Acropolis View with Dinner

We had dinner a couple of evenings ago at "Strofi" a traditional restaurant / taverna with the most stunning roof top terrace where you feel you can almost touch the Acropolis.
The food was a delightful surprise and was absolutely lived up to the view as did the service.

We started with complimentary dips and a glass of raki , followed by salad and kefetedes (tiny meatballs)

We both chose roasted kid with a delicious tomato sauce with roast potatoes on the side. The portions were huge and it was absolutely stunning food.

This is a superb traditinal Greek restaurant with a modern twist and great value for
money
The mark up on the wines was very sensible too.
All in all a great evening

Blush Apricots

Ambelo Fasoula

I added this photo , so that you can see what they are like. Almost like dark green spaghetti. In fact some times I steam them and serve with freshly chopped tomatoes, basil , a slug of Olive Oil and some vinegar

Traditional Meat Taverna

We spent last weekend with some friends on the island of Evia and enjoyed a fabulous Sunday lunch at the above taverna .
We had baby kid in lemon sauce, the meat just fell off the bones!
Half a chicken in tomatoe sauce with home made chips mmmm
A traditional home made pasta with tomato sauce and cheese on top
Grilled steak
A village cheese pie about the size of a calzone
Fresh greens with lemon juice and ambelo fasoula a very unusual variety of dark green beans , long and thin , that are very highly prized
Several beers and it came to 15 euros a head , a perfect Sunday.
 All eaten under the shade of a huge mulberry tree

Another Great evening at Aleria

This week , it was the turn of the wines of Domaine Skouras to be matched with another inventive menu by the chef of Aleria.
We started with a bowl of cream of onion soup with just a hint of fresh apricot topped with parmesan foam, accompanied by a glass of Viognier Larsenos, this was a match made in heaven!
Probably the best of the night.
Next we had lightly grilled squid on a bed of couscous flavoured with a carbonara sauce matched with a glass of chardonnay, the saltiness in the sauce went well with the wine.
The meat course was casseroled lamb flavoured with orange peel/zest, this was fabulous , the orange turned the lamb into something really exotic on a hot summer evening. With this we enjoyed a glass of George Skouras's new wine , Fleva, a medium bodied Syrah , which worked well with the lamb.
Finally we finished with rice pudding topped with caramelised apples.
As George Skouras does not make a sweety we enjoyed a glass of Madiera to finish up with.

Aleria Wine Wednesdays

Last night we went to the beautiful Aleria restauarant to enjoy a menu designed to match the wines of Ktima Pavlides.
First course was a delicate ravioli filled with Aubergine Imam on a rich tomato sauce. the Emphasis assyrtiko , matched perfectly. Assyrtiko is one of the few grape varieties that match well with tomatoes.
Next came a petit fish burger in a mini brioche bun , garnished with chervil, very tasty. Emphasis Chardonnay was chosen to go with this dish , and it did it proud. This  chardonnay is lightly oaked and very elegant.
The meat course was rooster (chicken) on a bed of hylopittes (small pasta) mixed with raisans and hazelnuts, accompanied by the best sausage that I have ever tasted.
Well done to the chef!!! all washed down with a glass of Thema Red , a blend of Syrah and Agiogitiko , perfect.
The finale was a bitter chocolate mousse topped with caramel cream and cinnamon sugar matched with a glass of spicy Syrah.
This was a memorable evening
There are two more Wine Wednesdays at Aleria this summer and I think we might just be there.

Apricot Jam

Now is the time for apricots and the best variety is Aurora, great for jam.
take a kilo of Apricots and a kilo of sugar and one lemon
Halve the apricots remove , but save the stones.
Place the Apricots, sugar and juice of one lemon in a pan cover with a tea towel and leave over night.
Crack the stones , remove the kernals and blanch them in boiling water so that you can remove their skin.
Sterilise about 4-5 jam jars.
Bring the fruit and sugar very slowly to the boil and then boil vigourously for about 10-15 minutes until setting point is reached.
Add the kernals and then leave to cool for about 20 minutes before pouring into warm sterile jars.
This a version of one of Delia Smiths recipes and it works every time
Perfect on Greek Tsoureki  for breakfast