Mojakka Cook-Off moves to Finland
The St. Urho’s Day Mojakka Cook-Off is back after a year off and is moving — as St. Urho did with so many grasshoppers in tow — from Cloquet to Finland as part of the Finnish celebration this weekend.By: Lake County News-Chronicle, Duluth News Tribune
The St. Urho’s Day Mojakka Cook-Off is back after a year off and is moving — as St. Urho did with so many grasshoppers in tow — from Cloquet to Finland as part of the Finnish celebration this weekend.
Activities in the 35th annual St. Urho’s Day weekend begin at 5 p.m. tonight throughout Finland, with a parade on Highway 1 from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday. The theme this year is “Wizard of Oz,” with organizers asking everyone in the area to click their heels and say “There’s no place like Finland.”
Tasting and judging of the cook-off — which was cancelled last year — take place from 12:30-2:30 p.m. Sunday at Finland’s Zion Lutheran Church. Just bring two gallons of your favorite blend for everyone to eat and judge.
Mojakka (pronounced MOY-a-kah) is a soup or stew popular in Finnish-American and Finnish-Canadian households in the Lake Superior region. It is often known as kalamojakka (pronounced KAH-lah-moy-a-kah) and made with herring, pike, whitefish, or whatever fish may be caught locally. There are three categories to be judged: beef (lihamojakka), fish (kalamojakka), and potluck (chicken, pork, venison or other primary ingredients).
Entry forms are on the Web at www.mojakka.com, or by calling 729-0821.
“It’s a way to bring attention to what really is a regional dish,” said event organizer Tim Winker.
Having recently undergone cancer surgery, Winkler said he wants to give back to the organization that helped him survive and profits from the cook-off will go to the American Cancer Society.
The legend of St. Urho is the Finn’s March 16 answer the Irish St. Patrick. Urho is said to have driven grasshoppers out of Finland to allow for a bumper grape crop, thus the wearing of purple.
RSS Feeds