A discreet country in Northern Europe, but incredibly rich and beautiful thanks to its resplendent, unspoiled nature, Finland stands out from its Swedish and Norwegian neighbors not only for its language, but also for its culture and gastronomy. For two years now, Parisians and visiting tourists have had the opportunity to discover and sample some Finnish specialties thanks to the opening of Café Maa. After hosting Café Coutume, the first floor of theInstitut Finlandais gave birth to Café Maa in spring 2022.
With its minimalist decor and friendly atmosphere, as only the Finns know how to do, Café Maa —which means"earth"in Finnish—has everything you need to transport you to the heart of northern Europe's wilderness. Upon entering this beautiful, light-filled space, we discover two large tables, several smaller wooden tables, and two benches installed just below the temporary exhibition dedicated to artist Nanna Susi.
Then, of course, there is the counter where customers come to lick their lips before placing their orders. Who is behind Café Maa? Johanna Råman, former director of the Finnish Institute, and Alexandra Marschan-Claude, a Finnish chef of Slavic origin who has been living in Paris for over thirty years now. After starting out in perfumery, notably for Van Cleef & Arpels, Alexandra Marschan-Claude changed course in 2010 by enrolling in a course at the Ferrandi school. Later appointed chef at the Finnish Embassy in Paris, she finally joined the Finnish Institute team in 2022 to launch Café Maa on April 26 of that year.
Since the summer of 2024, Alexandra Marschan-Claude is no longer at Café Maa. But the Nordic recipes are still on the menu, with seasonal cuisine and fresh, local produce. Here, the menu changes with the seasons. Blending different influences, the team likes to revisit traditional Nordic recipes by incorporating vegetables, herbs, and spices, such as the famous juniper berries and dill. The added bonus? Perfect presentation and colorful plates that quickly transport us to her country of origin!
On the menu that lunchtime? Ideal suggestions for spring, including the'Maa salad', made with the famous kale, much appreciated by Finns, mustard shoots, some beautiful and tasty strawberries, pickled fennel, egg and potato salad. For the hungrier, Café Maa offersthe 'Kala plate', featuring smoked sprat, pickled herring, smoked salmon, dill sauce, salmon rillettes, pickled red onions, cucumber salad, kale, potato salad and rye bread.
Several typical Finnish specialties are also available to taste on site, such as"Reissumies," rye bread topped with smoked salmon, marinated herring, or smoked sprat. It should be noted that rye bread is a real institution in the country. It was even voted the national culinary specialty in 2017, on the centenary of Finnish independence! At Café Maa, the team invites you to discover this bread in the form of open sandwiches with typical Nordic flavors. We love the'Reissumies' topped with tender asparagus, broccoli, marinated fennel, creamy and delicious green hummus, blueberries, dill, and kale. A specialty to be enjoyed without cutlery, using only your fingers, just like in Finland!
Another highlight at Café Maa? The'Karjalanpiirakka', the famous Karelian pie or pirogue made from rye pastry, filled with rice and topped with a pastry made from chopped hard-boiled egg and butter. The recipe may seem simple, but it's much more complex than it looks. It takes a long time to prepare, but the result is simply amazing! For the record, this emblematic national specialty originated in Karelia, a region in eastern Finland. Eaten as a snack there, the popular Karelian pirogue originated during the Second World War.
We continue with our sweet offerings, which are sure to tempt the taste buds of even the most demanding gourmets. These include, of course, the unmissable cinnamon brioche, also tasted in Scandinavia. Our favorites are the'Voisilmäpulla', a cardamom brioche, and the'Marja pannukakku', a delicious and generous fruit clafoutis topped with whipped cream!
As for the rest, sweet tooths are sure to fall for the'Murupiirakka', an apple, blueberry and strawberry crumble, the'Puolukkakakku', a cranberry tart, or the'Rahkaa ja marjoja', a blueberry or raspberry cottage cheese.
And to accompany it all, Café Maa offers a range of hot and cold beverages, including blueberry and cranberry juices, a succulent Finnish Chai latte (Mettä infusion, fir, black pepper, cardamom and cow's milk/oatmeal) and, of course, the coffee that Finns love so much. Café Maa coffees are hand-roasted by Kawa Coffee (Paris) and Frukt Coffee Roasters (Turku, Finland). Find out more about the current menu on the Institut Finlandais's official website.
Thanks to these succulent and inspiring Nordic recipes, Café Maa is always busy, and now boasts a large number of regulars. Would you like to be one of them? Head to theInstitut Finlandais, in the heart of Paris, for a gourmet immersion in the Land of a Thousand Lakes! Café Maa is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm.
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.
Dates and Opening Time
Starts May 22, 2024
Location
Institut Finlandais - Rue du Sommerard
33 Rue du Sommerard
75005 Paris 5
Official website
www.institut-finlandais.fr











































