You can eat at Mikael’s Church in Turku in March for 190 euros.
The dinner tables are set in front of the altar of St. Michael’s Church. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / MAURI SUHONEN CC BY-SA 4.0
On Saturday, March 21, a fine dining experience dinner will be held at St. Michael’s Church in Turku.
An eight-course dinner costs 190 euros. The price includes a wine package with either alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks.
– I admit that it is expensive and crosses the line for certain people, states the vicar of Mikaeli parish Jouni Lehikoinen.
– However, the idea is quite good. This way we can meet people who otherwise might not come to church, the vicar estimates.
The idea of a dinner organized in the church came from the advertising and communication company Foody Allen, where they thought about what would be a space where there was no food before. The church came to mind. The idea was offered to the Turku city project experiment, but it was not accepted there.
It was decided to implement the idea anyway.
“Not from anyone”
Project Manager at Foody Allen Vivi Wihanto already knew vicar Lehikoinen, from whom he believed he would get a response to the idea of a church dinner. That’s how it happened.
The dinner has only been advertised on Instagram, through which you could also book a ticket.
– The popularity of the dinner was surprising. It’s been amazing! says Wihanto.
The event has been criticized on social media for the fact that the dinner is organized during the fasting period before Easter. According to Wihanno, fasting in itself does not affect the content of the food in any way. The menu is said to contain fish and vegetables.
In Lehikoinen’s opinion, fasting can also mean something other than fasting from food.
Lehikoinen knows that the event has been criticized as elitist in social media discussions.
– But this is not out of the question for anyone, he rejects.
– It’s just nice that we can meet different people in church.
Chefs Toni Kostian and Erik Mansikka are known to prepare Finland’s first experience dinner to be eaten in a church. Wind Lindgren
The host leads in prayer
Lehikoinen hasn’t bought a ticket for the dinner, but he leads the diners in a joint food prayer at the beginning of the first setting. The food prayer for the second setting is handled by the parish chaplain.
– I will be there as a host, but I have other things that evening, Lehikoinen says.
He thinks that he might not have bought the ticket even if he had the evening off.
According to Lehikoinen, the congregation does not receive any compensation for making the church hall available to the organizers of the dinner.
Fully booked up
The first set at 15:00 for the church dinner was sold out in an instant, as was the set at 8:00 p.m. that went on sale afterwards.
Dinner is prepared by chefs Erik Mansikka from restaurant Kaskis and Toni Kostian from Grön. Both restaurants have been awarded Michelin stars. The law firm Astrea is also involved in the cooperation.
During the dinner, music is played by the cantor of the congregation Silvia Koski & Friends.
Turku Mikael’s parish has opened doors in many directions. Friday 13.2. the congregation invited everyone who moved to Turku within the year or came to Mikael’s congregation to the hockey match to cheer on TPS at the Gatorade Center.