Beautiful auroras that are often seen in Ylläs gave inspiration for the Aurora Estate’s name.
Aurora Estate’s restaurant offers some amazing Arctic flavours.
T H E AU RO R A E STAT E IF YOU ARE LOOKING for luxury and pampering in Lapland, the boutique hotel Aurora Estate has got you covered. Situated in a village of Ylläsjärvi near the Ylläs Ski Resort, it is a perfect getaway that enables you to enjoy the region’s numerous outdoor activities. The Aurora Estate was found in 2015 by Sirly Schinmann and Heidi Seikkula. Their skill sets complement each other perfectly. Heidi brought in her nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Sirly’s life journey had taken her around the globe, to places like New Zealand and Norway where she had polished her chef ’s skills. Sirly became Finland’s celebrity chef when she took part in the country’s first season of MasterChef and finished third. Starting a boutique hotel and premium restaurant in the middle of Lapland might sound like a crazy idea, but the ladies trusted their vision. When the Aurora Estate opened its doors, it was unlike any other business operating in Ylläs. “We knew from the start that we needed to be special, look different, make unique food, and provide fine service,” says Heidi. Today, the Aurora Estate includes a boutique hotel with seven cosy rooms and 14 beds, restaurant, catering and private chef service, and sauna programs. They also organise private activity programs that comprise snowmobiling, husky rides, and festive dinners at the hotel tepee. As for the name they chose – the aurora borealis can often be seen dancing above the hotel. The Aurora Estate is also one of the truly best places to dine in Lapland. The restaurant relies on pure Nordic ingredients that speak for themselves: the Arctic crab, wild reindeer, cod, and many more. Most ingredients come from
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ALL ABOUT LAPLAND | WINTER 2019
local producers in Finland and, with the border only 40 km away, in Sweden, and their preparation often requires time and care. Smoked reindeer, for example, is attached to the ceiling of the smoke sauna where it is slowly ripened while the sauna is warmed up. According to Sirly, local, ethical, and ecological food is the trend that they closely follow. “I spent my childhood in the countryside in Estonia and Finland. We raised all our animals and grew all our food ourselves. I have been familiar with the things that are becoming popular today already for a long time. I feel that I am privileged,” Sirly says. The Aurora Estate Wild Christmas Menu offers you authentic flavours on a plate. Wild reindeer tartar complemented by truffles is a real treat, and whitefish from the local waters served with sour milk and roe will definitely put a smile on your face. Of course, the Finnish Christmas table can’t go without ham. For the Aurora Estate Christmas table, the ham comes from the wild boar that live in Swedish forests. If you visit the hotel outside the Christmas season, you will be set for a treat as well. You will find wild reindeer, whitefish, Arctic crab, mushrooms, and many pleasant surprises on the restaurant menu! Of course, wine can be as important an element of the dining experience as the food itself. Many of the wines served at the Aurora Estate come from the ecological Fontanafredda estate in Barolo, Italy. The Aurora Estate’s great offerings have not remained unnoticed. Several Finnish celebrities have already visited the hotel as guests, and events such as marriage proposals and romantic weddings have taken place under its roof. The Aurora Estate’s quality service and offerings have also been noticed on an international
level. The Aurora Estate has become a hit with lifestyle and foodie TV-programs and magazines that make their pilgrimage all the way above the Arctic Circle to experience luxury in the Lappish style. In November 2018, the Aurora Estate won the title of Europe’s Best New Hotel at Boutique Hotel Awards. For the ladies, the award means that their vision has been right from the start. However, they know they must strive for even higher standard and expectations. If you are coming to Aurora Estate for a full vacation, or even for a dinner, you definitely won’t be disappointed!
Aurora Estate owners Sirly Schinmann & Heidi Seikkula.
AURORA ESTATE Tirroniementie 4C, Ylläsjärvi Open daily 17–21. info@auroraestate.fi +358 20 734 0800 www.auroraestate.fi