The story behind Restaurant Inari
A name is never just a name—it’s a reflection, a belief, and sometimes, a journey. When I chose INARI, it wasn’t just about naming a restaurant. It was about naming a part of myself.
Inari is a place in Lapland, where the wilderness stretches endlessly, and time feels suspended. It’s a landscape of contrasts: harsh yet beautiful, ancient yet alive. It embodies the grounded stillness I return to when seeking clarity—a reminder of where I come from and the roots that hold me steady.
Inari is also the Shinto goddess of rice, sake, and wealth—a symbol of nourishment, abundance, and transformation. She represents not just sustenance but the flow of life itself. For me, her presence is less about daily rituals and more about an inner world: a space where simplicity meets depth, and where I find the courage to transform the ordinary into something meaningful.
INARI, then, is a bridge between two worlds. Deeply rooted in the soil of Finland, yet my thoughts and inspirations often hover far away, over Asia—a place that has profoundly shaped how I think about balance, subtlety, and interconnectedness.
To me, food is a reflection of these ideas—a constant dialogue between the known and the unknown, between roots and wings. It’s a search for harmony, not just on the plate but in the way we connect with the world around us.
What bridges ground you, and what horizons call to you?
#Inari #Philosophy #CulturalConnections #RootsAndWings #Lapland #Shinto
