Pot-O Finnish

Karelia Kitchen recently opened at the now defunct Burmese eatery, Mother Home. The co-owner and chef had made her way around the Arctic countries, and has decided to bring some of that Northern cooking back to Canada. This cafeteria-style diner, with its tan wood finishes, evokes that clean, minimalist Scandinavian feel. On Thursday, I checked out this newest restaurant to Bloor and Dufferin.

The service counters were divided into 3 sections: a dessert selection of shortbread, flan, biscotti, saffron cake, and various cookies. The lemon-lime cookie was buttery rich, with a subtle citrus flavour, and nicely light on the sugar. The middle area displayed smorrebrod: Scandinavian-style open-face sandwiches. Finally, the hot table had a daily selection of hot staples including beef stew and pork sirloin. With a smokehouse in the basement, there was also a variety of smoked dishes.

I ordered the Chicken Pot Pie ($10.95) with rutabaga and sauerkraut. The rutabaga was chewy but not too soft. The sauerkraut was mild and tasted more like a cooked item than the typical pickled condiment. The pie had a flaky crust with chunks of tender chicken and vegetables inside. I would have liked a creamier, richer sauce but overall it was a tasty main. A glass of fresh beet juice ($3.25) completed the meal.

The owner pointed out there was a difference between dining and eating. Karelia Kitchen is a great  neighbourhood addition in the latter category: a place where you can grab a quick bite after work or get some take-out for tomorrow's lunch. Bonus points to the owners for using local and seasonal ingredients.