" A good meal is like a giant hug on the plate" .
My name is Anneli Laulumaa, and I am a 54 yrs old , professional waitress from Finland.
I qualified from Omnia adult education centre( located at Espoo, Finland ) at Jan.2013, after which I have worked at several different type of restaurants and accomodation businesses both here in Finland and also in Ireland.
I also have a vocational education on agriculture from 1992, after which I worked on finnish dairy farms .
Between 2016 - 2019 I have also worked as a farm- help on sheep farms in Ireland, Iceland and Norway .
I strongly believe, that my previous work experience and knowledge on farming ,is a great asset on my work as a waiter - the understanding and appreciation of the producers and the produce is deeper and more profound , since I have a first-hand experience of the work and dedication it involves.
I had a fantastic opportunity to work in a family vineyard in Switzerland at summer 2016.
My interest on wines have started long before that , and I have a great passion to learn more .
I have mostly wanted to work short-term - and seasonal jobs , so I could have a broader picture of my profession and its' career possibilities.
I also enjoy the changing sceneries and different opportunities, which this field so generously provides.
I always enjoy learning new things , and I have an ability to absorb it well.
Wines have been my interest for over 15 years ,and I always wanna learn more about them.
During last few years I have found interest on craft beers and small breweries as well.
In addition to work with customers as a waiter, I have had the opportunity to help in the reception and in the kitchen.
I will gladly broaden my horizons and improve my skills both in the kitchen and at the bar learning to make drinks.
I am a native finnish speaker.
In addition to that, my english is excellent, and my swedish is good also.
I also have the beginner's level on spanish and norwegian
A very big incentive, why I once chose this line of work is, that everybody eats ...and I love travelling and seeing places, tasting new foods , learning more about food cultures , both regionally and internationally.
Food for me is not just fuel.
It is experiences, and memories.
COURSES
🍷 Haaga Institute, Helsinki / Spanish wine educators tour
🥂 Haaga Institute, Helsinki / WSET level 2, intermediate certificate in wines and spirits
- Occupational safety card
- Hygiene pass
- alcohol serving permit
- first aid 1
- from idea to entrepreunership
- knowledge on Lapland for travel industry
- Course on special dietary requirements
LANGUAGES ( spoken & written):
• finnish -native speaker
,• english - excellent
• swedish – good
• spanish & norwegian - beginner's level
I also keep a wine - diary , and here is a link to the wines, that I have tasted since june 2023, when I began publishing it on my blog:
( photos © Anneli Laulumaa )