XpatAthens

XpatAthens

The Cafe will Feature Seasonal Menus and Holiday Happenings!

This holiday season, Hard Rock Cafe® Athens invites guests to gather ‘round the table and celebrate this glorious time of year together in true Hard Rock style. Throughout the month of December, there will be a limited-time, multi-course holiday menu featuring some of Hard Rock’s most popular culinary options. From the original Legendary® Burger to a full rack of baby back ribs or lighter fare such as grilled salmon or Moving Mountains® Burger for our vegetarian friends. Hard Rock Café Athens has something for everyone in your family.

During the Festive season, there will be various activities available in order to spend these holidays with as much Rock mood as possible!

Christmas Eve

More specifically, on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. There will be a Live Dj set on the ground floor - in the beautifully decorated main area of ​​the Café - and guests will be able to try the Festive menu of 2 dishes with 1 glass of wine/ beer at €29.95, but also at 9 p.m. the rock band Jitterbugs will play Live and the guests will be able to taste the wonderful Festive menu of 3 dishes, with 1 glass of wine/ beer at €35.95. A children's Roxtars menu with ice cream as dessert is also provided at €15.

New Year’s Eve

At the same time, for New Year's Eve at 8 p.m. there will be a Live Dj set on the ground floor with a Festive menu of 2 dishes with 1 glass of wine /beer & 1 glass of sparkling drink at €32.95 and at 10 p.m. will play Live again the Rock band Jitterbugs with a Festive menu of 3 dishes with 1 glass of wine /beer & 1 glass of sparkling drink 39.95€. A children's Roxtars menu with ice cream as dessert is also provided at €15.

Breakfast with Santa

Finally, for two consecutive Sundays on December 12 & 19, Breakfast with Santa is waiting for its beloved little friends together with the whole family to spend a unique Sunday afternoon (12 pm - 4 pm), to take photos with Santa Claus and to engage in creative activities such as drawing and face painting. Entrance for each child will be 15 € including the children's meal.

The Full Holiday Menu

Sensational Starters:

  • Caesar Salad Bruschetta - crisp artisan bread topped with fresh romaine tossed with classic Caesar dressing, candied bacon & parmesan crisps, finished with a sweet balsamic glaze
  • Blue Cheese Chopped Salad - chopped mixed greens tossed in a blue cheese vinaigrette with pickled red onions, red peppers, and Roma tomatoes, finished with crispy shoestring onions and blue cheese crumbles

Mouthwatering Main Courses:

  • Mushroom Swiss Burger - signature steak burger layered with Swiss cheese, roasted mushrooms, garlic aioli and leaf lettuce, finished with shoestring onions
  • Surf and Turf Burger - signature steak burger topped with One Night in Bangkok Spicy Shrimp™ on a bed of spicy slaw
  • Original Legendary® Burger - signature steak burger, with applewood bacon, cheddar cheese, crispy onion ring, leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato
  • Moving Mountains® Burger - 100% plant-based 170gr patty, topped with cheddar cheese and a crispy onion ring, served with leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato. Served with seasoned fries
  • Grilled Salmon - seasoned & grilled then topped with garlic herb butter and served with fresh vegetables
  • BBQ Grilled Chicken - grilled chicken layered with signature spices and our signature barbecue sauce, served with seasoned fries and fresh vegetables
  • Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs - seasoned with a signature spice blend, then glazed with house-made barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection
  • New York Strip Steak with Marinated Mushrooms - USDA Choice 12 oz NY strip steak, grilled and topped with mushrooms marinated in a smoked bacon and bourbon sauce

Desserts and Drinks to Satisfy a Sweet Tooth:

  • Holiday Brownie - warm chocolate brownie topped with caramel and chocolate sauce, served with whipped cream
  • Chilled Espresso Martini - Grey Goose Vodka, Kahlúa, fresh-brewed espresso shaken until frothy and chilled

Whether you choose to dine in or take out, Hard Rock Cafe Athens wants to be part of the memories families make this holiday season! Those wishing to dine at Hard Rock Café Athens can make a reservation by visiting hardrockcafe.com or by calling 210 324 5170. Not dining in this year? No problem! These mouth-watering limited-time menu offerings are available for fast and fresh delivery via Wolt App straight to the dining room table by visiting Wolt

For more information about the Holiday Menus and Reservations, you can call 210 3245170 or send an email to athens_salescoordinator@hardrock.com

Wednesday, 15 December 2021 16:34

The Ark Οf Τhe World

The «Ark of the World» is a Charitable Nonprofit Organisation providing special care and protection to mothers and children.

It is first and foremost intended and addressed to young unprotected children, most of whom come from single-parent families, and to many children without parents, who experience difficult circumstances,  neglect, abandonment, lack of medical care and uncertain future.  
 
The Ark fully covers and takes care of unprotected children.. In collaboration with Prosecutors for Children, protection agencies and services for children’s rights, it undertakes to raise children in its four (at present) accommodation homes. They are children (infanthood to adulthood) who have been subjected to abuse, neglect and very bad living conditions. Children live in large homes with instructors and care givers for their everyday life, like a large family, without any reminders of institutional care.

A primary concern of the Ark is not to separate the family when there is parent interest in and capable of taking care of the child. Single-parent families with serious financial and social problems calling on our services can find support for their very basic needs, such as food, clothes, medical care and everything they need to live with dignity. At the same time, families receive counseling services, take part in parents’ groups led by family relations specialists and receive information on training programmes in order to be empowered to take responsibility of their children.

The Ark of the World was established in 1998 in Athens by 26-year-old Father Antonios Papanikolaou, who was armed with love for children, a selfless need to give and the desire to create a nest of affection and care for children, young people and parents in need, living in the crevices of society, in “another” Athens at the region of Akadimia Platonos.
 

To learn more about the organization click HERE!

Wednesday, 15 December 2021 13:15

Τhe Meet Market | 10 Days Of Christmas

The holiday season is upon us, and considering all that we’ve been through over the past 2 years, and to make up for 2020’s lack of festivities, we wanted to do something extra special (and extra Covid safe) this year.  And so this December, The Meet Market proudly presents our biggest event to date: 10 days of Christmas at the Palio Amaxostatio OSY. 

Come join us for holiday festivities and merry market celebrations as we head for the first time to this super central venue in Gazi, and fill it with 150+ stalls of beautiful products made & sourced with love from designers, artists, producers and selectors from all over Greece.

And because we couldn’t fit all these talented makers in one event, this year’s Christmas Meet Market is essentially 2 events in one.  From Friday 10 – Tuesday 14, we will be featuring our first round of participating brands and exquisite products, and then switching it up with an new artisan lineup from from Wednesday 15 – Sunday 19.  You’ll want to visit us twice to witness the fitness of all these makers, including plenty who will be participating for the first time.

We also be featuring our usual non-stop dj sets from start till finish each and every day, interactive games for all our little friends, Christmas cocktails & Glühwein, street food, gift cards, free prizes, super duper Yultide vibes and a whole lot more!

Opening Hours: (Weekdays 18:00 – 22:00 & Weekends 12:00 – 22:00)
Friday 10/12 from 18:00 – 22:00
Saturday 11/12 & 12/12 from 12:00 – 22:00
Monday 13/12 – Friday 17/12 from 18:00 – 22:00
Saturday 18/12 & Sunday 19/12 from 12:00 – 22:00

The Meet Market: A monthly celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit… A nomadic market place of local goods, fresh ideas and friendly folk. An audio-visual jigsaw of handmade & independently designed clothes, accessories, art, objects, organic body products, home ware, tasty food, vintage & retro collectables, records, interactive games, free prizes, dj sets and good vibes!
Wednesday, 15 December 2021 14:32

New Ice Rink Opens In Central Athens

A new 400-square meter ice rink opened on Tuesday, December 14th, in Kotzia Square in Athens, as part of the festive events organized by the City of Athens. Skating at the rink, which will be open until January 6th, will be free of charge, though electronic pre-booking is required, through here (beware, link only in Greek).

Several more ice rinks have already opened around the city. Worth visiting for example is the rink set up in the middle of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center canal, which will be open until February 6 this year (skating there is also free, with obligatory pre-registration here), and the rink at Village Shopping & More, in Renti, which will also stay open until February (skating here costs €10 including skate rental, and you can skate for as long as you want). You’ll also find rinks at many malls, at the Megaron Music Hall, and at the some of city’s Christmas markets.

To read this article in full, please visit: greece-is.com
Wednesday, 15 December 2021 07:00

Experience Park To Open At Elliniko On Monday

Lamda Development announced that on December 20, just six months after the listed construction company signed the contract for the development of the plot at the old Athens airport, it will open a part of the Elliniko Metropolitan Park to the public.

The “Experience Park” covers an area in excess of 70,000 square meters and constitutes an integral part of the Metropolitan Park. Five hundred trees have been planted on the site alongside 55,000 other plants – all Mediterranean species.

It further features a water fountain, a children’s playground, and the Zen Garden, ideal for relaxation.

It also has a Christmas tree, which will remain in place until January 9.

Originally published on: ekathimerini.com
Tuesday, 19 December 2023 07:00

Diples - Greek Honey Rolls Recipe

Christmas on a platter, drizzled with honey syrup and topped with chopped walnuts! Diples get their name from the Greek word for “fold” and are a traditional Greek honey pastry dessert that is very popular around Christmas time throughout Greece. They may be rather challenging to make, but you have to give them a go!

Ingredients 
  • 2 flat tbsps sugar
  • 2 flat tbsps baking soda
  • 350–400g all-purpose flour
  • 5 eggs (divided into yolks and whites)
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • juice of 1 orange
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup corn oil
  • a pinch of salt
  • vegetable oil for frying                   
For the syrup
  •  1/4 of a cup sugar
  • 1/4 of a cup water
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 150g chopped walnuts, for garnish 
Cooking Instructions

1. 
Place the egg whites into the bowl of the electric mixer, along with a pinch of salt. Whisk the egg whites until the mixture is very thick and glossy.
2. Add the egg yolks one at a time, whilst mixing. In a cup add the orange and lemon juice and baking soda and blend, until dissolved, and pour in the egg mixture. Add the white wine vinegar and the sugar and mix.
3. Pour the mixture in a large bowl or basin and sift in the flour; add the oil and knead the dough using your hands, until smooth and elastic.
4. Separate the dough into four pieces, cover with some plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
5. Using a rolling pin, roll out each part of the dough into thin rectangle sheets.
6. Using a rolling cutter, cut the rolled-out dough into rectangular pieces or square pieces. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, and deep fry the diples in batches of 3-4 at a time, pushing them down with a fork and flipping their sides until colored. 
7. Prepare the syrup for the diples. Pour in a pot all the syrup ingredients and bring to a boil; boil for 5 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved.
8. Place the diples on a serving platter and drizzle with the syrup (or if you like them extra syrupy, soak each one in the syrup for a few seconds). Sprinkle with ground walnuts and cinnamon.

To read the recipe in full and discover another, more traditional but a bit harder way to make the diples, please click here: mygreekdish.com
White landscapes, cozy corners, hot chocolate, and moments by the fireplace. Yes, this time of the year has come! So, what if there is a place that combines all of the above, it’s cosmopolitan, and at the same time, you can find peaceful escapes that will set your mind and soul free?

Arachova is the one and during winter is transformed into a bustling little city. This beautiful mountainous village that is known for its breathtaking nature and historical background is situated at the foot of Mount Parnassos in Viotia (the highest mountain in Greece after Mount Olympus), Southern Greece.

The tourism facilities of Arachova, which are fully developed, make it an ideal destination for ski lovers or the ones who are seeking other outdoor facilities, such as snowboard, hiking, and mountain bike or just walking through the cobblestone streets. Furthermore, even if you don’t belong to the adventurous visitor category and you just want to relax in cute cafes and cozy guesthouses, again, Arachova is perfect for you.

At the same time, though, we should not forget that this picturesque village carries interesting history and cultural heritage. Byzantine churches and monasteries hold their own place in Arachova, whilst in really close proximity you will find Delphi, the ancient sanctuary that is recognized by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. In ancient times, Delphi was considered to be by the Greeks the center of the world, the ‘navel of the world’, ‘Omphalos’. Questions were asked to the Oracle Pythia (modern-day Google!) in a will for consultation on crucial decisions. Delphi was also the center of worship of the God Apollo. Delphi is undoubtedly a must-visit while in Arahova.

Arachova also offers traditional Greek food, namely presenting ‘trahana’, a traditional Greek and Cypriot dish, usually found in the villages and is made with either semolina, wheat flour, or cracked wheat and ‘hilopites’, Greek egg pasta. Moreover, it stands out for spoon sweets, yogurt with honey, olives, dry wines, the ‘formaela’ cheese, and grilled meat. You can taste all these in restaurants and taverns, but you can also buy many of the above from local shops. 

Last but not least, you may as well pay a visit to Eptalofos or Agoriani, a charming mountain village that lies at the southern slopes of Mount Parnassus. Its central square is a beauty and there are many options for dining, coffee, and dessert all around. Agoriani is only 11 km far from Parnassus ski center and it's a quiet escape from the bustling Arachova.

Main image: @arachova_greece

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com


The "ELPIDA Association of Friends of Children with Cancer" was founded in 1990 by a group of dynamic women, with Mrs. Marianna Vardinoyiannis as its President. 

From its founding unitl today, "ELPIDA" has actualised a comprehensive framework of treatment and support for children suffering from cancer and for their families, raising the awarness of the Greek people. who emrabrace its vision and support its work.



To learn more about the organization click HERE!




Labrys presents one of the most famous ballets in the world, the Kiev City Ballet in the most beautiful Christmas fairy tale, The Nutcracker.

The Kiev City Ballet is internationally recognized as one of the most important interpretations of the beloved fairy tale and has been performed in the world's biggest theaters to rave reviews.

The ballet started its world tour just two days before the start of the war in Ukraine and has not returned to the country since.

The Mayor of Paris offered them hospitality and the well-known theater of Chatelet hosted their performances and to this day they are artists in residence at the theater of Chatelet.

After their shows in Chicago and New York, Athens will welcome them on Christmas Day, for only 3 shows, on December 25 & 26 at the Christmas Theater.
Thursday, 09 December 2021 12:59

Chocolate Truffles Recipe

If you are looking to make a sweet edible treat this Christmas, also ideal as a small gift, try these decadent Sokolatenia Troufakia (chocolate truffles) with dark chocolate, walnuts, and Petit Beurre biscuits. 
 
They can be stored in the refrigerator for over a week, as long as they are in an airtight container. 
 


Ingredients

160g dark chocolate
180g Petit Beurre biscuits
1/2 cup full cream milk
1/3 cup fresh cream
1 tablespoon liqueur
1 & 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Method 
  • Chop chocolate into small pieces and completely melt over low heat in a double boiler.
  • Place biscuits in a large bowl and crush them into very small pieces. Add a quarter of a cup of chopped walnuts.
  • Pour melted chocolate over biscuits and walnuts and mix together with a wooden spoon.
  • Add milk, fresh cream, and liqueur and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are well combined.
  • Cover bowl with cling wrap and place in refrigerator (not freezer) for 1.5 hours.
  • Remove from refrigerator and take a teaspoon of the mixture and begin forming them into ball-like shapes by rolling the mixture in your palms. It makes it easier by wearing food handling gloves, otherwise wet your hands with water in between each truffle.
  • Roll each truffle into the chopped walnuts and place them back in the refrigerator covered tightly until ready to serve.

Originally published on: greekcitytimes.com
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