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Post by artisans on Mar 22, 2011 19:38:06 GMT 2
Being well into the period of Lent in the run up to Easter does not mean that the famously healthy Greek diet suffers in any way whatsoever. It is during this period of seven weeks that all manner of innovative goodies appear in the shops and restaurants. Halvas make a big showing at this time of year, but so too do several pies, or 'pittes', that are never around when the tourist season starts.
One of the secrets of the Greek diet is the use of fresh seasonal products and the range of bacon & sausage products virtually disappears off the shelves at this time of year. Their place is taken by a wider range of cheese pies, plus things like 'prasopita' (leek pie) and ''patatatopita' (potato pie). Many of these are cooked as 'strifti', phyllo pastry rolled into a long sausage and wrapped into a loop before baking. Making and appearance today was a sweet version to rival any Danish pastry - the 'kolokithopita.' Literally a courgette pie, it is made from that big yellow courgette - the pumpkin. What a treat!
If you like Greek food, then you have to visit at Easter - when the original recipes of Lent reach a climax on Easter day itself when the consumption of meat is unbelievable. After seven weeks without meat, there is a lot of catching up for non-vegetarians to do! I haven't yet found a 'hortopita' - the pie made from freshly picked wild greens off the hillside, but there's time yet.
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Post by holidayman on Mar 23, 2011 16:28:33 GMT 2
It all sounds fabulous - maybe some year i will make it to Roda for Easter - still i will be there on 02nd May so not long to go now! Your article prompts me to ask you a question - sorry if this is the wrong place to do that. How about a new section in Roda Forum called Food for Thought whereby residents in Roda and maybe some businesses could post a traditional Greek/Corfuit recepie each week or month for those of use not lucky eneough to live in Roda could try out at home and keep our holiday memories alive! It would be nice to have these first hand from the locals rather than from rather than following some link on the web to a site where the information is patchy to say the least and leaves you feeling dissapointed. Anyway maybe it is too big an ask - i know it would take up more of your valuable time - but there would also be a benefit to local businesses as their name would be in the mind of visitors when they come to Roda and hopefully would generate additional business for them. I would be interested to hear what you and other forum members/guests think of this idea. Thanks for reading this. Yamas
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Post by artisans on Mar 23, 2011 23:55:23 GMT 2
Hi holidayman Maybe it is time to run some recipes again, but it might be difficult to make it a whole section unless we can guarantee to get lots of comments and opinions. We did do a regular feature in the magazine under the heading ‘A Taste of Roda’ and, of course, we used to have ‘Roda Park Presents’ with weekly recipes throughout the season. This is a link to the last magazine page - A TASTE OF RODA. Many of the Greek recipe websites tend to be American Greek, where the ingredients and methods have been tweaked to suit what is available over there. They often bear no resemblance to what you use here and even less to the UK. My one piece of advice in getting as close as possible to what you tasted here in Greece is – be sure to use the freshest ingredients you can find and not something that has flown halfway around the world. The food in the local restaurants can be seen arriving fresh just a few hours before it is served in the evening. One of my favourite examples concerns sweetcorn. To eat it at its best, grow it in your garden and, when it is ready, bring a large pan of water to the boil, go into your garden and pick the cobs, de-husk them as you are running back to the kitchen and put them straight into the water. Have you seen the ones languishing on UK supermarket shelves? This is a subject very dear to my heart, so maybe we can get some suggestions from other members.
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Post by artisans on Mar 29, 2011 16:38:14 GMT 2
One of the reasons that is difficult to get near to the real tastes of Greece is that produce in the UK is just not the same quality, unless you live in London and can afford to pay a premium. But storing foods at optimum temperatures and packing them appropiately is not enough - most have been treated so that they can travel, meet marketing standards and then stand on the supermarket shelves for as long as possible. By contrast, these are the kinds of products that we are trying to compete with - the greenest and purest olive oil, pressed in traditional ways and totally untreated for colour or acidity, olives cured in brine & herbs and stored in a mix of water with that same olive oil, and the tastiest peanuts I have ever eaten. All of these were produced and prepared by one family in Kalamata and shipped a few hours by car to Corfu. It is impossible to replicate these things anywhere outside of their native country - and all so healthy!
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Post by holidayman on Mar 30, 2011 11:22:30 GMT 2
You are so right about Greek produce. Prior to discovering Roda last summer my wife and i spent the last 11 years holidaying in a small village in Crete staying in the same apartments each year. Of course over the years we began to be counted and treated as family by the owners. On many occassions we have returned home laden with Olive Oil (produced from their own trees),homemade Raki and wine. We have also enjoyed many homecooked meals and BBQ's with them - usually with all their extended Greek family from babies to Grandad's ! True Greek food and true Greek hospitality - only found in Greece !
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Post by davelinda on Mar 30, 2011 20:28:33 GMT 2
Holidayman,We also used to stay in a small village in Crete prior to Roda,and it is right what you say about being laden down with food .We used to be given a large bag containing veg,cucumbers,tomatoes cheese,village bread as well as Raki olives&brandy.I at first used to panic thinking they would never let me on the plane home.Where did you stay we were at Kalo Chorio.As you say only in Greece.Dave
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Post by holidayman on Mar 31, 2011 13:29:41 GMT 2
Hi Dave, We stayed in a small village called Kato Gouves which is midway between Iraklion and Hersonissos - thankfully it is still a very Greek village although the amenites have improved over the years. I remember on our first few visits there were not even any street lights on the walkways/village roads which led to the beach and the tavernas and it all added to the charm. We arrive in Roda 02nd May and are looking forward to it very much. Have a good holiday.
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Post by aussiechef on Mar 31, 2011 20:44:37 GMT 2
Finally went to the Greedy Greek deli in Sheffield as they claim to stock all authentic Greek products. We have been trying to get cheese for Saganaki and Graveria. Well they don't stock the cheese but I was transported back to Corfu. They sold all manners of olives, Katifi, Walnut and cinnamon cake, pastistada and more. Ended going home with lamb kleftiko(divine), spanokopita, 2 dips and afore mentioned cakes. They also did a bekri meze, I was transported back to Opa as that is the only place I have ever seen that dish before.So last night in a little house in Sheffield there was a veritable Greek feast and 2 happy people. Though could have done with the sunshine and the view looking over the sea to Albania.
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Post by davelinda on Apr 1, 2011 10:52:05 GMT 2
Bev,At least you both enjoyed it
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Post by sthelenssaint on Apr 1, 2011 18:16:11 GMT 2
did you get john a few fixe,s bev
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Post by johnboy on Apr 1, 2011 21:24:16 GMT 2
G`Day sthelenssaint, Yep the food was fabulous, Alas no Fix on this occasion, Iv'e not really tried to find Fix beer in the UK may be I should get my reseachers hat back on, I know Mythos is brewed under licence by Adnams in Southwold, Suffollk. but I'm only aware of one outlet that sell it on draught in this city. Sorry I'm sworn to secrecy as to its location.
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Post by aussiechef on Apr 1, 2011 22:33:19 GMT 2
John as my John says no Fix but he has found Mythos and Amstel on tap. You are right Dave/Linda we thoroughly enjoyed. We were supposed to have Corfu weather today but still not never got the fleece off. Not long now though.:>
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Post by sthelenssaint on Apr 2, 2011 0:51:42 GMT 2
amstel on draught 150 metres from my abode bev , but it does not taste as good as the amstel in harbour bar .
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Post by aussiechef on Apr 2, 2011 9:46:49 GMT 2
totally agree John. Same as the food, though delicious you need the sun, view, location and atmosphere to really enjoy.
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kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
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Post by kaz on Apr 2, 2011 11:54:10 GMT 2
Detest the beer, but love The Flag...................
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