Sahlep comes from the root of an orchid and apart from its interesting taste, it is also a very strong thickening agent, so very little goes a long way (which is fortunate as it costs 98 euro per kilo!). The most interesting attribute of sahlep, however, is that it gives the ice cream an interesting elasticity, typical of kaimaki.
This recipe is perfect for those avoiding egg-based ice cream and it will keep in the freezer for longer. Serve it on its own with sour cherry syrup called vissinada (another traditional Greek combination) and some pistachios.
KAIMAKI ice cream
• 1tsp salepi (sahlab) or 1tbsp corn starch
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 tsp mastic powder
• chopped pistachios for decoration
DIRECTIONS
1. Dilute salepi in 1tbsp cold milk.
2. Bring milk, cream and sugar to boil, add salep (I used immersion blender because it wouldn’t dilute). Stir in mastic and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Add the slice of orange rind and remove from heat. Let it cool and place in the fridge. Churn in an ice cream machine.
4. Keep in the freezer until needed.
KALI OREKSI!
foodjunkie.eu
XpatAthens
Friday, 20 February 2015 15:29
Kaimaki Ice Cream
In Greece we call this type of ice cream “kaimaki” and it very typical of 1960s style confectionery shops selling baklava and kataifi as well as other types of-usually syrupy- sweets, but the recipe is based on Diana Abu-Jaber’s book The Language of Baklava, which was the previous Cook the Books pick. It is very often served in silver-style bowls and I remember eating it after big meals with the family over ekmek kataifi or with ravani. I always thought that it tasted of the mastic, but Diana’s recipe revealed another very interesting ingredient: sahlep (we call it salepi in Greek).
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Greek Food & Diet
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Friday, 06 March 2015 12:41
Athens Is # 3! Top 10 Destinations In Europe For 2015
20 selected destinations competed for the prestigious title of Best European Destination 2015. After a three week period of online voting (244,696 voters made their choice and influenced the result!), Bordeaux has been elected the Best European Destination 2015, followed by Lisbon second and Athens third!
Bordeaux, Lisbon, Athens, Valetta, Riga, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Innsbruck, Milan, Brussels, Vienna, Rome, Barcelona, Istanbul and Madrid are the next best destinations for a holiday or city-trip in 2015.
European Best Destinations describes Athens:
'Athens is considered the cradle of western civilization. Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments - a rare historical palimpsest, evident everywhere in the city.
The contemporary urban scenery of the sprawling city reflects its exciting history, its multi-cultural modern personality as well as the infrastructure and facilities. In other words, Athens is a must destination that combines modern urban innovation with history, culture and natural beauty throughout the year.'
XpatAthens would like to thank everyone who voted for Athens!
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Travel Greece
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Thursday, 07 May 2015 08:00
Greece Takes Part in ‘European Clean-up Day’ Campaign
Greece is participating! European Clean-up Day is running from May 8-10. It is a Europe-wide annual clean-up day coordinated by the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) in order to reduce littering in nature and give visibility to the issue.
Over 4,500 volunteers of all ages throughout Greece have already registered their action (beach, underwater and forest clean-ups) with the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), the coordinator for the European Clean-up Day in Greece. These locations are across 50 coastal and mountain areas, displayed on the campaign’s e-map. Last year, some 5,000 volunteers participated in the event.
HELMEPA invites all to give a helping hand by organizing their own beach, lake, river or even forest, park or neighbourhood clean-up.
For more information about how to participte, please visit Greek Travel Pages.
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Greece In The News
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Wednesday, 17 February 2016 07:00
Greek Tourism Thrives In 2015, Recording A 5.7% Rise In Arrivals
International tourist arrivals in Greece increased 5.7 pct in 2015 compared to 2014, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) said on Thursday, announcing its official data collected from the country’s airports.
According to the report, 843,000 more tourists came to Greece in 2015, with the total number of airport arrivals reaching 15.5 million.
In December, Athens maintained its robust numbers with a 15.5 pct rise in arrivals compared to the same period of 2014, while for the entire year the Greek capital achieved an impressive 22.6 pct jump.
For the rest of the country, the Ionian and Cycladic islands secured the lion's share of tourists in 2015 recording a 3.7 pct and 15 pct boost in international arrivals respectively.
To read more, please visit: The TOC
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Local News
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Tuesday, 12 April 2016 07:00
Archaeologists Study Skeletons From Ancient Cemetery At Phaleron
Not even four miles south of Athens lies Phaleron, a port of Athens in classical times. Phaleron boasts one of the largest cemeteries ever excavated in Greece, containing more than 1,500 skeletons. Dating to the 8th-5th centuries BC, Phaleron is significant for our understanding of the rise of the Greek city-state and, in particular, for understanding the violence and subjugation that went with it. Two mass burials at Phaleron include people who were tossed face-down into a pit, their hands shackled behind their backs.
The shackled skeletons, easily the most compelling remains from Phaleron, have received researchers' attention for decades, as they are among the very few instances of shackled deaths in the ancient world and could indicate punishment, slavery, or a death sentence. But study of these “captives” has to take place within the context of the entire cemetery, and analyzing 1,500 skeletons is a massive task.
In the long-term, Phaleron skeletons will give us a window into a critical time in ancient Greek history, just before the rise of the city-state.
For more information about Phaleron and the excavation, please visit: Forbes
For more information about Phaleron and the excavation, please visit: Forbes
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Greece In The News
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Thursday, 01 June 2017 07:00
Walking In Athens With Constantine Cavafy
Renowned Greek poet Constantine Cavafy was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on 29 April, 1863. A cosmopolitan by birth, Cavafy travelled for the first time to Greece in the summer of 1901, accompanied by his brother Alexandros. His stay in Athens constitutes the topic of a new book entitled Walking in Athens with Constantine Cavafy.
Wandering through Athens with Cavafy is a fascinating experience. Readers will have the chance to discover that, despite the fact that it’s been over a century ago and with dramatic changes have taken place in the capital, the city centre has preserved the broad outline of its physiognomy. The urban grid, shaped like a large symmetrical triangle and dating from the time of King Otto (mid 19th century), is still the city’s most obvious trait, while the large public buildings that remain attractions adorning the city would have also been seen by Cavafy at the time.
“Cavafy travelled for the first time in Greece in the summer of 1901 during a period of leave from his job. The poet was 38 years old and was accompanied by his brother Alexandros. Travelling to Athens with Cavafy is a fascinating experience.”
To purchase ‘Walking in Athens with Constantine Cavafy,’ please visit: ETP Books
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Books
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Monday, 27 August 2018 07:00
A Foodie Haven In Kerameikos, Athens
Known as a new foodie haven, Kerameikos is home to unique restaurants, interesting neo-tavernas, and ethnic hangouts. Greece Is explores the neighborhood for food lovers and shares the best places to eat and relax.
Aleria
Aleria is now the home of modern Greek cuisine and is based on the triptych of good ingredients, high technology and modern ideas. You can select the food based on the wine you like – the wine list is long and the staff is knowledgeable. Try the beef tartare with yogurt, wasabi cream and ouzo jelly.
Address: 57 M. Alexandrou
Telephone: 210 522 2633
Athiri
The salon for the winter has 50 seats, while the outer space accommodates twice as many. The food is modern Greek cuisine with a traditional base. The menu changes twice a month. It’s small, with about 12 appetizers and salads and seven mains. They make their own bread daily and their food has a nice Greek character.
Address: 15 Plateon
Telephone: 210 346 2983
To read this article in full, please visit: Greece Is
Photo Credit: Greece Is
Photo Credit: Greece Is
Published in
Restaurants In Athens
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Thursday, 17 May 2018 18:55
May 1st - Happy May Day!
Ever wondered what makes Greek people embrace life? Well you can now discover the few simple steps that lead them to well-being, as well as how May 1st is celebrated and treated like a special holiday!
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
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Newsletters
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Tuesday, 19 March 2019 00:54
March 19 - Celebrating Greek Independence Day!
Every year, March 25th is a very important day in Greek history. It marks the country's Independece Day and is an integral part of Greek culture, proudly filled with customs and delicious food! So don't worry if you haven't heard of Bakaliaros Skordalia yet, after this week's newsletter you'll be ready to celebrate the day like a true Greek!
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
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Newsletters
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Monday, 11 January 2021 13:22
The Acropolis Museum’s Entire Collection Goes Digital
Given the public's increasing familiarity with digital cultural experiences, the Acropolis Museum’s newly launched virtual edition is a delightful development. Digital visitors will be surprised by the virtual tour that will almost certainly instigate the desire to see the breathtaking collection in person once the museum reopens its doors.
“Research carried out by museums has shown that an interesting digital tour only strengthens the visitor’s desire to physically visit the museum and see the pieces depicted in the photographs up close,” says Stamatia Eleftheratou, the director of the Acropolis Museum’s collections and exhibitions.
The museum’s meticulously planned digital edition takes internet users around the museum and provides information on its temporary exhibits, special events, educational and family activities, research, conservation, and new technologies. The Acropolis Museum is the first Greek museum to display all of its permanent exhibits online, along with explanatory notes, available in English, German, Italian, French, and Spanish.
“Nothing can replace the experience of a proper museum visit, but the portal is a marvelous substitute, and not just because of the current situation,” says Eleftheratou. “Basically, it complements and/or strengthens a physical visit, while also giving remote audiences a very good idea of the space, its operation, its activities, and its collections.”
This remarkable endeavor involves the management of 27,755 digital archives, the digitization of 496 handwritten excavation logs, 110,000 photographs, 18,410 documentation forms for movable finds, and 7,500 conservation logs. The museum's multifaceted digital archive is a fountain of knowledge waiting to be discovered by experts and amateurs alike.
To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini.gr
Photo Credit: Posztós János - stock.adobe.com
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Local News
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