Recipes, our exploits & random musings about all things Greece.
Dare I Say… Theater Thursday?
I know I’ve been saying this a lot lately, but if you’re in Athens or Argolida sometime soon or looking for something to do this weekend, I really think you should try to see some part of the summer Athens-Epidavros Festival. For the next two weekends the Greek National Opera will be performing Bizet’s “Carmen” …
Chicken Souvlaki with Pita Bread
For the chicken souvlaki: For each adult, count on having about 4 to 5 ounces of cooked chicken, 10 ounces of uncooked boneless chicken breasts will yield approximately 6 1/2 ounces cooked, while 10 ounces of uncooked boneless chicken thighs will yield about 5 ounces cooked. Boneless chicken breast or boneless chicken thighs (approximately 1.5 …
Traditional Tzatziki & Quick Beer bread
Ingredients needed for the tzatziki: 1 cup + 3.5 Tablespoons strained yogurt (the fattier the better!) 1 cucumber 1 clove of garlic (if you feel like being a Greek grandmother while you make it then add a bit more!) 3 Tablespoons apple side vinegar 1/4 bunch dill, finely chopped (optional) 2 tablespoons olive oil (if …
No Monk-ey Business
Since it’s the height of the summertime, I suppose it makes sense that I’ve been spending a lot of time fantasizing about the coast, the water, island paradises and whatnot. Unfortunately, doing that forever would just be a disservice to the rest of Greece, especially the north! Given how incredible Athens, the Peloponnese, and the …
Yiayia’s spanakopita
This time, I thought I’d share with you an original recipe for spanakopita, one of the most typical and popular dishes in Greek cuisine. This is very similar to what you’d find in the cookbooks or on cooking shows on T.V… the thing is though, I got this recipe from my grandma, and my grandma …
Greek Easter, Tradition, food and drinking: Business as usual
For every Greek and Greek community worldwide Easter is coming, and they’re preparing for it like every other year: a lot of food, a lot of wine and beer, talking and laughing and dancing along with family and friends. Every family has someone who usually hosts the Easter events, usually someone with a big back …
International Day of Monuments, in Athens
Wait a minute, I thought to myself taking another sip of coffee, we have guests & clients who will be in Athens the 17th of April, which means that on the 18th, International Day of Monuments, they can spend it all sightseeing in Athens. Wow, now that’s what I call luck! So since Greece offers …
Hunger Games: A Greek’s Edition
This year I’m finally going to do it, I told myself. This year I’ll go through all 40 days of Lent without a gram of meat, just like my Greek Orthodox tradition suggests. But it’s not so easy, believe me. I mean, it’s all going well, I’m already past the second week but then I …
25th of March, Happy Greek Independence Day!
If you’re anywhere in Greece this week you’ve certainly noticed the Greek flags flying. Like everywhere in the world, a country’s independence day calls for celebration. Greece is no different, and in fact, Greek Independence Day is celebrated beyond the capital, across the country – and across the ocean in cities and towns with large …
Greek revolution 3/25/1821: Historical Elements
Everyone’s always talking about Greek summers. But for me, the Springtime in Greece is pure drama: it’s got all of the elements of a heart pounding, cinematographically breathtaking Hollywood movie (which in fact, is being released this month around the US – but that’s the subject of another post!) We pass from the Carnival period, …
Sometimes it rains in Athens, But that’s OK!
Greece, land of sunshine, true. But every once in awhile there are a few days of rain. It can happen anytime. I’ve seen 3 days of rain in June, I’ve seen 3 days of rain in August, Looks like we’re looking at 3 days of rain in November … No need to fret if it …
Gone With The Winds
It’s hard to be an “under the radar” destination in the vicinity of the Acropolis in Athens, but if anything comes close, it might be the Roman Agora, which is just to the north of the Acropolis. While its neighbors like the Ancient Agora, the Stoa of Attilus, and the glut of awesome museums in …
Founding Fathers
It’s a big day in Greece today! Were he still around, today would be the 154th birthday of Eleftherios Venizelos, who some might consider the George Washington (or maybe the Abraham Lincoln) of the modern Greek state. One of the most important political figures in Greek history this side of Pericles, Venizelos rose to fame …
Pass the Tzatziki
Gyro mania! You probably know what a Gyro is—yes, it’s pronounced yee-ro, with a nice rolled r—but what does it mean? Where does it come from? And how much does a real Greek gyro resemble the sandwich you might get from a street cart in New York or a hole-in-the-wall in Chicago? Today is the …
Of Venetians and Venizelos
If you’re visiting Crete, most of the to-do lists will have you somewhere in the vicinity of Iraklio, Crete’s largest city and one of the biggest in the whole country. But it’s not the only major metropolis on this majestic island—don’t count out Chania! Like everything else in Greece, and especially Crete, Chania is really, …
Not Your Usual Cape Town
A skeptic of the Greek vacation experience might wonder what makes some of the ancient sites and temples around the country so special. “Aren’t they all the same?” They might ask. Well, a lot of temples and houses of worship built by the ancients might seem a little similar on the surface, but beyond the …