Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Season 11 Episode 14 Finland

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations season 11 takes the audience on another exciting adventure as the host, Anthony Bourdain, travels the world to explore different food cultures and cuisines. In episode 14, Anthony travels to the Nordic country of Finland to discover its rich culinary heritage and explore its natural beauty.

As many know, Finland is known for being home to Santa Claus and hosting the Northern Lights. However, the host Anthony is interested in peeling back layers of the country's food culture that are less widely known. Finland has a unique and surprisingly complex food culture despite its smaller presence in western culture. Over the course of the episode, Bourdain visits tiny fishing villages, sets up camp near a Finnish sauna, and shares meals with many local families and chefs.

Through his experiences, Anthony discovers various dishes featuring a range of flavors and ingredients. One dish introduced in the episode is Karelian Pie, a traditional pastry filled with either mashed potatoes or rice pudding. The dish originates from the finnish region of Karelia and can be made sweet or savory. The host also tries Rutabaga casserole, a quintessential Finnish dish that's baked or boiled rutabaga slices layered with milk and flour. Another menu item central to Finland's cuisine is Ligonsberry jam. This jam is distinct to the country and is typically eaten with cheese, bread, or rolled pancakes.

Apart from exploring the culinary culture, Anthony also visits various scenic locations such as small villages, vasts forests and icy lakes. Surprisingly, there's a great amount of wild life that can be spotted throughout Anthony's journey, including bears, elks, and various birds.

As with every episode of the series, Finland draws on both the beauty of the country and the complexity and depth of its cuisine, revealing the cultural history of the people of Finland. Anthony talks to locals like the indigenous Sami people, who share parts of their traditions with their guests. They share the importance of reindeer herding and how their cuisine has evolved keeping in mind the natural resources that surround them.

Overall, the episode is an essential watch for anyone wanting to learn more about the beauty and culinary culture of Finland. It showcases a country with vast natural resources and the people who have used their surroundings and indigenous ingredients to create novel and innovative dishes that highlight the best of Finland's food. Bourdain's work is not only a window into a location with a relatively unknown culinary culture but also a chance for viewers to experience the cultural highlights of one of Europe's most distinct countries.