Delicious stories bring friends of good food together
Saimaa Gastronomy is a network of four passionate local food companies.
Together, we arrange food events and experiences in four locations in South Savo, around 200 km from Helsinki.
All of our Saimaa Gastronomy destinations offer authentic flavours and amazing events all year round. Choose your favourite, and come and enjoy some incredible delicacies in the pristine natural surroundings of Lake Saimaa!
Day 1. Tertti Manor invites you on a modern jorney of flavours in a traditional setting
The hosts of Tertti Manor, Matti and Pepita Pylkkänen, began developing their family estate in 1978 into one of Finland’s leading tourism and specialised cultivation farms. Since then, they have established the Manor Restaurant and remodelled the manor’s courtyard area, garden and immediate surroundings in the style of the late 19th century and built the Dairy Café & Shop. The offerings of the manor’s own fields, and fruit and vegetable gardens, have been cultivated into high-quality gourmet products and are still preserved for the enjoyment of guests. Inspired by the manor’s long history of food traditions, the owners have also published a cookery book.
The historical manor estate has farmed land, bred horses and sheep and raised dairy cattle for centuries. Over the years, the estate has run a sheep-breeding barn, its own dairy and even a dairy school. Over several centuries, Tertti Manor’s kitchen has prepared delicious, high-quality food for distinguished visitors, including Finnish presidents, and gourmet lovers.
TIPS FOR THE DAY:
- Visit one of the most famous markets in Finland – Mikkeli market!
- For active holiday lovers – Neitvuori hill and Astuvansalmi rock paintings are must see places!
- And don’t forget to take a guided trip to Tertti’s organic forest!
Day 2. Sahanlahti Resort offers you of the best of Lake Saimaa
One of the oldest sawmills in the Lake Saimaa region, Sahanlahti was built around a water-powered sawmill established in the 1740s. Sahanlahti sawmill was in operation for almost 200 years.
Today, the award winning Sahanlahti Resort is a popular, traditional tourist attraction in a fantastic location in Puumala, less than an hour’s drive from Savonlinna, Mikkeli and Imatra. The unique, culturally significant environment of the sawmill by the beautiful Lake Saimaa, and its modern, well-equipped facilities create a stunning environment for holidaymaking and a great venue for celebrations of all kinds. The view of Lake Saimaa opening up from the terrace of Restaurant Koskivahti has often been described as one of a kind in the world – and not in vain.
TIPS FOR THE DAY:
- Take a sightseeing cruise on Lake Saimaa and spot one of the rarest animals in Finland – Saimaa ringed seal
- For rural experience – visit Niinisaari island, and, for example, join Paula’s “Karelian pie baking” – experience
- Sahanlahti resort is one of the stops on Saimaa archipelago bicycle – route
Day 3. PihlasResort offers a wonderful world of flavours
PihlasResort is a brand new, luxurious eco-resort. They offer an unforgettable getaway in the middle of the most beautiful nature. The first-class hideaway invites you to return over and over again – to heal, enjoy, and relax with all your senses.
Their five intimate Forest Suites are perfect for invigorating getaways when travelling by yourself or with a companion, whereas the five enchanting two-bedroom Garden Villas offer more space to enjoy time together. During your stay you can dine in their top-quality restaurant Siimes, enjoy yourself on the tennis and padel courts, break a sweat at our gym and indoor sport hall, experience the secret forest routes, do laps in the streamline pool, relax in the outdoor jacuzzi, freshen your mind and body in the lakeside sauna – all this while experiencing the beautiful Finnish nature within each season.
TIPS FOR THE DAY:
- Heal yourself on day spa
- All the activity equipments includes the price so you are free to enjoy for example kayaking, sup-boarding etc.
Day 4. The enchanting TeaHouse of Wehmais in an idyllic rural setting
In the autumn of 2010, the hostess of TeaHouse of Wehmais, Anna Grotenfelt-Paunonen, established the first traditional English teahouse in Finland. However, in the spring 2020 this traditional tearoom was transformed into modern tearoom&bistro which is specialized in combining high-quality tea with delicious food and pastries. All the delicacies are prepared from local and organic ingredients and the menu is always evolving and changing with the seasons. The menu offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy either delicious full course menus, individual dishes or genuine Afternoon and Cream Teas.
Anna is a qualified tea sommelier, one of only two in Finland, and has personally picked a selection of about 100 types of tea for her teahouse, ensuring that everyone can find their favourite – also to take home. At the other end of the building, you’ll find the tea and delicacy boutique TeaHouse Shop, which offers a wide selection of tea, tea accessories and delicacies from TeaHouse’s own kitchen and local producers.
Arrival at the TeaHouse is an experience in itself. From the road, surrounded by beautiful rural scenery, diverges an atmospheric lane lined with birch trees and leading to the courtyard of the Wehmaa Manor and the stable building in which TeaHouse operates. In the summer, visitors can admire the estate’s calm, organically grown dairy cattle either by walking near the pastures surrounding the manor or by taking a peek inside the cow shed.
TIPS FOR THE DAY:
- Join a guided Tea tasting – event in Wehmaa’s manor
- Visit village of Juva – and feel the local Finnish culture
