I’ve just returned from a great few days with friends, celebrating Christmas in a village near Ancient Olympia. 12 of us jumped into our cars and drove the 3 hours across the Peloponnese towards Pyrgos. Our overnight bags crammed with pillows and wrapped presents, we spent 2 days in front of the fire, eating, drinking, laughing and enjoying a relaxed time together. It was really great, and a reminder of the things that really matter.

Even with the distinctly Greek blue skies and sunshine of December, it still felt like Christmas. In the end, that ‘Christmas feeling’ we remember from childhood - the anticipation, the opening of boxes big and small, the delicious meals and stories around the table – these have less to do with climate and location, and everything to do with those with whom we share these days. And a few well-timed Skype calls to loved ones in faraway places brought everyone together in a very ‘modern’ way.

The drive back home included a stop in the picturesque town of Vytina, a perfectly wintery locale, with beautiful stone houses, great tavernas, lots of local wares – the perfect end to a great holiday.

Until next week…

With warm wishes to all,

Jack

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…

New chef is George Venier, who will soon make its premiere at Fuga, “al fresco”. With his travels as well as his Venetian-Cycladic roots serving as his inspiration and guide, he will present a ‘suitcase’ of culinary trends that he has "collected" along the way.

The outside summer bar will have its own menu and of course a wide selection of original cocktails and juices.

Find the secret ... Fuga garden, one of the most beautiful "secrets" of the city.

Fuga Secret Garden
www.fugarestaurant.com,
Megaro Moussikis Gardens
Kokkali 1; Tel. 210.724.2979

 

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

The airline’s network will as of next year add Helsinki in Finland, Toulouse, Deauville and Metz in France, Naples and Pisa in Italy, Malta, Kuwait, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Paphos in Cyprus, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Tallinn in Estonia, Oslo in Norway, Tehran in Iran, Dubrovnik in Croatia and Yerevan in Armenia.

Aegean will also increase its flights from major markets for Greek tourism such as Britain, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy, and to popular island destinations such as Naxos, Milos and Paros.

The 2015 schedule of Greece’s main carrier will offer 15 million seats, up 2 million from 2014, as its summer schedule has evolved into a stronger one than initially planned, with more new destinations, given that the growth prospects of the company appear particularly positive.

To read more, please visit ekathimerini.com

By Alexandra Kassimi

8-12 servings

¾ pound/340 g. unsalted butter
½ pound/225 g. blanched almonds or walnuts, coarsely chopped
½ cup ground rusks
1 tsp. grated orange rind
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2-3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1 pound/450 g. kataifi/shredded wheat pastry
½ pound/225 g. thin commercial phyllo pastry

For the Syrup

4 cups sugar
5 cups/1.2 litters water
2 tsp. strained fresh lemon juice

1. Clarify butter: Place butter in a small saucepan and heat slowly over low heat. Remove pan from heat and cool for 2 to 3 minutes. With a spoon, skim the milky foam from the top of the butter and discard foam. Pour the remaining clarified butter in a bowl and set aside until ready to use.
2. Preheat oven to 180˚C. Lightly butter a 22x30x8 cm baking pan.
3. In a medium-size bowl. Stir together nuts, ground rusks, orange rind, cinnamon, and sugar and set aside until ready to use.
4. Unwrap the kataifi pastry and the phyllo and divide each in half. Keep both covered so they will not dry out. Layer half the phyllo pastry, 1 sheet at a time, on bottom of prepared baking pan, brushing each sheet generously with clarified butter. Spread half the kataifi pastry over the phyllo and brush with butter. Spread the nut mixture over the kataifi and dot with butter. Cover nuts with remaining kataifi and brush again with butter. Layer remaining phyllo over kataifi, brushing each layer generously with butter. Tuck the phyllo neatly into the sides of the pan. Pour remaining butter over phyllo. Score lightly –1.8 to 2.5 cm deep – at first vertically, then horizontally, to form diamonds. Bake for about 1 hour 10 minutes, or until phyllo is golden brown.
5. To prepare syrup: While the pastry is baking, in a medium-size saucepan, combine sugar and water and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, over low to medium heat for 15 minutes. Add lemon juice and remove pan from heat.
6. When pastry is done, remove baking pan from oven and spoon warm syrup over the pastry. Cool pastry in pan before serving.

By Diane Kochilas

dianekochilas.com

What constitutes a perfect day in Athens? Many things contribute to a perfect day like restaurants, bars, shopping, and sight-seeing. A new marketing campaign, ‘Speak Athenian. Be an Athenian,’ is promoting Athens as a hybrid city that blends past and present and is a unique and multi-faceted city with an urban center and a beautiful coast. ‘Hipstorical,’ the term used to describe the new campaign, is defined as ‘An Athenian paradox, über-hipsters that fit right in around the 2,500-year-old Acropolis.’

Some of the best spots for local brews, grain bowls, flea markets, brunches, fine delicatessens, and beard balms can be found in downtown Athens, around the streets of the Parthenon, known as the historical triangle.

Born in Athens, designer Christina Economou, takes us on a tour of her favorite places and describes what makes a perfect day.

Starting the day early with coffee, Economou then takes a morning walk through the National Garden, a beautiful place filled with inspiration for a designer.

Additional Bakeries and Cafes

Takis Bakery: Open since the 1970’s, this family-run bakery serves delicious Greek and international breads, cakes, and pies. Popular sweets include a lemon drizzle pound cake, carrot cake, or the double-decker daily special.

Lotte Café-Bistrot: An adorable anachronistic café situated to the east of the Acropolis, was started as a side project by the owner, Theodora Athanasopoulou, about a year and half ago. This café is a gathering for the Athenian creative class, who like to drink organic Greek wine and signature cocktails while eating Greek pies, cakes, and homemade sweets that are made by Theodora’s mother.

Before heading to work, Economou stops at the sea market of Plateia Avissinias, which has anything from vintage chairs to a tiny curiosity box.

A nice place to eat lunch, according to Economou, is at the Cycladic Museum or a restaurant called Alfiere, that serves sandwiches with truffles. If you’re craving Italian food, Capanna has a great lunch menu.

At the end of the work day, Economou meets with friends for an evening dinner and drinks at RATKA or Freud in Kolonaki, a place for sushi and a great atmosphere. If dinner is not on the agenda, Economou will try to catch an interesting exhibit at the Gagosian Gallery or the Benaki Museum.

If Economou feels like more drinks and dancing, she will head to Cinderella, a new discotheque, or Jazz in Jazz, a small bar close to home.

Additional Bars and Clubs

Alexandrino in Exarchia: A chic place, perfect for unwinding with a glass of wine.

Kitty Cat: What was once an old Chinese restaurant, it is now a nightclub with a hipster vibe and a great place to have drinks and dance until 4 in the morning!

Barrett: On the border of the Monastiraki flea market and Psyri, Barrett is a new alternative rock bar. There are different DJ’s every night and the crowd is filled with artists and musicians. The drinks are affordable and they have a great selection of beers and music. There is also a gallery upstairs with new exhibits every month or two.

Couleur Locale: With multiple levels serving different things, the 3rd floor has a great night scene. It is open air, has stunning views, and an extensive cocktail menu.

Top Spots for Shopping

Greece Is For Lovers: Offers attractive contemporary products with a signature aesthetic, combining kitsch and luxe. Many of their pieces are one-of-a-kind, designed by local craftsmen, Thanos Karampatsos and Christina Kotsilelou.

Forget Me Not: A gift shop in the heart of Plaka, which features products an designs from more than 150 Greek artists, architects, and graphic designers.

Iliana Makri: Offers local, handmade pieces as well as international and Greek jewelry designs.

Luisa: Great for high-end designer clothes.

Attica: One of the best department stores and carries Economou’s collection.

For more suggestions on Top Things To Do In Athens, please visit: Harper's Bazaar and Vogue