www.merihovi.fi
Email: hotel@merihovi.fi
For the wedding reception we had a private party in the Enkeli-salon.
Soup, Sirloin steak, Sea buckthorn berry syrup Gluten/Lactose free.
The presentation, service and food was fantastic.
Later in the evening we returned to the Ankkuri Pub for an extensive buffet which included fresh whole salmon, salads, cold meats, snacks.
Day4
Hesburger
Asemakatu 3,Ê 94100, Kemi
+358 (0)16 254 524
www.hesburger.fi
For lunch I had a Gluten Free hamburger, fries (Mcdonalds style fastfood). All I had to do was ask for a 'Without Gluten' burger and wait a little for then to freshly cook one - such a treat!
Pizzeria Roma
Valtakatu 12,Ê 94100, Kemi
+358 (0)16 221 556
Freshly made oven baked pizza. Again could choose any pizza on the menu. (2 Euro Surcharge)
Day5
Connecting flight Kemi to Helsinki(Finnish Lapland,1hr)
Finn Air - Only a short flight and a tiny 60 seater plane - they had a box of gluten free buscuits for me - amazed!
Flight Helsinki to London Heathrow (3hr)
British Airways - having ordered a Gluten free meal only to receive an abrupt statement 'we don't do special meals on short flights', no alternative was offered. This was a 3 hour flight which was also delayed. - great to be back in the UK - have written to BA to ask for an official reason.
Link: www.snowcastle.net
Posted by Adrian B on 22/2/2006
GF board
Hi All,
I hope this will be of interest to some as it's not easy to go abroad and find it so simple especially for a wedding!!
Adrian
--------------
We wanted a different wedding and chose the Snowcastle in Kemi, Finland. We found everybody so friendly in such a beautiful cold place! The wedding took place in a chapel within the Snowcastle - all made of snow. It was fantastic and we both walked out for photos with some snow flakes falling. We were treated so warmly by local people congratulating us - such a magical wedding.
Many of the supermarkets including the EuroSPAR had a wide range of gluten free foods.
It was wounderful to come to Finland and not have to worry about what to eat.
Finnish people were fully aware of food intolerencies and they knew exactly what to offer me.
I wish people and restaurants at home in the UK were more aware as life would be so much easier.
Conclusion - if you are a Coeliac/food intolerant I would strongly recommend a holiday, weekend break to wherever in Finland - people understand and many menus point out if food is Gluten/Lactose free.
Previously I have been to Helsinki and too was amazed.
Day1
Flight London Heathrow to Helsinki (3hr)
Flew with Finn Air who were very friendly and had an omlette with asparagus, Gluten Free bread and a tray of grapes.
Connecting flight Helsinki to Kemi(Finnish Lapland,1hr)
Again with Finn Air, everyone had a quick sandwich so they found two Schar chocolate muffins for me.
Pizzeria San Milano
Valtakatu 5, 94100, Kemi
+ 358 (0)16 223774
Freshly made oven baked pizza. Very friendly and wasn't a problem, could choose any pizza on the menu. (2 Euro Surcharge)
Day2
Merihovi Hotel Breakfast
Keskuspuistokatu 6-8, 94100, Kemi
+ 358 (0)16 - 458 0100
www.merihovi.fi
Email: hotel@merihovi.fi
Each morning we had breakfast and there a wide range buffet with plenty of options for Gluten/Lactose Free food. Wild berries, salads, cold meats etc.
Icebreaker Sampo
Harbour Ajos
www.sampotours.com
Email: restaurant.sampo@co.inet.fi
+358 (0)400 397 045
We took a 4 hour trip on an icebreaker shp and included was a Gluten/Lactose Free meal.
They said they provided Gluten Free bread and Dairy free butter with my reindeer saute however the bread turned out not to be free from wheat.
Ankkuri Pub
Pohjoisrantakatu 5, 94100, Kemi
+ 358 (0)16 - 458 0250
www.merihovi.fi
Email: hotel@merihovi.fi
Peppered Steak with a red wine sauce and potatoes, many items to choose from.
Day3 - Day of our wedding at the Snowcastle
Merihovi ç la carte
Pohjoisrantakatu 5, 94100, Kemi
+ 358 (0)16 - 458 0250
www.merihovi.fi
Email: hotel@merihovi.fi
For the wedding reception we had a private party in the Enkeli-salon.
Soup, Sirloin steak, Sea buckthorn berry syrup Gluten/Lactose free.
The presentation, service and food was fantastic.
Later in the evening we returned to the Ankkuri Pub for an extensive buffet which included fresh whole salmon, salads, cold meats, snacks.
Day4
Hesburger
Asemakatu 3,Ê 94100, Kemi
+358 (0)16 254 524
www.hesburger.fi
For lunch I had a Gluten Free hamburger, fries (Mcdonalds style fastfood). All I had to do was ask for a 'Without Gluten' burger and wait a little for then to freshly cook one - such a treat!
Pizzeria Roma
Valtakatu 12,Ê 94100, Kemi
+358 (0)16 221 556
Freshly made oven baked pizza. Again could choose any pizza on the menu. (2 Euro Surcharge)
Day5
Connecting flight Kemi to Helsinki(Finnish Lapland,1hr)
Finn Air - Only a short flight and a tiny 60 seater plane - they had a box of gluten free buscuits for me - amazed!
Flight Helsinki to London Heathrow (3hr)
British Airways - having ordered a Gluten free meal only to receive an abrupt statement 'we don't do special meals on short flights', no alternative was offered. This was a 3 hour flight which was also delayed. - great to be back in the UK - have written to BA to ask for an official reason.
Link: www.snowcastle.net