Pike perch a la Mannerheim

Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (1867 - 1951) was voted the greatest Finn of all time in 2004. Mannerheim was born in southwestern Finland during a time when all of Finland belonged to Russia. He served in the Chevalier Guard of the Russian Emperor, embarked on a two-year expedition to Asia, and rose to the rank of lieutenant general and division commander in the Russian army during World War I.

Mannerheim holds a central place in the history of independent Finland (since 1917). He served as the Regent of Finland, the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, the Marshal of Finland, and the President of Finland from 1944 to 1946.

He appreciated good food and, as a cosmopolitan, was also familiar with the world’s cuisines. Mannerheim's pike-perch is a classic dish that can still be found in Finnish restaurants today. The origin of the dish is in Mikkeli, which was also known as the headquarters city during World War II. From his headquarters, Mannerheim would walk to the Mikkeli Club located at the corner of the market square to enjoy lunch, which often included pike-perch from the local lakes in a mushroom sauce.

The dish includes at least breaded and pan fried pike-perch, horseradish butter, rich mushroom sauce, and boiled potatoes.

Finnish pike perch, also known as zander, is a prized fish in Finland, known for its delicate flavor and firm texture.

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Wine pairings

The best wine pairings for this dish are dry Bordeaux white, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, and Sauvignon Blanc (Kamptal or Sancerre).

Chardonnay is considered a great match for mushroom dishes and creamy foods. Creaminess calls for acidity in the wine, and peas as well as dill bring an herbal aroma that Sauvignon Blanc provides. On the other hand, white peppery Grüner Veltliner is an obvious choice for pan fried fish.

There are many possible pairings. However, we want to emphasize Mannerheim's preference for Bordeaux wines, as he used to order hundreds of bottles of them to Finland. He clearly appreciated traditional wines.

Food friendly pairings

herbscitrusacidpepper

Kamptal Grüner Veltliner

Why this wine match?

herbscitrustextureblend

Bordeaux Blanc

Why this wine match?