Finnlines' two new Superstar ships will be deployed on the company's Kapellskär-Långnäs-Nådendal route starting in September this year. In addition to increased passenger capacity, Finnlines also has a completely new focus on enhancing the travel experience for its passengers, and is therefore launching an exciting food and beverage concept on board.
Specifically, this means that Henri Alén, owner and head chef of the Finnjävel restaurant in Helsinki and known from the Finnish version of the TV show Masterchef, together with Dan Grönvall, head chef at Finnlines, has designed menus for several of the restaurants on board. And that the multi-award-winning bartender Josephine Sondlo has developed a drinks menu that will be served exclusively on board Finnlines' new ships.
As an appetizer for the launch, Swedish media were invited to a lunch at Fotografiska in Stockholm on Monday, May 15. Fotografiska's restaurant, which has been awarded a green sustainability star in the Michelin Guide, provided the food. Star bartender Josephine Sondlo served four drinks, all containing her unique, patented spice blend.
Josephine Sondlo was named the best bartender in the Nordics in 2017 and is also a two-time finalist in World Class Global. At Art of Italicus 2022, she was named the Swedish winner and awarded the global sustainability award. Nori bar in Stockholm, which is signed by Josephine Sondlo and the chef duo Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman, was also nominated for Swedish newcomer of the year in 2022.
– Today I offered our Signature cocktail, Signature champagne, aperitif and non-alcoholic spritz cocktail. It has been fantastic fun to develop the drinks menu and I am very proud of the collaboration with Finnlines, says Josephine Sondlo.
The full-scale drinks menu is still a secret and will only be presented when the new ships begin operating the route.
Wide range of restaurants and bars on board
During the event, Marco Palmu, Head of Passenger Services at Finnlines, also presented the ships' new food and restaurant concept. In addition to the traditional buffet, several restaurants and bars will also be offered.
Henri Alén, owner and head chef of the Finnjävel restaurant in Helsinki and known from the Finnish version of the TV show Masterchef, has, together with Dan Grönvall, head chef at Finnlines, designed the menus to suit all different occasions, from meeting dinners to romantic cruises. Although the restaurants' menus differ, their common focus is tasty delicacies from the archipelago with inspiration from Mediterranean cuisine.
From soil to table on ships
The new menus use locally grown ingredients in a variety of dishes. The cross-use of ingredients is carefully planned to reduce food waste and energy consumption during cooking.
– The leitmotif of the Superstar concept is sustainability, locally produced and seasonal. For example, the bread and pastries are baked in Turku and the surrounding area, and the archipelago buffet and local soft drinks come from Åland, says Marco Palmu.
This spring, Finnlines also began a close collaboration with the Finnish food wholesaler Kespro, which is now responsible for food deliveries to Finnlines ships between Sweden and Finland. Kespro places great emphasis on the green transition and is responsible for a sustainable supply chain – from farm to fork.
According to the press release.
