Say Yes to Boston!

The largest department store in the Nordic countries is called Stockmann, and it is located in downtown Helsinki.  It is a quick four tram stops from our apartment and we can also easily walk there.  On the 1st floor of this nine story department store, there is a really nice grocery section, almost a gourmet market, but a lot bigger (think AJ's, Bristol Farms, or Bertucci's).  Each month, Stockmann has a different theme for their products on sale and this month's theme is "Say Yes to Boston."  The ads feature a young woman wearing a graduation cap, and since we can't read the ad we got in the mail, we're guessing it's some type of back to school theme.

The best part of the theme is that they are featuring tons of American products in the grocery section.  Finding American products here is pretty difficult (as one would imagine, since we are not in America!).  All of the big grocery stores have an American shelf or end-cap where you can find a few things that the Finns think the Americans need or want.  You can always find Aunt Jemima pancake mix, Betty Crocker cake mix and icing, Marshmallow Fluff (who knows why!), and Reese's Peanut Butter cups.  And then depending upon the size of the store, there will be some other stuff thrown in.  All of these products cost anywhere between two and three times what you would pay for them at home, so to justify the cost, you really, really have to want them.

"Say Yes to Boston" has a HUGE selection.  Wishbone salad dressing - yep! (salad dressing here leaves a lot to be desired.)  Chips Ahoy and Oreas - yep!  Food Should Taste Good Multi-Grain chips - yep!  Kraft Mac & Cheese - yep!  I met several American women this week and "Say Yes to Boston" was a hot topic of conversation.  Needless to say, Mike and I will be doing some grocery shopping this week.  I have never been so happy to go to Boston!

Food Should Taste Good Multi-Grain Chips

The chips are Euro 4.20, which is $5.34.  Well worth it :)

If you'd like to read more about Stockmann and their take on "North American Cuisine" and Boston, you can read more here.  The text should appear in English.