Hel Yes!

A couple friday’s ago we went to Hel Yes! which is a pop up restaurant commissioned and produced by the Finnish Institute in London for London Design week. The design of the restaurant was amazing, but for a food focused blog I feel I’ve talked about design enough this week.
The reason I wanted to mention it was of course because of the food! The menu was very small (being a pop up restaurant the kitchen was tiny with three chefs and I can’t imagine they could accommodate a massive choice). Starters were either beetroot with sour cream, something with anchovies, or Ox tongue. I went for the Ox tongue. I remember growing up in the Canadian prairies in the local supermarket they use to sell what must have been cow tongue. It was absolutely disgusting sitting there on a pink foam plate and wrapped in cellophane. As I sat there waiting for my dish I kept thinking about those grotesque giant tongues. However, I also remembered that the buffalo in the prairies were also wiped out for their prized tongues. Fields of the dead animals would be left with just their tongues removed (sort of similar to the atrocities surrounding shark fin soup these days I suppose). There must be something to it. I was presented with a very tender light brown round (why did they leave it round?!) portion of meat served with greens, cabbage and a vinaigrette. It was very melt in the mouth tender, and quite delicate. However, as I ate it I have to admit I was slightly grossed out and even though it was fine I just can’t get over the thought of eating tongue.
My main was much tamer being a wild mushroom hash. My fiancée got lambs neck as he doesn’t eat mushrooms and I forget what the third option was but it was also something he wasn’t interested in so he was stuck with the neck. He was pretty much freaking out over it and it arrived kind of looking like a slice of neck (long and thin). However, it too was good having been slow cooked to perfection.
We left with some new found meat knowledge, and an appreciation of Finland food and design. It was also pretty special being there and being part of the restaurant experience. The designers did an excellent job making you feel like you were part of something new, exciting and special.
The little book that you got to keep included quite a few recipes from cabbage rolls to bread (no tongue). It’s not the usual type of food that I would cook, but the mood may strike me some day.

Cool pop-​up Finnish restaurant for Design Week — everything in the restaurant in Finnish and its in a random warehouse. I think it closes October 3^rd though. First time trying Finnish cuisine and it was definitely interesting. It was a 3 course menu for £25 — though I paid extra to get the sea bass tartar and the dill lamb neck.
I think you have to be a little more adventurous to eat here. Food was well prepared though the desert (a raspberry manna) was lacking. Service was also a little slow. The winner here was definitely the cocktails, though they were a little pricey.