This is a unique cookbook. It contains recipes with ingredients I’ve never heard of, a layout different from most cookbooks, and a collection of stunning nature photography.

The book format is large, 10 ¼ x 11 ¾, and the page layout is uncluttered with beautiful mouth-watering photographs of the dishes represented. The photos are not labelled though, and I would have liked to identify the places, flowers, plants and foods they depict.

Reviewed on 09/13/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Laura Fabiani

I love food, so as soon as I saw the gorgeous piece of salmon nesting on a bed of greens on the cover of “Simply Scandinavian, Traveling In Time With Finnish Cuisine And Nature,” I was excited to get my hands on a copy.  While I have to admit I didn’t have a clue about Finnish cuisine, that picture was enough to pique my interest.

I was thrilled when I discovered that this cookbook is more than a collection of Tero Kallio’s recipes.  It’s a stunning book that will teach you a bit about Finland through images and food.  Good food engages all of the senses and Kimmo Saira’s pictures will have you drooling in anticipation as you flip through.  Another thing I really appreciate is the way this collection is organized.  Anyone who has had the pleasure of picking a tomato off of the vine in the summer can tell you the importance of eating seasonally and this book guides you through all four seasons on a culinary journey.

While pretty pictures are nice, what really counts in the end is the food you produce and both items I made were fantastic.  Since it’s been nearly 100 degrees every day, I started with the Lemon and Lime Sorbet, which was easy and refreshing.  While I sadly couldn’t track down the Sal Ammoniac squares need to make the accompanying sauce, it was fantastic by itself.  Hopefully I can find that missing ingrediant in the future to enjoy it as intended by the author.  Regardless, it was a quick and easy summer dessert.

I also couldn’t resist trying the Grilled Raw Spiced Salmon with a green pea salad.  It’s a fantastic summer dinner because you don’t need to turn on the stove for more than a couple of minutes.  I loved the horseradish cream which is reminiscint of wasabi, but offered a fresh burst of flavor thanks to the green peas. 

Both recipes  were easy to follow and the results were well received by everyone.  The only thing I should point out for those of you who are used to American cookbooks is that the ingrediants are measured using the metric system.  While nothing I made required exact measurement and I’m used to converting because of my work, you may have to take an extra five minutes to figure out how much of everything you’ll need before starting for recipes requiring precision.  From what I’ve made so far, it will be worth it!

After reading through this beautiful book and trying a couple of recipes, I’m sold on the food of Finland.  While I most likely will not be serving Reindeer with Cloudberries at my next dinner party, there are a number of recipes I’m looking forward to trying out.  Plus, even though some of the ingredients may be difficult to find here, I think the techniques and concepts will translate to my local ingredients just fine!

Reviewed on 08/08/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Sara Townsend

"Simply Scandinavian - Travelling in Time with Finnish Cuisine and Nature" by Tero Kallio and Kimmo Saira is a feast for the eyes and the stomach. The authors claim to take readers on a journey of two dimensions: tastes and time. Boy, do they succeed.

The gorgeous photography sets off the more than 40 recipes included in the book. Kallio and Saira divide the recipes by season, and further by appetizers, main courses and desserts, with accompanying photos of the recipes and Finnish scenery. The authors point out that "Simply Scandinavian" is a picture book and that the recipes, some of which combine the old and new, are mostly Finnish dishes with a smidgeon of Italian, Russian and other cuisines thrown in.

Readers will learn how to prepare dishes of reindeer, rabbit, salmon, crayfish, beef, lamp, cep mushrooms and more. I did have to look up some of the ingredients in the recipes because I was unfamiliar with them. With each recipe, the authors recommend a beverage ranging from pinot noir to champagne to cold milk to specialty drinks, etc. One of the recipes that sounds interesting is reindeer with cloudberries. I would like to try that someday if I were to visit Finland. Some of the dessert and drink recipes like the rhubarb smoothie and blueberry cheese-cake I may attempt to create at home.

In sum, "Simply Scandinavian" is a breathtaking picture book that readers will enjoy for both the recipes and photography. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Reviewed on 04/12/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Darcy Odden

Intrigued is a word I would use to describe my thought when receiving Simply Scandinavian. I was not sure how their cuisine would differ to mine, but I knew it would. While I found myself skipping over the recipes involving reindeer, I found many new and inspiring ideas and recipes.

As a lover of coffee and liking it just so, I was sceptical to try the recipe for Cocoa flavored coffee on page 119, but found it a refreshing change. One I probably wont be drinking everyday but one I would enjoy occasionally.

My son loves beetroot and my daughter eats it if I can disguise it. The variation on page 54 for beetroot crisps was a great way to get them both to eat it, they loved their ‘red chips’ and ate them all in one sitting.

There were many recipes in this book that I will be trying with my fussy eaters, a lot have ingredients that can easily be hidden and some I would never have thought to put together in one dish.

Divided into the seasons the recipes featured compliment what the weather would be along with the spectacular pictures featured in the book. These images make one want to travel to Finland. Stunning landscape images fill the book in a beautiful way that is both eye catching and colorful. Pictures of the included recipes make mistakes minimal in presentation for the diner, I have learnt if it looks appealing it will be at least tried.

Simply Scandinavian is one book I would heartily recommend to anyone wanting a new culinary experience.

Reviewed on 03/05/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Tina Evans

“Simply Scandinavian, Traveling In Time With Finnish Cuisine And Nature”, by Tero Kallio and Kimmo Saira is a marvelous book that merges the brilliant cuisine and breathtaking beauty of Scandinavia. This is more than just a cookbook it is also a coffee table art book filled with vivid color photographs of the wonderful landscape. Just one look at this book and your mouth will water. Filled with delicious recipes that coordinate with the seasons nothing has been left out. With recipes ranging from spiced salmon, pancakes with birch syrup, pot-roasted mallard, to strawberry meringue, beestings brule, and blueberry cheesecake, “Simply Scandinavian, Traveling In Time With Finnish Cuisine And Nature”, by Tero Kallio and Kimmo Saira is sure to please.

Also featuring a brief history of Finland, “Simply Scandinavian, Traveling In Time With Finnish Cuisine And Nature”, by Tero Kallio and Kimmo Saira is an enjoyable book. Defiantly one cookbook that you would be proud to display.

Reviewed on 01/24/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Angela Simmons