Estonia

Estonia is a Northern Europe nation by the Baltic Sea. It declared independence from the Soviets in both 1918 and 1991. It’s really quite the progressive country; it ranked third globally for press freedom two years ago and is considered one of the most wired places in Europe. The medieval old town of Tallinn is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Kadriorg Palace and park, also in the capital, were built for Peter the Great. Currently the Foreign Art Museum is there. South of Tartu, Otep├ñ├ñ is in the middle of a scenic forest and lake region that offers great hiking, biking, and swimming.

Meat, potatoes, and fish have long been cornerstones of the diet. Foreign cuisines like Russian, German, and Scandinavian have become increasingly influential. Pirukad are small pastries filled with things like meat, cabbage, carrots, and rice. Try porgandipirukas, which is a long name for carrot pie! Gravlax, made from salmon, would seem to be borrowed from Estonia’s neighbors across the Baltic Sea, the Swedes.

Most organic eateries make either Estonian or American food. You can sometimes find Japanese, Indian, or Middle Eastern food that’s at least vegetarian-friendly. Raw and gluten-free options pop up occasionally, too. Tallinn’s got a number of natural foods stores where you may want to stock up on provisions. You may also want to have some wine or chocolate after your healthy meal in Parnu.