Namedays & Pizza!

Several European countries, including Finland, and some Latin American countries, too, celebrate namedays. At this time of year, three of the four of us have our name days and as they are not celebrated in UK, I thought I'd mention them today!

Originally, they were celebrated on Saints' Days and if you were named after a saint or a martyr, then you celebrated your name on their festival day. Today, the Almanac Office at the University of Helsinki hold the rights to the nameday calendar in Finland, which includes both Finnish and Swedish names. Every 5-10 years, the list is updated to add new popular names and remove old names that have fallen out of favour. 

Our most recent family nameday was celebrated with really good Italian pizza! A new place has opened up in town and I've been there a few times with my school friends. Their bases are made with imported Italian flour. The chef is a real Italian, married to a lovely Finnish lady; they met in Rome - how romantic! 

The restaurant is PIZZARIUM in Kultatalo, 3rd floor of Hansa just by the Market Square in Turku. I HIGHLY recommend it!

The pizzas are delicious and the bases are deep and light and full of bubbles with a crispy bottom. All the ingredients are fresh, not canned, and the menu is not fixed but is based on what is available fresh.