BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Mediterranean diet may keep kids slimmer

Children who eat a Mediterranean-style diet are less likely to be overweight or obese than other youngsters, a new study suggests.

Kids who closely followed a diet rich in fish, nuts, grains, vegetables and fruits -- the so-called Mediterranean diet -- were 15 percent less likely to be overweight or obese than those who did not follow that type of diet, the researchers found. This was true regardless of age, sex, wealth or country.

Researchers looked at the weight and eating habits of more than 9,000 children in eight countries: Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden. The youngsters' weight and body fat were checked at the start of the study and again two years later.

Swedish children scored highest and those in Italy were second in terms of following a Mediterranean-style diet, while youngsters in Cyprus were least likely to follow the diet, according to Dr. Gianluca Tognon of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and colleagues.

"The promotion of a Mediterranean dietary pattern is no longer a feature of Mediterranean countries," the researchers said. "Considering its potential beneficial effects on obesity prevention, this dietary pattern should be part of [European Union] obesity prevention strategies and its promotion should be particularly intense in those countries where low levels of adherence are detected."

The study was scheduled for presentation Tuesday at the European Congress on Obesity in Bulgaria. Until they're published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, findings presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary.

More information : The American Heart Association has more about a Mediterranean-style diet.

Robert Preidt

Russians are world's 2nd highest spenders on alcohol

Russian consumers ranked second only to Estonians in terms of the amount of money they spent on alcoholic beverages last year, Euromonitor International said in a report. While Estonian consumers spent 6.5 percent of their cash on beer, wine or spirits in 2013, Russians spent 5.8 percent, or $61.5 million, on alcohol.

Beer was the preferred tipple for Russians, with $27.5 million spent on it, whereas $21.9 million was sunk into spirits and $12 million on wine, Lenta.ru reported. A large proportion of consumers' money in Belarus, Peru, Latvia and Lithuania also went toward buying alcohol.

The highest per capita spender on alcohol in 2013 was Finland, followed by Switzerland, Norway, New Zealand and Estonia. The latter is expected to become the world's leader in per capita spending on alcohol by 2021.

The report said that between 2008 and 2013 Hong Kong recorded the highest growth of per capita expenditure on alcohol. The global average for consumer expenditure on booze was 1.5 percent, while per capita consumer alcohol spending in 2013 stood at $86.

The level of per capita consumer expenditure on alcoholic drinks in a country is directly influenced by government policies, such as alcohol bans, high taxes on spirits or advertising bans, the report said, adding that the share of consumer spending on alcohol sheds light on countries' income levels, consumption habits and demographic trends.

Tallinn to open its first municipal discounter this week

While Tallinn City Government’s plans to open a municipal bank seem like an Edgar Savisaar’s dream that will never come true, another initiative – opening the first municipal grocery discounter – is taking shape.

On Wednesday, City Government will open its first city-funded discounter in Lasnamäe at Punane street.

The store which is called LIPO (short for linnapood, or municipal store) is managed by Tallinna Turud that also manages municipal open-air food markets in Nõmme and Mustamäe as well as the fish market and flower market.

Deputy Mayor of Tallinn Arvo Sarapuu said that at present the city is mapping food prices in other grocery chains and plans to offer its products at 10-15 percent cheaper. Sarapuu said that the store will guarantee that prices of 30 food items and 4 primary consumer goods will be 10 to 15 percent cheaper than elsewhere.

One special feature with LIPO is that it will have over-the-counter sale instead of self-service. The store will have 8 sales assistants.

Toomas Höbemägi

Monday, Five Thirty - Sipping on Estonia's flagship booze - Vana Tallinn

In celebration of the most needed happy hour of the week, we're launching a new column called “Monday, Five Thirty” that will take a look at different vices from around the world, specifically boozes and beers unique to a destination. For this inaugural run, we zip over to Estonia for a taste of its infamous Vana Tallinn.

Estonia is a relatively new country, having gained its independence from Russia just over twenty years ago in 1991. Its most wide-scale attraction, Old Town Tallinn, looks like it should be on the top of a wedding cake with its medieval castles, and our sis HotelChatter dished on some of its properties, including one where the KGB literally bugged the hell out of its guests.

We’re here to talk about booze, though, and the segue is in the name: "Old Tallinn" in Estonian is "Vana Tallinn," which happens to be the name of the country's flagship liqueur. It is marketed as if it is some ancient remedy, but the truth is that it was created in the 1960s, and there seems to be little historical context other than good marketing linking the drink to the city. Despite that, if you asked a resident what they think the local drink is, the answer will be Vana Tallinn 9 times out of 10.

Dimitri's Egoist closes

Egoist, a Tallinn restaurant led by top chef Dimitri Demjanov, is closing its doors.

The restaurant drew attention to Estonia at the acclaimed Bocuse d'Or competition. On the restaurant's website, Demjanov writes that Egoist's mission has ended, but that he would be willing to open a new location.

"During 15 intense years we have contributed to the development and recognition of Estonian gastronomy within and beyond our borders. Two candidates at the renowned haute cuisine contest, the Bocuse d'Or, achieving 14th and 15th place in the highly competitive challenge among 65 participating countries, have come from our kitchen," said Demjanov.

Demjanov is known as one of the leading adapters of New Nordic culinary philosophies in Estonia and is the cuisinier of Gloria Restaurant.

Where's your mushroom plot ? - Don't even ask an Estonian

AEGVIIDU — Don't let Angeelika Kang fool you. She has built a reputation as the Baltic answer to Martha Stewart with her willingness to show amateur bakers how to whip up camera-ready cakes. She shares her best recipes in popular Estonian cookbooks. But there are deep secrets she isn't going to divulge, like how she finds her wild mushrooms.

Ms. Kang, 42 years old, is passionate about one of the nation's treasured pastimes: preserving dewberries, tomatoes, cucumbers and other edible items that can be freely gathered from Estonia's forests. Gathering wild stuff is very big in the northern countries and Scandinavia.

But don't ask Ms. Kang for inside information on the best place to find the most prized of the produce on her shelves—particularly mushrooms. You'll be plum out of luck. Like many others in the northern reaches of Europe, Estonians consider their private haunts sacred ground. Asked where to track down wild chanterelles, for instance, Ms. Kang is apt to say, "Take a left from the main road there, turn right at the tree and then left again."

She admits, that is a lie. "You will never find the right spot."

This year's mushroom harvest is on the wane, but fear that the activity's deepest secrets aren't safe is always in season. The threats come in many forms, from curious kinfolk wanting to participate in a family ritual to well-meaning amateurs looking for advice.

Kersti Rea, an Estonian entrepreneur, has been going to the forest ever since she was a child, and her spots for finding orange milk-cap mushrooms are an inheritance from her father. She says she might tell her closest friends, but usually she, too, just gives vague directions. Ms. Rea says that finding mushrooms is a knack akin to witchcraft. They are a presence some folks can feel in the air.

Russian food inspectors visit Estonia

A two-week visit by Russian food and veterinary inspectors to Estonian fishery and dairy industry companies is currently under way, with experts saying there is no way to predict the results.

Head of the Estonian Veterinary and Food Board Ago Pärtel, who is accompanying the group, told Postimees today that as Estonian companies want to export to Russia, there is no reason to oppose such checkups, which take place every few years.

Russia banned Lithuanian dairy products at the beginning of this month after a similar checkup. That action came amidst a trade row between the countries. Russian inspectors have also recently found Dutch dairy products to be unsatisfactory, a move that observers have linked to recent political tensions between Moscow and The Hague.

The head of the dairy company Valio Eesti, Maido Solovjov, said that as Russia does not satisfy its own internal dairy demands, even if Estonian products were to be banned, Russia would likely overturn the decision in the near future.

Tallinn invites to various cultural and entertaining events

Tallinn is full of vivid colors and gourmet flavors this month with major fashion and food events taking place throughout the season, reports LETA, referring to Tallinn Tourism.

On October 21, 2013, "Flavors of Estonia" announced the Top 50 Estonian restaurants, followed soon after by Tallinn Restaurant Week on November 1 –7, 2013, which offers many opportunities to enjoy the local food culture and catch up with the latest culinary trends at an attractive price.

To partake in the festival, the visitors are asked to book their seats in advance from as early as October 18, 2013.

Tallinn Fashion Week on October 24-26, 2013, is one of the highlight events of Estonian fashion industry. This year, for the first time ever, Tallinn Fashion Week merges with the The Golden Needle award. The Golden Needle is awarded each year to the most notable local fashion designer for continued excellence in their work within the last five years. The main program presents 12 different shows, fashion themed films and parties.

The Christmas season in Tallinn is approaching fast and soon the city will transform into a real winter wonderland.

Tallinn Tourism Office social media channel Visit Tallinn will bring visitors design and food-themed weeks throughout the season, so keep an eye out for posts on Estonian design and cuisine.

Only 10% fruits and berries sold in Estonia are locally grown

Only a tenth of fruits and berries sold in Estonia are locally grown, a working group compiling gardening development plan stated when meeting at the agriculture ministry on Tuesday, adding that the share of Estonian gardening produce at the market should increase, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports.

"Estonia can supply around 66% of vegetables it consumes and just 10% of fruit and berries it consumes. In the next seven years we wish to certainly increase the self-support level," said agriculture and rural life policy deputy chancellor Illar Lemetti.

The working group thinks that for that, investments have to be made to create the necessary preserving conditions for sale and increase the productivity of the sector by modernising technology. Also, cooperation between producers and processing businesses would benefit the sector.

132,000 tonnes of vegetables and 59,000 tonnes of fruits and berries are consumed in Estonia in a year.

Eating and drinking in Estonia

I always enjoy dipping into a new cuisine, so when I headed off to Estonia I was curious as to what kind of food I was going to get. Would it be like Russian cuisine? Scandinavian? A bit of both since the country is sandwiched between those two areas?

Turns out it's a mix with its own local twist. At least that was my impression. I was only in the country a week and so take all my observations with a dash of salt.

The first thing I noticed is that bread comes with everything. The most distinct kind is a heavy black rye bread. Breakfasts include bread and an assortment of cold cuts and cheeses to fortify you against the cold day. Bread reappears for lunch and dinner and snacks. You'll see kids tromping down the street with a slice of black bread and butter for a snack.

Estonian cuisine includes a lot of meat, especially pork, usually served with some form of potato. One dish I tried was juniper-smoked pork with honey cabbage, mustard sauce and potato-groat porridge. A good recipe that was only adequately done at the place I tried it. In the winter Estonians like soups and stews. My favorite is seljanka, a meat soup that warmed me up after a cold morning chasing the Estonian army through some snowy woods. More on that story in the next post. The vegetable soups thickened with cream or yogurt will keep you going too.

Despite being a maritime country, fish doesn't rank high on the menu. Herring, eel and flounder are found the most, although I didn't try any of them.

Estonia increased horsemeat import nearly 10 times in 2012

According to the Statistic Estonia data, Estonia increased horsemeat import nearly ten times in 2012, LETA/Public Broadcasting reports. The amount of all imported exotic meat grew by 3.7 times as compared to 2011.

Last year, 123 tonnes of horsemeat and 41 tonnes of home-grown rabbit meat was imported. Other types of exotic meats that were imported included reindeer meat (532 kg), frog legs (273 kg), crocodile and snake meat (50 kg).

Horsemeat import grew in a year by nearly ten times; nearly 30% of the imported horsemeat was exported from the state again. 73% of horsemeat came from Hungary and 18% from Belgium.

Home-grown rabbit meat import grew by nearly 5 times and it mostly came from Lithuania. Reindeer meat came from the U.S. mostly and frog legs from Belgium, but they were of Indonesian origin.

Eurostat data indicate that in the first 11 months of 202, Latvia imported 19 tonnes of horsemeat, Lithuania 2 tonnes, but Finland imported nearly 20 times more than Estonia.

Tallinn wants to close pubs at 3 a.m.

TALLINN – The city of Tallinn is asking the government to make a law amendment that would allow the city to set restrictions on the opening hours of entertainment venues and thus curb the noisy nightlife of Tallinn's Old Town that lasts often till morning, Postimees writes.

Deputy mayor of the city Arvo Sarapuu said that the law amendment would benefit not just the residents of Tallinn's Old Town but residents of other towns too whom night-time party-goers don’t give any peace.

The central Tallinn governor Mihhail Korb said that all pubs in the Old Town should be closed by 3 a.m. at the latest. "Starting 3 a.m. the number of police calls in central Tallinn surges. Thus the commercial activities law should be changed and local municipalities should be given the right to restrict the opening hours of drinking venues," he said.

"Tallinn is becoming notorious as the paradise of British bachelors, a place of hard partying, which a town that belongs to the UNESCO world heritage list clearly doesn’t wish for," said Korb, adding that most pubs and clubs are open there till early hours or round the clock. "The situation has become intolerable for residents of the Old Town," he said, adding that it also harms business of other companies, like hotels, whose clients suffer because of the noise.

Rimi starts own mushroom production

Estonia's largest supermarket chain Rimi started production and sales of a series of high-quality products from the Mediterranean called “Selection by Rimi”.

The mushrooms of various varieties, will be sold fresh or frozen and will occupy an important place in the line “Selection by Rimi” along with other goods. “This is the first series of products on the Estonian market sold under its own brand which offer consumers a diverse and top-class selection of the most famous products of Italian, Spanish and French cuisine at a reasonable price”, said Andrija Lilleoja, the Head of Marketing and Communications of Rimi.

Famous restaurateur to open cafe in renewed Kadriorg Park

Estonian author of nearly 30 cookbooks, Angeelika Kang, will take over the lease on a popular cafe on the swan pond in Tallinn's Kadriorg Park, reported LETA, referring to the Estonian national broadcasting corporation ERR.

Tallinn city and Kang signed a ten-year lease agreement, under which the restaurateur commits to spend 100,000 euros on renovation of Viennese-style building, the Tallinn's site said. Kang, who has written a number of books on cakes and pastries, currently runs a cafe in Viru Keskus shopping center in Tallinn.

The stunning Baroque palace and art museum in Kadriorg will reopen to public after renovation on February 9, 2013. The new cafe should open in May with the pastries produced in-house. As reported, a lot of various event and activities will take place in Kadriorg this week-end, and even more to come during the year. An exhibition of art works of Ilya Repin "A Russian Master's Life and Work in Finland" will be open at the recently renovated Tallinn-based Kadriorg Art Museum starting from February 9, 2013.

A festival of large ice sculptures will take place in Kardiorg Park on February 10, 2013. Leafy Kadriorg Park celebrates its 295th birthday on July 22 with a series of spirited concerts and bright events.

Estonia's Heidi Pinnak places 14th in Bocuse d'Or final

Representing Estonia in Lyon, Pinnak's team came in 14th out of the 24 nations competing in the final round of one of the world's most prestigious chef championships.

As the Bocuse d'Or's only female contestant, Pinnak outperformed chefs from leading culinary powerhouses Italy and Holland, improving her position by one place since her last performance in 2009, reported the competition's website.

Chefs from across the globe went head-to-head in yesterday's final round of the event, frequently referred to as the culinary equivalent of the Olympic Games. In the 20-year history of the competition, the number of female finalists can be counted on one hand, ETV reported.

Pinnak's team used Estonia's local ingredients including Vana Tallinn liquor, quail eggs, rye bread, juniper berries and pine shoots. 

“I want to show that Estonia has a lot to offer to the world in terms of local chefs and local cuisine inspired by local ingredients. I hope that this will encourage young Estonian chefs to aspire high, value local traditions and recreate them,” said Pinnak.

Pinnak was spurred on at the event by Evelin Ilves, the spouse of Estonia's President, and Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder, among other dignitaries.   

France claimed the top spot, followed by Denmark and Japan.

11/01/2013 : "Big City Fashion party" @ Casablanca, Roseni 9, Tallinn

"Big City - Fashion Party" on mõeldud külalistele, keda ei huvita mitte tavalised ööklubid, vaid kes on orienteeritud kõrgematasemelistele koosviibimistele. Nendele klientidele pakumegi võimalust osaleda üritusel "Big City". Kuna 13.jaanuar on vene vana kalendri järgi aastavahetus, siis toimub üritus vene stiilis.

Suurepärase atmosfääri loomiseks on kavas moeshow, mille käigus demonstreeritakse Itaalia moekultusfirma "LorMar" aluspesu, mille toodang on kättesaadav vaid Stockmanni kaubamajas ja Kaubamajas. ...

Lisaks kutsume üritusele Eestimaa parimad  Go-Go tüdrukud, kelle show taustal tutvustatakse ja pakutakse baarides vaid kõrgekvaliteedilist alkoholi  "Fashion Vodka". Valitud suupisted on saadaval VIP laudadel, mille valmistab külalistele "Sushi Panda" ja meie sõbralik ning professionaalne meeskond on teie teeninduses ja täiendab olemasolevat atmosfääri. Külalistel on võimalik tellida endale ka vesipiipe, mille toob teieni "Grand Shisha". Sisenemine naistele alates 18.eluaastast, meestele alates 21. eluaastast.

VIP laud 4-inimesele - 150 EUR
Sisaldab: sushivalik 50tk. , Fashion Vodka 0.7, Martini Asti - 1 pudel, AURA mahl - 1 l.
Ettetellimusel vesipiip puuviljadega 25 EUR

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Big City-Fashion party is a unique event that is dedicated to celebrate the New Year in the old style.

Big city offers you the best modern dance music, go-go dancers in sexy Russian costumes, presentation fashion underware clothes from Italian firm LorMar, great gifts from online store DonJuar.ee, and many more.

At the entrance, each guest will be able to enjoy a glass of champagne "Odessa". When ordering, vip tables, guests get a form of sushi from Sushi Panda and fruit basket. Also all the vip tables includes a bottle of champagne and a CD with music palyed at the event.

Tasting NW flavors in surprising places

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Our remaining week was spent in the Baltics, starting with a two-hour ferry ride from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia. Looking back on my photos, I must have been missing a taste of the U.S., as my food choices included a dinner of pizza and salad at Controvento on St. Catherine’s Passage, and a burger and fries for lunch the next day at a forgettable outdoor cafe in Town Hall Square.

Our splurge was dinner at Troika, a Russian restaurant complete with costumed waiters, live music and tables full of loud and happy diners.

The following day, before taking the bus to Riga in Latvia, we had lunch at Kuldse Notsu Korts (Wrinkled Golden Piglet). It’s an Estonian country restaurant with a cute pig as its logo and, no surprise — a menu that’s big on pig! All washed down with a couple tall glasses of A. Le Coq, an Estonian beer.

........... more here

Õllesummer 2012

The festival is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 17.00 until 01.00

Õllesummer 2012 tickets are on sale in Piletilevi.ee and Statoil gas stations all over Estonia.

Ticket prices in presale are as following:
4-day pass - 29 EUR
1-day ticket - 12 EUR
Children`s and senior citizen`s 1-day ticket - 9 EUR *

* Children`s and senior citizen`s 1-day ticket is valid for children 6-11 years. Children under 6 years can enter for free.

Both 1-day tickets as well as 4-day festival passes give access also to enjoy headliners.

FRIENDS DAY - if buying a full prices ticket from festival gates on Saturday, 9th July two people can enter for the price of one.

Tickets at the festival ground
Tickets can be purchased at Oru and Mere gates ticket offices from Wednesday to Saturday from 17.00 until 00.30.

Estonian chef to introduce Estonian cuisine at Los Angeles 2012 Taste Awards

Los Angeles – By special invitation, Estonia’s beloved chef Marika Blossfeldt , author of the best-selling, Essential Nourishment, Recipes from My Estonian Farm (Gourmand World Cookbook Awards nominee, 2011), will be participating & preparing food for the 3rd Annual Taste Awards & VIP Reception, introducing Estonian cooking to the global culinary stage.

The Taste Awards , also known as the TASTY Awards, is the premier broadcast awards show to celebrate and recognize the year's best achievements in food, fashion, and home lifestyle programs on television, in film, online, and on radio.

Chef Marika will be preparing two items for the reception: a cranberry pecan barley bread, inspired by the traditional Estonian “karask,” and a quinoa beet salad, featuring boiled beets as the “Estonian” ingredient – in traditional Estonian cooking there are several versions of beet salads – Chef Marika gives it a new twist that pairs beets with a cooked grain.

Joining her will be Estonian cocktail masters, Heinar Oispuu and Kristo Toomingas, of Tallinn’s Butterfly Lounge , the biggest and most popular cocktail bar in Estonia.

Delighted to be introducing Estonian cuisine at the Taste Awards, she says, “My culinary philosophy is a perfect fit for what the Taste Awards seek to encourage and for what California cuisine is known for. What I have added is an emphasis on the local and the natural.”

Chef Marika is also the proprietor of an old, renovated Estonian herb and vegetable farm near the western coast of Estonia, Polli Talu. The farm has evolved into an international art and wellness center. Chef Marika has focused her life on practicing and teaching a holistic lifestyle where body, mind and spirit are integrated and deeply cared for.

Gingerbread Mania 2012: Unique Estonian Flavors

Gingerbread lovers will be able to feast their eyes upon all manner of delicious and delectable treats this Christmas, when they pay a visit one of Tallinn’s quirkier art and design events – the Gingerbread Mania Exhibition (PiparkoogiMaania 2011).

An annual exhibition, sponsored by a Tallinn-based cake manufacturer, nothing is quite what it seems at Gingerbread Mania. Over the next three weeks, visitors will be descending on Tallinn’s Design and Architecture Gallery to taste the work of more than 100 local artists and designers, who have created the ultimate fragrant dream world for anyone who loves the traditional Christmas treats.

In a collision of folk traditions, modern art and gastronomy, more than 300 kilos of dough has been transformed into all manner of mouth-watering objects. Exhibits range from life-size cash registers and angel wings, to brand name handbags and bakeries run by teddy bears (complete with intricately-designed miniature pretzels and loaves of bread!).

The exhibition pays homage to numerous different cultures – Nordic, European, even African influences are all apparent in the designs – as the artists prove that just about anything can be made from gingerbread. Visitors can also catch a glimpse of how the exhibits are made, as artists demonstrate their age-old gingerbread baking and decorating techniques, heating up treacle the old-fashioned way over a naked flame, then gently pouring the sweet-smelling mix over various tasty treats.