REMEMBER THIS? From pasties to pulla, Tuula didn't disappoint

EDITOR'S NOTE: Just to reassure our readers, Tuula Valkonen is alive and well, living her best life retired in Toronto.

Do you remember the café owner who said “I have cooked all my life”?

In the Aug. 16, 2014 edition of the Sault Star, Tuula Valkonen, owner of the aforementioned café, made this statement when she discussed her version of the humble Cornish pasty, a dish popularized in England. The pasty itself is a handheld snack or meal that originated for miners who may not have had the opportunity to sit at a table to enjoy a meal. Valkonen described pasties as “hardy, homemade, and good stuff” (Sault Star, August 2014, p.22). The good stuff that she was referring to was chicken or steak that was mixed with a vegetables and gravy which was encased in a dough similar to pie crust. However, she also made a vegetarian option and was sure to establish they could really be made with any filling that was desired. The former café owner sold her pasties at that Algoma Farmer’s Market frozen, and recommended them “as an after-school snack as children could eat them cold or reheat them in the microwave”, which speaks to the convenience of the handheld offering (Sault Star, p.22).

Tuula having ‘cooked all her life’, had a wealth of experience in the food service industry. Prior to her Nordic deli in the heart of Toronto, she was a food services supervisor at a nursing home. Possibly out of ‘restlessness’, Valkonen participated in ‘bazaars’ where she sold baked goods successfully. Through this success, Taste of Scandia was borne. Originally located at the corner of Northern Avenue and Grand Boulevard, Taste of Scandia was a modest shop, “having only two or three sit-down tables” (Sault Star, 25 February 1998, p.9).

Similar to her version of the pasty, Tuula’s cuisine at Taste of Scandia served up hearty and homemade cuisine that ensured the customer would not be hungry after their meal. When one entered her restaurant, one was welcomed to smells of cardamom, almond extract, and freshly made bread. Given their broad appeal, Tuula served up Scandinavian ‘delicacies’, including ‘Finnish hotdogs’, which are described as “meat pies with an open hot dog bun and wiener”, which were a popular item at her previous venture (p.9).

In addition to its restaurant, Taste of Scandia offered catering services and held special events that showcased a specific region’s cuisine and culture. At one such event, that celebrated her native Finland, Tuula had “Finnish music and costumes and all the delicacies from Finland” for those interested to experience a little taste of Scandia (Sault Star, 13 December 2002, p. 11). There were plans to host special evenings to highlight Sweden, Norway, and Denmark as well. In addition to these special events, Valkonen offered several classes where she taught participants how to make such Finnish delicacies as pulla.

These were not the only special occasions that the Scandinavian restaurant held, however. Apart from being an ambassador for her Finnish heritage, Tuula Valkonen was someone who contributed to the betterment of our community. Many special fundraisers were held and catered for by Taste of Scandia in support of ARCH hospice, Easter Seals, and the Soup Kitchen to name a few. Valkonen was recognized for contributions by Community Living Algoma in September of 2005 for “providing employment opportunities to those in the community with intellectual disabilities” (Sault Star, 27 September 2005, p. 6). The Taste of Scandia owner not only served us delicious meals but also was an example of how to be a strong contributor to the community.

Anyone for an almond cookie from Tuomo’s Stubbornly Finnish Bakery?