The Paris-Helsinki Exchange

Beginning in 2008, a culinary school in Helsinki known as the "Helsinki City College of Catering" (Helpa)  and the Lycée Hotelier Guillaume Tirel began a collaborative exchange known as "The Exchange of Culinary Practices."

This exchange is in line with the French presidency in Europe, in the year of Finland in France as well as exchanges at the level of the Academy of Paris implies certain Sections Européennes de Paris with Finnish establishments.

From the 14th to the 18th of April in 2008, we had the great pleasure of welcoming to Paris two chefs and ten students from Finland.  A cocktail tasting was organized by the Academy of Paris on the 15th of April.  Two classes from Guillaume Tirel (one class of Second Technology students and one section of BTS) worked closely with the Finnish group during two days to prepare and carry out the cocktail tasting.  Typical products and dishes from Finland were also prepared in the kitchens at Guillaume Tirel: salmon, bass, reindeer meat, truffles, fish eggs, and red-berries were among some of the many dishes prepared for and appreciated by the hundred guests. 

To conclude the week-long visit, a trip to the International Market of Rungis was held.  This was an opportunity to meet many outstanding foreign professionals and to experience the diversity of French products, most notably the poultry and cheese.