Recipes, our exploits & random musings about all things Greece.
Where did Santorini get it’s name?
In search of the source of Santorini’s name Once upon a time, the island best known as Santorini was called Kallisti – ‘the most beautiful one’, and in modern times the official name is Thira, but the world knows it by the name first mentioned around 1100 by a Muslim geographer who wrote about ‘Santurin’, …
Hydra: Where art is everywhere …
Hydra Island Where art is everywhere and cars are nowhere to be found! One and a half hour boat ride from Athens brings you to a place of serenity and beauty.This may change your life!After all, after you visit, you may decide to live on Hydra (read on to discover who else made that choice). …
Is Greece on your “bucket list”?
You may want to rethink “Greece” on your bucket list No, I’m not saying skip Greece. Read on … We hate the phrase “bucket list”. It seems to signify the end of something. It means “been there, done that, got that T-shirt.” Really though, its underlying meaning is something like, “I never have to do …
Nonstops to Greece from the US
What’s new in flights to Greece? United Airlines is adding three new flights to its international network, giving travelers more options for summer travel by flying direct to countries that are starting to reopen to vaccinated visitors. Starting in July, United will offer new direct flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Athens, Greec (as …
When will Greece open for tourism
When will Greece reopen its borders for tourism? When can I travel to Greece? It’s the number #1 question we’ve been asked for the last 12 months. It’s also the #1 question we’ve been unable to answer. But now, thanks to the Greek Minister of Tourism, speaking March 9, 2021 to virtual attendees at the …
Why does ouzo turn white?
The ouzo effect Ouzo is well known as a Greek specialty, a strong apertif enjoyed throughout the country. Famously, it is known to change color from clear to milky white when water or ice is added to it. But why? This is a question that had bothered me for many years. Until recently, it was …
Tsiknopempti – Feast of the Carnivores!
Tsiknopempti, literally meaning smokey Thursday, or BBQ Thursday, has a special place in the heart of every self respecting Greek, as it is the tradition where they eat as much meat as they possibly can. It signals the start of the last weekend that observant Greek Orthodox church members are permitted to eat meat before fasting for Lent. And of course, if you’re not going to eat meat for forty days, you have to make the last day count, right?
Dine like a Greek
You’ve found a Greek taverna that looks good to you. There are lots of people eating there, so you know the food is fresh. Let’s look at the 5 simple rules you’ll need to master to best enjoy dining in a restaurant in Greece. Getting a table You survey the restaurant and locate an empty …
Heritage and Memory – Focus on Jewish Greece
A ten-day virtual event, Heritage and Memory: A Focus on Jewish Greece, will be held January 27 – February 6, 2021 – bringing together the observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day with Greece’s assumption of the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). The purpose of IHRA is to unite governments and experts to promote, …
Melomakarona – Greek honey cookies
It’s this time of the year when the classic battle begins for all Greeks! Are you a melomakarona fan or kourabiedes lover? All the bakeries, pastry shops, zacharoplasteia start the production of the two most favorite festive Greek sweets. Now you can turn your kitchen into a Greek patisserie. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. …
This sweet aroma announces the holidays are here!
It’s this time of the year when the classic battle begins for all Greeks! Are you a melomakarona fan or kourabiedes lover? All the bakeries, pastry shops, zacharoplasteia start the production of the two most favorite festive Greek sweets. Since a young age, I knew the festive season would start as the butter aroma would …
Chicago’s Big Apple
A pancake with history As an American based travel advisor and tour operator specializing in Greece we spend alot of our time cooking, eating and sharing Greek recipes. We have alot of passion for Greek food, and we believe that one of the greatest gifts travel brings is a taste of another culture. So at …
Gemista & Melitzanosalata (eggplant salad)
1 carrot 2 medium sized tomatoes (not very ripe) 2 bell peppers (any color you like) 1 zucchini 1 eggplant 3 potatoes 1/2 bunch of parsley 1/3 bunch of mint 3 onions, chopped 1-2 cloves of garlic 8 tbsp wholegrain (brown rice) or white rice Salt, pepper, oregano Olive oil Black raisins and pine nuts …
Semolina Halva & Rag Pie
This is the famous 1,2,3,4 recipe which goes back in time and usually the recipe is passed from our grandmothers to the next generations. In the classical recipe you will need 1 unit of oil, 2 units of semolina, 3 units of sugar and 4 units of water. In our case, we will make our …
Paros – the Cycladic Underdog
In the US, the Memorial Day holiday marks the start of the summer travel season. In Greece, although we all start thinking about our summer holidays as soon as we get past Easter, the actual “start” of the summer holiday season begins with the Agiou Pneumatos holiday – 50 days after Easter, with the first …
Mysterious Mountain Mystras
I’ve previously blogged about Sparta and all the cool things in the area, but lately I’ve been spending alot of time thinking about places I personally plan to return to when I’m back in Greece. One of these places is Mystras, a place much more “modern” than anything you’ll find in ancient Sparta, but is …
