XpatAthens

Tuesday, 12 February 2019 07:00

'The Favourite' Takes Home Seven BAFTA Awards

Yorgos Lanthimos's tragicomic royal drama “The Favourite” won 7 awards at Sunday's British Academy Film Awards. “The Favourite” received the outstanding British film and screenplay awards as well as prizes for production design, costumes, hair and makeup. Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz were also awarded for best and supporting actress respectively.

"Thank you for celebrating our female-dominated movie about women in power," said Deborah Davis, who won the original screenplay award alongside co-writer Tony McNamara.

Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma," won awards for best picture, director, cinematography and foreign-language film. Rami Malek won the best actor trophy for his gripping performance as Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

The BAFTAs, will be scoured for clues on who might triumph at the Academy Awards on February 24 as this year’s frontrunners, Yorgos Lanthimos’s "The Favourite" an Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” have each received 10 Oscar nominations.

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

Image Credit: www.bafta.org

Published in Greece In The News

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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

Published in Greek Food & Diet

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Monday, 23 May 2022 07:00

Greek Semolina Cake - Revani

Revani (also spelled ravani) is a Greek cake known for its citrus flavors and use of semolina flour. The sponge cake is made with lemon zest and sweetened with a simple syrup with orange zest.

Here's an easy-to-follow recipe for the perfect revani, a delightful addition to any sweet table!

Ingredients

For the cake:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup fine semolina
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 lemon, zested
1 cup milk
1 pinch salt

For the syrup:

1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 strips orange zest
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch pan and set aside.
Mix the flour, semolina, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer. With the mixer running, add the egg yolks one by one. Continue mixing until the batter turns light yellow. Add the vanilla extract and lemon zest.
With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 batches alternating with the milk.
Clean the beaters well and beat the egg whites in a separate bowl with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form.
Using a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter until just combined. Don't mix too much, or you will "flatten" your egg whites.
Pour the batter into the pan, level with a spatula, and bake for 45 minutes or until the cake is a nice golden color.

To make the syrup:

Add the water, sugar, and orange zest to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice and cool.
While the cake is still warm, cover it with syrup. When the cake cools, you can sprinkle it with some powdered sugar, cinnamon, and almonds, if using.

To read this recipe in full and discover useful tips for delicious revani, please visit: thespruceeats.com

Published in Greek Food & Diet

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Thursday, 03 August 2023 20:12

Greek Maritime Golf Event supports Parents Association of Children with Cancer “Floga”

The best golf event in Greece and Cyprus, Greek Maritime Golf Event, will take place for the 9th year, on September 7-10, 2023, at Costa Navarino, Messinia, drawing the attention of the global and Greek maritime industry.

Golf & Maritime Industry join forces once again for a good cause

The Greek Maritime Golf Event is a tournament that proves with actions its social work every year. This year, the top golf event will support Parents Association of Children with Cancer “Floga”. More specifically, during this year’s award ceremony to the winners and winning teams respectively, on Saturday, September 9, attendees will have the opportunity to directly contribute the amount they wish by taking part in the raffles for significant lottery prizes. The total amount collected will be given to Floga, which stands by children suffering from cancer and their families, fights for better medical, mental, and social care for them, shares their fears and concerns, supports their struggle in any way possible, and vindicates substantial presence and in issues relevant to the medical, mental and social care of these children. For more information about Floga: www.floga.org.gr

In the context of this year’s event, the president of the Parents Association of Children with Cancer “Floga”, Ms. Maria Trifonidis stated: “Floga is a Panhellenic Association of parents of children with cancer that now counts 41 years of dynamic presence and social work alongside children suffering from cancer and their families, from diagnosis to the end of their treatment. In the guest rooms of Floga, 50 families from all over Greece are accommodated completely free of charge for as long as the children undergo treatment in the Oncology Departments of the Pediatric Hospitals of Athens. In childhood cancer, there is no prevention, but there is an early diagnosis that can lead to a cure for more children. Together, we can break down prejudice. We thank everyone who in one way or another supports our work and enables us to realize our goals”.

Two Game Days & a Golf Clinic

This year’s event returns to the two signature 18-hole courses The Dunes Course and The Bay Course, in an idyllic landscape full of centuries-old olive trees with a stunning view of the Ionian Sea, the historic bay of Navarino and the picturesque port of Pylos.

On Friday, September 8, participants will take part in the shotgun scramble held at The Bay Course. On Saturday, September 9, the golfing action moves to The Dunes Course for another shotgun scramble. Teams will compete to win the top three positions in the overall standings, whereas special awards will be given to individual players who will achieve the best scores in the “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the Pin” categories.

Finally, non-golfers will have the opportunity to attend the Golf Clinic that will take place on Saturday, September 9, at The Dunes Course.

Significant companies embrace the event

Greek Maritime Golf Event is attended by some of the most significant maritime companies from Greece and Cyprus, and many other important Greek companies that support the event.

IRI/The Marshall Islands Registry is the event’s Platinum Sponsor.

Mainline Shipping Company is the event’s Gold Sponsor.

Aegean Baltic Bank, Arrow Hellas, DNV, Marine Tours, and Swift Marine are the event’s Silver Sponsors.

Miele is the Official Sponsor.

Poseidonia Restaurant and Grey Goose are the Official Supporters.

Under Armour is the Official Clothing Partner.

Messinian Spa is the event’s Official Beauty Partner.

Minoa Water is the event’s Official Water.

Karalis Beach Hotel, Miran, Athi Rodi, and Daily Deli are the event’s Partners.

Costa Navarino, The Margi, Tsikeli Boutique Hotel Meteora, Iliada Sunset Suites, Namaste Boutique Apartments, Marmari Bay Hotel, Ogarden Suites, Grand Meteora Hotel, and Platanos Steakhouse are the Auction Partners.

Boo Productions is the Audio Visual Partner.

The event will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism.

Greek Maritime Golf Event is organized by Birdie Events, through an initiative of the recognized Greek PGA golfer, Mr. Thanos Karantzias. The Sports Marketing Agency of the Year ActiveMedia Group has undertaken the event’s Golf Production.

The golf tournament is exclusively addressed to distinguished executives of the maritime industry.

#greekmaritimegolfevent #costavarino

Photo Credit: Greek Maritime Golf Event

Published in Local News

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Thursday, 05 February 2015 13:23

My Week in Athens… Oct 11

According to the Beatles, all you need is love. But sometimes all you need is good conversation and a drink with good friends…

My tough week ended with just this… After endless days and nights of work and more work (in this season of ‘do more with less’), I made a last-minute plan with 2 friends to meet for a drink. We met near Syntagma Square, and wandered among the few protestors and police gathered in the area. We decided to head towards Kolokotroni Street, which runs parallel to Ermou Street. Our destination was one of my favourite finds when I first moved to Athens – a little place called Bartesera.

Once could easily miss this place – it’s hidden at the end of an old arcade, on your left side as you’re walking down the street. It’s in the Karitsi Square neighbourhood, so plenty of alternative options nearby.

Bartesera is a laid back bar, it’s artsy-cool, very low on the attitude scale, has a great drinks list and is always buzzing. It also doubles as an art-space, with different artists on display each couple weeks. Stop in during the day for coffee – there’s a nice courtyard too.

The best surprise of the night was to see that – crisis notwithstanding – a few new bars had opened on the very same street. Definitely worth a visit!

Until Next time,

Jack

Bartesera
Kolokotroni 25
210 322 9805

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…

Published in My Week In Athens

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Monday, 16 February 2015 11:18

Floyd: New Wine Bar In Cholargos

The center of Athens may have had the first wine bars of the city but now they can be found in Chalandri, Kifisia, Glyfada and in other areas of Athens. Floyd, in Cholargo, combines modern and classic elements with over 50 wine labels to date.

Twelve of these you can order by the glass and the food ranges from delicious spring rolls to burgers and even chicken tandoori.

Address: Perikleous & Keramikou - Cholargos
Tel: 2106565115

Also open for lunch.

For more info, please visit athinorama.gr

Do you have a recommendation or recipe to share? Send it to us at ideas@xpatathens.com!

Published in Pubs, Bars & Cafes

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Wednesday, 18 February 2015 16:07

British Writer: Elgin Marbles Don’t Belong to Us

“For years I have argued against holidays and giving back the Elgin Marbles. I was wrong about both,” said the British award-winning writer and journalist Howard Jacobson in an article about his first travel experience to Greece published in the British newspaper “The Independent.”

In the article Jacobson admitted that until recently he was probably the only British writer who had never visited Greece. It wasn’t a matter of prejudice, he says: “It was Zorba who initially put me off Greece. I mean that in the gentlest way. There was no prejudice involved, just a skeptical reluctance to buy into all that male vitality stuff,” writes Jacobson.

He had his second impression about Greece and Greek people many years later, when he was teaching in Sydney and in Oxford. In Sydney he had many Greek students and he admits that some of them were among his brightest students. However, when in Oxford he was shocked when he saw the relationship between some Greek men and their mothers. “When I was teaching at a language school in Oxford, a group of young Greek men turned up with their mothers who not only accompanied them to the discotheque where they pointed out suitable girlfriends for them, but on occasions even barged on to the dance floor to extricate the young women in question from the arms of other men. These could be Jewish mothers, I thought. And in their deference and shyness, their sons could have been Jewish boys,” stresses the renowned writer.

To read more, please visit greekreporter.com

By Evgenia Adamantopoulou

Published in Local News

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Friday, 20 February 2015 20:25

Cypriot Oregano And Cinnamon Roast Chicken

Tonia Buxton's succulent roast chicken is cooked Cypriot-style with onions, tomatoes and wonderfully fragrant herbs and spices.

Ingredients

1 chicken, weighing about 1.4kg
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large buffalo tomato, sliced into 8 segments
1 large onion, sliced horizontally
2 tsp chopped oregano
2 tsp ground cinnamon
freshly ground salt and black pepper
cumin potatoes, to serve

For the village salad:

large bunch of coriander, trimmed and chopped
large bunch of flat leaf parsley, trimmed and chopped
large handful of Greek rocket
6 cherry tomatoes, chopped
sea salt
splash of extra virgin olive oil
squeeze of lemon juice

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.

2. Place the chicken in a roasting pan. Rub with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.

3. Arrange the tomato segments on the breast and legs. Split the onion rings and place all around the chicken

4. Sprinkle with the oregano and cinnamon, and salt and pepper.

5. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the chicken. Roast for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the juices from the thickest part of the thigh run clear when pierced.

6. Transfer to a warm serving dish and leave to rest for 10 minutes in a warm place.

7. To make the salad, combine the coriander, parsley, rocket and tomatoes in a serving bowl. Sprinkle with salt and just enough oil to coat the leaves. Toss briefly, then add a squeeze of lemon juice and toss again.

8. Serve the chicken with the salad and Cumin Potatoes.

uktv.co.uk

Published in Greek Food & Diet

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Wednesday, 12 August 2015 17:28

Athens Walking Tour & Local Greek Flavours

Keeping in the tradition of ‘staying local’ this August, I’ve been reminded that Athens can be both blistering hot and blissfully quiet. If you can manage to stay cool, this is a great time to see the city. If you’re a fan of photography, an early morning walk around the neighbourhoods of the city in August can be magical… You may even get a sunset seat on a rooftop terrace…!

With some out-of-town friends visiting Athens for the first time (it really never ends…) I decided to forego my usual ‘Jack’s Low-Budget City Tour’ and actually pay for a professional guide.

Big Olive City Walks is a start-up provider of ‘alternative’ city walks. This young team of ‘actual’ Athenians loves to share their knowledge and passion for the city – this is more than ‘just a job’ for them, and it makes all the difference. Our friendly guide Nikos narrated the walk, with insights and stories and anecdotes that made the city (even the parts I know well) come alive.

Big Olive offers a really interesting range of themed walks – including 19th century Athens, Gastrononomy, Photography, LGBT Athens and ‘Anatolian’ Athens. We did their ‘Athens Grand Tour’, as a broad introduction to the city. My guests loved it – and so did I. Big Olive offers organized group walks, as well as bespoke/custom walks, private themed tours and custom corporate/educational programs.

For dinner, I had noticed a new taverna on the Herakleidon pedestrian strip in Thiseio. The newly re-opened Abibayio takes the place of the previous café on this popular strip that (in my humble view) is over-due for an update. Abibayio was worth the wait. This is a modern taverna, with a lovely outdoor patio and familiar, friendly service that makes you feel at home. The menu is a delicious twist on classic taverna fare – our group gave unanimous rave reviews. I’ve already been back within the past week – that says it all…

Cheers to a continuing August staycation!

Until next week,

Jack

Big Olive City Walks

+30 215 540 2986

http://bigolive.org/

Abibayio

Herakleidon 3, Thiseio

+30 210 342 6794

http://www.abibayio.gr/

Published in My Week In Athens

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Tuesday, 22 December 2015 11:04

Reflections Of Life In Greece 2015

With Christmas around the corner and the end of the year in sight, many of us pause from shopping and cooking to look back at 2015. Some of us have reactions like ‘what was that??!’, while some others of us still prefer to count our many blessings… No matter what side of the proverbial fence you sit on – nor if you wobble back and forth like me – we can all reflect on a year that was defined by challenges, struggles, confusion…

This was a year that I often needed reminding of the reasons why I moved to Greece… Surrounded by so much that reminds of the contrary, revisiting those reasons, for me, told me that not so many of them have changed. In fact, all the things that brought me here still apply. So here I remain.

I came across two interesting articles that I want to share – one in English and one in Greek.

The first one is a piece by David Constable in the UK’s Daily Mail. He speaks about Athens as the ultimate open-air university – and reminds us of some of the things we all know and love about this city that – he says - has ‘its greatest years still ahead…’ Check it out HERE.

The second piece is a list of ‘interesting facts’ about Athens and Greece, which are quite familiar – but interesting nonetheless. At the very least, these are useful to pull out for Christmas dinner conversation. The original Greek piece is HERE and below are a few facts translated:

1. On average, around 16.5million tourists visit Greece each year.

2. 7% of the world’s marble comes from Greece.

3. Greece is the world’s 3rd largest producer of olives – with some olive trees dating back to the 13th century!

4. Greece is the world’s largest producer of natural sponges.

5. 80% of the country’s land is mountainous, without a single ‘navigable’ river

6. 12 million people speak Greek around the world.

7. In the 1950’s, literacy was around 30%. Today, it’s around 95%

8. Although there are 2,000 islands in Greece, only 170 of them are populated.

9. The population of Athens in 1834 was 10,000 people.

10. Athens has been continuously inhabited for more than 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe.

11. Greece enjoys 250 sunny days each year – that means more than 3,000 hours of sunlight!

12. In ancient Greece, life expectancy was 36 for women and 45 for men – with more than half of all babies not living past infancy. Today, life expectancy is 77 (men) and 82 (women).

13. 70% of Europe’s merchant marine fleet fly Greek flags. Those ships must have 75% of their crew with Greek nationality.

14. Greece has more archaeological museums than any other country in the world.

15. Around 100,000 birds from northern Europe and Asia spend winters in Greece.

16. Slaves in ancient Greece made up 40-80% of the population of the city-states. These slaves were usually prisoners of war, abandoned children, or children of slaves.

17. Greece has 116 species of mammals, 18 species of amphibians, 59 species of reptiles, 240 species of bird and 107 species of fish. Around half of the mammal species are in danger of extinction.

18. No point in Greece is more than 137 kilometres from the sea. Greece has the 10th longest coastline in the world.

With this, I wish for everyone a happy and healthy 2016, full of sunny days and many smiles!

Until next week,

Jack

Published in My Week In Athens

Tagged under

LOGIN

'The Favourite' Takes Home Seven BAFTA Awards

Chocolate Truffles Recipe

Greek Semolina Cake - Revani

Greek Maritime Golf Event supports Parents Association of Children with Cancer “Floga”

My Week in Athens… Oct 11

Floyd: New Wine Bar In Cholargos

British Writer: Elgin Marbles Don’t Belong to Us

Cypriot Oregano And Cinnamon Roast Chicken

Athens Walking Tour & Local Greek Flavours

Reflections Of Life In Greece 2015

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