Six D.O.G.S (Athens, Greece)

Summer in the city. It sounds simply lovely, but here in Athens sometimes the heat, the crowds and the noise can all just get to you. This summer particularly, young and old Athenians are looking for some place positive and relaxed to forget and discuss what's going on in their city. Luckily we can find refuge in some amazing hidden bars and cafés.

One of them is Six D.O.G.S in the city centre, just of Monasteraki Square. Six D.O.G.S calls itself a 'day & night cultural entertainment centre' and that description definitely covers all they have to offer. You'll find a café, a bar, a visual arts' project space, and a space for live gigs. My favorite by far though is their garden. First off is the surprise factor to find a place so serene and earthly just off one of the busiest parts of town. Completely hidden from the street you enter through a little tunnel to find yourself in another, peaceful, world. Also, they just serve about anything from coffee, cocktails to sandwiches and other seasonal & local mezes.. All the ingredients one needs to refuel after another day in the city, I should think!

Six D.O.G.S also often hosts one of my favorite monthly events in town: The Meet Market. If ever you're in Athens, do check out if there's one going on if you want to stock up on original art pieces, jewelry, (new & vintage) clothes from local artists and craftspeople.

Ground Turkey & Chives Dumplings

This recipe came from the very own master chef in my family- my uncle. If you don't like pork but love dumplings like me then you will love this recipe. 


Ingredients: 


1- wonton wrappers
2- 1 cup ground turkey
3- sliced prawns (optional)
4- 1/2 green onion finely chopped
5- 2 slices fresh ginger
6- 1 garlic glove
7- 1 tbs Chinese rice wine
8- 1 tbs sesame oil
9- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper


Instructions:

• Set the wonton wrappers on a large plate. 
• Mix the meat with all the other ingredients. 
• Place a small portion (about 1 tablespoon) of the filling into the middle of each wrapper. 
• Wet the edges of the dumplings with water. Fold the dough over the filling into a half moon shape and pinch the edges to seal. Continue with the remainder of the dumplings. 
• To cook, bring a large pot of water (or chicken broth) to a boil. Add half the dumplings, giving them a gentle stir so they don't stick together. Bring the water to a boil and add 1/2 cup of cold water. Cover and repeat. When the dumplings come to a boil for a third time they are ready. Drain and remove. If desired, they can be pan-fried at this point. 

Kaboom Box Burger Truck (Vancouver, Canada)

So as you know food trucks are popping up all over Vancouver (and other metropolitan cities around the world). As a foodaholic- my mission for the summer has become to try each and every one and report back to my followers. 

First on the list is the Kaboom Box located at the corner of Granville and Robson. Delicious gourmet burgers are to be had at this food truck plus friendly service. You can choose between the salmon, venison, oyster po-boy, and the veggie. PLUS you can choose between a side salad or fries... to top it off they also have poutine on the menu. Ever since I tasted my first real poutine in Quebec back country... it has become a weakness. Completely unhealthy but oh so delicious! I didn't get a chance to try the poutine but I'll definitely go back for more.

I ordered the Venison- and was very happy with it. The burgers are served on a ciabatta style bun with green leaves and fries. The venison patty was moist and perfectly charred. There is nothing like a good burger and this was definitely VERY good. I pretty much inhaled the entire thing in less than 5 minutes (not so proud of it really). 


I am so far impressed with this whole food truck business. The burger man himself also spent a few years in New Orleans (given that oyster po-boy was on the menu)- that added to the whole experience- as I anxiously waited for my burger and fries we reminisced about the delicious spots in Nola.

Could not resist taking a bite before taking a photo

Lunch at the Hawksworth (Vancouver, Canada)

I have been very eager to try one of the most anticipated restaurant openings in Vancouver- the Hawksworth.  I finally went there for lunch this past week (apparently its practically impossible to get a dinner reservation these days) and was very pleased with both the food and service.

The decor is very smart, chic and elegant. Single while calla lilies are placed at each white-marble topped table. A dark-wooden wall with two tall arches separates the dining area into two spaces: the art room with abstract paintings covering the wall and black spider like ceiling lights, and the pearl room with its stunning and massive chandelier.

For me it was a true fine dining experience and yet there was no air or pretense to the place. Every table gets a visit from a member of the 'wine team'- a great idea considering the wine list is over 17 pages long including dessert wine, sake and sherry. 

The menu is very well thought out. Every single dish looked absolutely delightful. As an appetizer we went with prociutto wrapped around delicious bread drizzled with olive oil. I don't know what exactly the bread was but it was absolutely delicious...crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. 

The fries were a mix between baked potatoes and deep fried fries and I learnt from the server that in fact the fries are first baked and then lightly fried to perfection. They were absolutely DELICIOUS. 



Tuna Salad

 For my main dish I opted for the roasted hanger steak served with thrice cooked frites, arugula, and chimmichurri sauce. First of all, I have to say that I love chimichurri sauce so as soon as I saw that the steak was served with chimmichurri my mind was made up. Chimmichurri sauce is originally from Argentna and Uruguay and is served with meat.


Hanger steak served with chimichurri sauce and mouth-watering fries

 The entire meal was fabulous and I am now planning to take another trip to Hawksworth. This time for dinner. Keep your eye out for my next post on dinner at the Hawksworth. 

Quick Getaway (Salamina, Greece)

We just had a long lovely weekend here in Greece. For most Athenians this means finding a way to escape the city. While not as popular with tourists as Hydra, Spetses or Aegina, Salamina does draw its fair amount of locals in search for a quick day trip, clean beaches and the famous Greek blue seas.

And understandably so: getting there is a breeze and dirt cheap (a ticket for the ferry boat is only 0,80 cents as a lot of commuters leave the island daily to work in the city). What I also liked about the island is that it's unlike the southern suburbs of Athens where most beaches are 'organized' and fully packed, meaning you pay a hefty entrance fee to get to the sea. So while Salamina lacks the charm and infrastructure of the more popular getaways, it makes up for it with its proximity, affordability and relaxed atmosphere. All in all, I enjoyed a pleasant afternoon there of sun, sea and a little crochet.

Loukoumades (Honey Puffs)

Loukoumades, one of my favourite Greek pastries, are sweet fritters (similar to doughnuts) that are deep fried till golden brown and served warm with a honey syrup, sprinkled with cinnamon and nuts. Just be prepared to get deliciously messy when eating these purely yummy puffs.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 kilo flour

2 teaspoons yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

oil for frying

SYRUP:

2 teacups honey

1 teacup sugar

stick of cinnamon

2 teacups water

METHOD:

1. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water.

2. Put the flour and the salt in a bowl and gradually add the dissolved yeast mixing by hand.

3. Gradually add some lukewarm water until you have a paste that is neither too fluid nor too thick.

4. Cover the bowl with a towel and let it stand in warm water for about an hour.

5. When the batter doubles in size and forms "bubbles", heat plenty of oil in a pot, until it is scalding hot.

6. Drop teaspoonfuls of the batter into the hot oil and allow the loukoumades to turn golden brown.

7. Remove the loukoumades (honey puffs) from the oil with a slotted spoon and place them onto a plate.

8. In the meantime prepare the syrup : in a pot boil the honey, the sugar , the water and the cinnamon stick for about 10 minutes.

9. Pour the syrup over the loukoumades and sprinkle with cinnamon.

10. Serve hot

Live the Myth in Greece-Part I (Mykonos & Paros, Greece)

Yiassou Readers, 

Todays post is dedicated to Greece (Ελλάδα). I hope you enjoy. 

In a different life I found myself spending endless summer nights and hot summer days in Greece. Oh greece (sigh)s'aga po. When I lived in Switzerland, there was a tourism commercial advertising travel to Greece. Its motto was "Live the myth in Greece"...and I am happy that I got to live my myth in Greece. For as soon as I stepped into this land of the gods everything about it seemed magical and mythical.  It felt like a really great dream...the ones you don't want to wake up from.  From the beauty and history of Athens to the charm and mouth-dropping scenery of the islands...Greece really offers it all. 

This blog post is dedicated to Mykonos and Paros. Better known as the cosmopolitan party island, Mykonos has everything to offer from amazing beaches  to great night life and lets not mention the food which also deserves its own post. Mykonos is a great example of unique Cycladic architecture set around a picturesque fishing-village bay. Totally whitewashed organic cube-like buildings fit closely together to form a kind of haphazard maze of narrow alley ways and streets. The earth colors of the bare hills which surround the town's  whiteness is set between the aura of an incredibly blue sky and even deeper blue sparkling sea. Its many well preserved windmills and hundreds of tiny red-roofed churches adds a flavor of culture and custom to the scene, enhanced even further by many museums and the historical ancient site of Delos. Together with being friendly and open people, the locals have a healthy understanding of what it means to have a good time. Put this together with all the island's other qualities and it is no wonder Mykonos has been often named "the jewel" of the Aegean Sea.

As summer approaches I can't stop thinking of Greece, greek food, greek music and the magic of the greek islands. And I secretly pray to the greek gods to return me to the land of magic...but for now I can only dream as I sit behind my computer. If you haven't already make sure you live your own myth in Greece.

Fields of wheat and a secluded beach in Paros

Field of Dreams- Paros

Fisherman's boats in Paros

Volcanic formations at the beach in Paros(one of my favorites) 

The famous windmills in Mykonos

The famous Mykonos Pelican

The local papoos

View from my patio

Room with a view

My dream summer home perched over a cliff leading to a beautiful secluded beach with crystal blue water

All those balconies are amazing bars and clubs

Locandina (Sicily, Italy)

Italian food is an all-time favorite in my household and visiting Italy essentially involves a lot of eating, tasting, trying old and new dishes. Sicily particularly has offered me all my heart could desire in the food department. Arabic flavors mixed with well-known Mediterranean ingredients, all local produce and delicious wines.. You can't go wrong there. Needless to say, picking out where to eat is always one of my favorite activities on the road. The next restaurant we stumbled upon by pure accident and what a lovely surprise it was.

Locandina is a true gem in the breath-taking old city of Ragusa (Ragusa Ibla). My Greek travel companion even had to admit their prize-winning olive oil was much better than Greek olive oil. That is quite a bold statement there! Munching on our bread and divine olive-oil on the terrace of this beautifully pristine restaurant, a palazzo nonetheless, we tried to decide what wine to drink from the amazing diverse wine-list, ranging in price from very reasonable to very expensive. After dinner, the waiter even gave us a little tour around the restaurant and wine cellar. There, we discovered a hidden nook for a dinner-for-two surrounded by their most precious bottles. Can it get more romantic than that? And if you're wondering, their menu has a similar wide variety of mouth-watering options. You can opt for their straight-forward but inventive pizza's or go for their more refined regional dishes. Great atmosphere, wide choice of high quality food & drinks plus warm and friendly service makes Locandina a winner in my book.

And to show you a bit of the beauty of the city, a few pretty views: