Interview by 007 Travelers: Restaurant Savotta / Eero Kaitanen & Reija Etholen-Dalton

Who:
Eero Kaitanen, Chef
Where: Restaurant Savotta, Helsinki, Finland
007 Connection: Bond restaurant “Smourazi” in the book “James Bond, The Authorized Biography of 007” (John Pearson).  Restaurant Savotta and restaurant Smourazi are a match on based of their location and book description.

Eero Kaitanen, how long have you been working here in restaurant Savotta?
– I’ve been working here for six years now and one and half years as a chef.

What is your education?
– I have graduated from the cooking school at the beginning of 21st century.

What is the best part of your job?
– Nice co-workers!

From where do the tourists mostly come here?
– From Asia and Russia.

We would like to taste the same food that Bond ate in the book “James Bond, The Authorized Biography of 007“
– Karelian casserole, here you are!

Who:
Reija Etholen-Dalton, Waitress
Where: Restaurant Savotta, Helsinki, Finland
007 Connection: Bond restaurant “Smourazi” in the book “James Bond, The Authorized Biography of 007” (John Pearson).  Restaurant Savotta and restaurant Smourazi are a match on based of their location and book description.

Reija Etholen-Dalton, is Timothy Dalton your relative?
– He’s my cousin! *laughter*

What could you tell us about the history of this building?
-The décor of the restaurant Savotta is really old, all the furniture is imported and they are actually old, not just to make look like oldish. The floors are imported from Central Finland, form some old barn. The building was begun to be built in 1762, and in 1890 it was transferred to the City of Helsinki from Burtz. The building has been the Helsinki Police Department with its dungeons and registry office. First three Inspector Palmu movies have been filmed here. Catering services began in the 1980s. Before Savotta restaurant there has been for example an Italian restaurant, and the current restaurant has been in operation for 8-9 years.(2014)

Would you bring us something that Bond would drink here?
– Of course. Here is Uppotukki / Drunken Log.  There are moonshine and vermouth and a piece of rye bread in this tin mug. Bread represents an olive and this is Savotta’s MARTINI!

See the whole 007 Travel story here