Finnish cuisine is a mixture of European, Scandinavian (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) and Russian elements; table manners are European. The food is traditionally simple; fish, meat, potatoes and vegetables play prominent roles. Spices are usually sparse in Finnish cuisine. Finnish breakfast can be quite substantial. The prototypical breakfast is oatmeal. Lunch is usually taken between 11.00 and 13.00. A typical lunch break at work lasts less than one hour. Lunch is usually a full warm meal, served by a canteen at workplaces. Dinner is eaten at around 17.00–18.00 at home; in restaurants, evening meals are served at around 19.00–20.00. Many restaurants stop serving some time before they actually close, so it is worthwhile checking the opening hours when booking a table. Concerts and theatre performances usually begin at 19.00 or 19.30, and audiences adjourn to restaurants at around 22.00.

Cold Meat Salad

Rigatoni with bolognese sauce