Honkahovi – Hearty Lauhanmaa GEOfood Elk Burgers

At the heart of the meal is game meat from the extensive pine forests and sandy heathlands of Lauhanmaa. Did you know that Finland’s elk population was saved from extinction in the Geopark area? In the 1920s, some of the remaining elk were kept in an enclosure in Parkano. Thanks to hunting restrictions and these conservation efforts, the elk population began to recover rapidly.

The burger is served with locally grown organic salad and giant potato wedges. The north-western part of the Geopark is one of Finland’s most important potato-growing regions, and in Isojoki the significance of this traditional livelihood is even celebrated by a monument dedicated to the potato peeler.

The meal is accompanied by fresh water from the slopes of Lauhanvuori. The burger buns are handmade by the skilled bakers of Pirjon Pakari in Honkajoki.