Fried smelts, pickled herring and jellied veal are not foods the average kid craves. But at my grandmother's dinner table, they were savoured like hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries. And while she didn't influence my decision to become a chef, her traditional Estonian cooking will always hold a special place in my belly.

Grandma taught me a few culinary tricks over the years, and after she passed away, I inherited her ancient recipe books. Armed with a chef's palate and an Estonian-English dictionary, I've been busy decoding my grandmother's recipes and discovering the world of Estonian cuisine.

The foods of this tiny Baltic nation were shaped by what could be grown, caught and raised, and stored and preserved over long winters. It's hearty fare, reflecting the country's peasant roots. Straddling Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, Estonia shows influences from both these worlds.