PYERI PUURRÂMLUSTO!
Bon appétit !
CHEF HEIKKI NIKULA
18 & 19 September 2026 19h00
Born and raised in Inari, in the heart of Northern Finland, Chef Heikki Nikula draws inspiration from his Inari Sámi heritage and a lifelong connection to the Arctic landscape. Growing up, he learned to fish, forage, hunt and live according to the rhythm of the northern seasons – values that continue to shape both his life and his culinary philosophy.
Inspired by his Inari Sámi heritage, Nikula’s cuisine reflects a deep respect for nature, seasonal rhythms and the ingredients of the Arctic. Each dish celebrates the pure flavours of the North and the close relationship between people and the land.
The experience will be enhanced by the radiating music of DJ Hulluella, a Sámi artist and producer based in Rovaniemi, Northern Finland. Hulluella creates immersive artistic sets that weave Indigenous Sámi joik, nature soundscapes, high-frequency textures and ambient electronics, exploring the relationship between contemporary club culture, Indigenous identity and the natural world. For this event, she will create an atmospheric Indigenous sonic journey to accompany the creations of Nikula.
Set among the works of the exhibition Gulahallat. Encounters with Contemporary Sámi Art, the dinner brings together cuisine, contemporary art and Sámi music in a multisensory celebration of a living culture. Through flavours, artistic expression and sound, the evening offers an opportunity to discover the richness and diversity of Sápmi from a unique perspective.
More than a dinner, Pyeri puurrâmlusto! is an invitation to encounter Sápmi with all the senses.
MENU
“DRY PIKE”
Dried pike “koškepusko” brandade from Lake Inari, pike bone foam, pickled angelica and
cucumber-horseradish juice
or
Vegetarian:
Toast of wild cep mushrooms, pickled angelica and cucumber-horseradish juice
Optional wine pairing:
Domaine des Deux Roches – Bourgogne – Saint-Véran
***
REINDEER AND ITS PASTURE
Roasted reindeer smoked with pine needles, reindeer blood dumplings “kumpus”, lichen seasoned with lingonberry and potato purée
or
Vegetarian:
CAULIFLOWER STEAK
Panko-saint Agur crust, potato puree and roasted pepper sauce
Optional wine pairing:
Domaine de la Bergerie du Capucin – Languedoc-Roussillon – Dame Jeanne Rouge (Pic Saint-Loup)
***
ANGELICA AND LINGONBERRY
***
FOREST BERRIES FROM SÁPMI AND SWEETGRASS
Heikki Nikula
Born and raised in Inari, Chef Heikki Nikula learned how to fish, hunt, forage, and understand the rhythm of life in the North from a young age, with his father, who taught him to respect nature and never take more than it is willing to give. Values, that continue to guide him both in life and in cooking today.
In 2003, he took over the management and development of his mother’s hotel, Hotel Inarin Kultahovi with his sister Kaisu Nikula and in 2020, their restaurant Aanaar, was honoured as Finland’s Restaurant of the Year by the Finnish Gastronomic Society. Over the years, Heikki Nikula has also appeared as a chef in numerous television programmes, and in 2014 he shared second place in the culinary competition at the Sámi Awards.
“Whenever I’m not in the kitchen, you’ll most likely find me on the water with a fly rod or exploring the forests and fells. Living in harmony with the northern seasons and spending time in nature are the reasons I choose to call Inari home. That close connection to the wilderness defines my culinary philosophy: I strive to bring the pure, honest flavours of Northern Lapland to every plate, celebrating pristine fish, reindeer, wild herbs, berries, and everything the Arctic landscape has to offer.”
– Heikki Nikula
Photos courtesy of Heikku Nikula.
DJ Hulluella
Eleonora Alariesto is a Sámi DJ, artist and producer from Rovaniemi, Northern Finland, best known for her project DJ Hulluella. Blending percussive bass club, breaks, techno and global club sounds, Hulluella has built a reputation for her radiating, high-energy DJ sets that effortlessly move across genres while honoring music on a planetary scale.
Hulluella has performed both domestically and internationally at clubs, festivals and cultural events, including Riddu Riđđu, Márkomeannu, Frozen People, Tromsø Arctic Pride, the Arctic Arts Summit in Umeå, and the legendary Planet Wax in London. Her mixes have also been featured on Norway’s NRK and Finland’s YleX.
Beyond music, Eleonora Alariesto works as a Sámi culture specialist, freelance journalist, hosts the Sámi podcast Mii gullo…? and is a Project Planner at the University of Lapland. Hulluella is also a founding member of the Rovaniemi-based DJ collective Sula Kollektiivi, alongside Yajuka and Hellahighheat.
Instagram & SoundCloud: @djhulluella.
Photo courtesy of Eleonora Alariesto.
