How are special dietary requirements taken into account when placing a catering order?

Special dietary requirements are best catered for when you provide as much detail as possible at the time of booking. Please let us know the number of guests, each dietary requirement separately, and any ingredients to be avoided. This will enable us to plan meals for coeliacs, those requiring lactose-free or dairy-free food, and those following vegetarian or vegan diets. We are happy to adapt the dishes based on the details provided in your order.

Special dietary requirements for catering orders start with accurate details

When placing an order, please specify the dietary requirements by name, rather than simply noting ”special diet”. Please specify, for example, whether the diet is gluten-free, dairy-free, lactose-free, for a fish allergy, a nut allergy or a vegan diet. If the same person has more than one dietary restriction, please list them together. Please also state how many portions of the relevant meal are required. This will help us plan catering service We serve portions of the right size and keep this information to hand when we discuss the menu, delivery and table setting.

Food allergies, coeliac disease and intolerances are different conditions, so using the correct term helps us to prepare your meal correctly. The Finnish Food Authority states that, at the point of service, customers must be provided with information about ingredients in meals that may cause allergies or intolerances. You can also find out about the ingredients In the Finnish Food Authority’s allergen guidance. If there is a detail in the instructions from your doctor or dietitian that is important to you, please state it in your own words when placing your order.

Detailed information about dietary requirements helps us to plan a meal that suits everyone.

Gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan catering require different information

It is advisable to clearly state that you are on a gluten-free diet if you have coeliac disease. In coeliac disease, gluten causes an inflammatory reaction in the lining of the small intestine, so this information affects how your meal is prepared. We mark gluten-free options with a ‘G’ symbol on request. If you choose to have your meal served In the hideaway cottage, please let us know about any special dietary requirements when you make your booking, so that we can agree on the details of the catering before the event.

Lactose-free and dairy-free do not mean the same thing. Lactose-free food may contain milk-derived ingredients, whereas dairy-free food avoids them. Therefore, simply knowing that you cannot tolerate milk is not always enough. Please also provide separate information on vegetarian and vegan diets. A vegan diet differs from a vegetarian diet, and precise information helps us to tailor the dish to the rest of the menu and the way the meal is served at the event.

Special dietary requirements for catering orders remain clear on special occasions

Make sure you have all the information ready before you get in touch. For a cottage breakfast, for example, you could let us know that your group includes one person on a gluten-free diet, one person requiring dairy-free food and two vegans. If you include the date and time of the event, the venue, the number of guests and their dietary requirements in the same message, we can start planning everything straight away. You can also find further information at ordering catering for the holiday cottage.

Please keep special dietary requirements to hand, even if the number of guests or dietary requirements change before the event. This way, we can agree on any changes together and ensure that clear information about the menu is passed on to the kitchen and the serving staff. Whether it’s a gala dinner in Saariselkä, breakfast or food delivered to a cabin, the aim is the same: every guest knows what their meal contains and can enjoy the shared meal with peace of mind.