Chez Michel @ Kolonaki

One Sunday in February, we visited the Museum of Cycladic Art. Although small by European standard, it is a fantastic museum and you should visit you have never been to. Besides the Cycladic sculptures, it has a floor dedicated to Cypriot Antiquities, which is quite interesting. It hosts also temporary exhibitions, too. When we visited, an exhibition about the Ancient medicine and health was on.

After a couple of hours in the museum, we felt tired and decided to have a late lunch at a nearby cafe called Chez Michel (after, of course, checking Foursquare).

It is a relatively small place, with some tables outside and more inside. It is in a French cafe style, in a sense that tables are small and chairs are close to each other.

It looks like a cafe-bar and indeed serves cafe food like sandwiches and salads, but it has also dishes of normal restaurants, like risotto, pasta, and steaks. We ordered one sandwich and one pasta to see what they could do.

Although we ordered a sandwich, our waitress brought us a basket of bread and dip without asking us. It cost only 1 Euro, but they could have asked us, as not everyone eat bread together with sandwich or pasta.

I wanted to order a sandwich with bagel, but to my disappointment, the waitress told me that they didn't serve bagels on Sundays. I ordered a baguette sandwich with turkey ham instead (4.50 Euro).

It was beautifully served and tasted all right, although I would have preferred the bread to be reheated.

GH ordered a plate of penne with prosciutto (10.50 Euro).

The penne were egg pasta (similar to the ones that we recently ate at Pizzeria dei Fratelli in Nea Smyrni) and nicely boiled. GH first complained that it wasn't enough salted, but then understood that it was meant to be eaten with ham which was quite salty. Expensive, but it was a good dish.

Together with 2 bottled of coca cola (3 Euro x 2), the total bill came to 22 Euro. Not cheap as a light lunch at a cafe, but taking into consideration the quality, location, and environment, we did not feel over-charged after all.

They had some cakes that looked good and we would return to try them.

CHEZ MICHEL
Irodotou 15, Kolonaki, 10674 Athens
Ηροδότου 15, Κολωνάκι, 10674 Αθήνα
Tel. 215 551 0090
http://chezmichel.gr/

Tarte Tatin @ Το Τσάι

Hello everyone,

I am testing something again.
This photo was taken by my Canon camera and transfered to my Android mobile phone using Wifi.
Although my mobile has a decent camera, real cameras still take better pictures.

By the way, this is a Tarte Tatin we ate yesterday at a tearoom called To Tsai in Kolonaki. The tart was too sweet for me, but the white tea called White Angel I had was quite good.

I believe that the place is non smoking, which is very important in winter.

We'd go back for some more tea.

Circus @ Kolonaki

Visited a very popular bar called Circus in Kolonaki in one Friday evening of September.

Administratively it might be in Kolonaki, but it is not the chic Kolonaki you might think of. The closest metro station is Panepisthimio and there are many young people - young like university student young - circulating the area. It is almost Exarchia.

I wrote above that it is popular. How do I know? It is because most of my Foursquare "friends" of Athens have been here; I do not see such concentration elsewhere. I wrote "friends", but they are not actual friends I go out with, but random people that I follow their activities (and they do mine), so, statistically, it is a better sampling than hearsay from the actual circle of friends.

To be such a popular place, it was surprisingly small. I wonder how busy it gets in the evening.

And for such a small place, the menu is long. Circus is famous as a cocktail bar, but it serves also coffee and food. The food is more like cafeteria/pub sort of food than taverna food. I guess it targets at the office people in the area. A cocktail costs 8.50 Euro. But for happy hours, it becomes 6.50 Euro (it was 16:00 to 20:00 if I remember well).

GH ordered one cocktail that I do not remember. There is a large ball of ice which melts only slowly.

I ordered something with ginger. Royal Ginger maybe? Not sure. The floating yellow thing is Chrysanthemum.

We thought that the cocktails were good, but I have to say also we do not have any expertise what-so-ever in cocktail field.

GH ordered also hand-cut potato chips with cheddar sauce. I think it was 3.50 Euro.

On the upper corner, you see a bowl of pop corns. Circus is famous also for unlimited delicious pop corns. If you wonder if there are delicious and undelicious pop corns, you'd better go and try.

All in all, nice experience. We did something we do not do usually after work and left happy.

Circus
Navarinou 11, Kolonaki, 10680 Athens
Ναυαρίνου 11, Κολονάκι, 10680 Αθήνα
Tel. 210 3615255
www.circusbar.gr

The Grocery @ Kolonaki

In a Saturday afternoon, we walked around Kolonaki and, after a while, we decided have a lunch. Without any expectation, we stopped at this place on Skoufa Street, close to Rosebud restaurant bar.

The Grocery seemed like a cafe-bar, rather than a full-swing restaurant. 

The menu is not long, and many of the items were actually off, although there were some dishes of the day. The main dishes on the menu are mostly above 10 Euros, which means that if you order a starter and a main, your food bill should necessarily be above 15 Euro.

The bread and dip were a 'cover', i.e. an obligatory order if you don't decline explicitly.

The dip was a mixture of yogurt and herb(s). It was nice, but as we ordered something similar as a starter, it was somehow superfluous.

This is tyrokafteri with Lefkada sausage, which turned out to be similar to salami. It did not feel heat almost at all and tasted more like thick yogurt with herbs. 

These are fried triangle pies with Metsovone cheese. The yellow paste that looks like musterd is citrus marmarade. Interesting. 

The above dishes can either be starters or nibbles for your drink.

We ordered only 1 meat dish, as this intended to be a light lunch. These are kebabs with yoghrt (yaourtlou kebab). 

Not particularly impressive, but enjoyable. Again the mixture of fresh herbs was characteristic. I recognized fresh coriander which is rarely seen in Greek restaurants. (By the way, it is a mystery for me, because I often see fresh coriander in open markets). 

The total bill came to 21.20 Euro including one glass of beer. It is not a bad deal if you like this way of eating. 

THE GROCERY
Skoufa 46 & Omirou, Kolonaki, Athens
Σκουφά 46 & Ομήρου, Κολωνάκι, Αθήνα
Tel. 210 3623541

After the meal we stopped at this fresh juice stand called Loving Family, being attracted by a fresh pomegranate juice for 1.20 Euro.

In the end it did not look that cheap as the plastic cup was quite small. But fresh juice bar is not a bad idea especially in hot summer season.

Loving Family
Sina 7 & Solonos, Kolonaki, Athens
Σίνα 7 & Σολωνός, Κολωνάκι, Αθήνα

Sugar Inn @ Kolonaki

Went for a coffee in Kolonaki today.

It wasn't cold and could take a walk in the sun. That would have been better if we could find a place in the sun, but we ended up in this shadowy cafeteria in Tsakalof street instead, because I wanted to eat something sweet.



It is mainly a creperie which sells also waffles. We ordered a freddo cappuccino, a filter coffee and a crepe with orange marmalade and Grand Marnier.

The cafeteria is a direct neighbour of a souvlaki shop called Delicatessen and, while you enjoy your crepe, you are assailed by the souvlaki smell. If you are eating savoury crepe, it might OK, but if you are eating sweet crepe, it is not very pleasant.



The crepe was presented in a very simple style, maybe too simple, almost ascetic.



The crepe itself was OK, if it was a bit hard. The marmalade was of good quality and I could sense Grand Marnier. However, 5 Euro seemed on the expensive side.

The coffees, on the other hand, were reasonable. Freddo cappuccino was 3.50 Euro and filter coffee was 3 Euro. Cheap if you consider that it was just 10 meters or so from Kolonaki Square.

I do not think I will go back for crepe, but if I need a cheap coffee, I might go back.

Sugar Inn
Tsakalof 14, Kolonaki
Athens

Now that I read the receipt, I notice that this is a branch of the shop in Zakynthos. I wonder how it is like there.

Cafe La Vie @ Kolonaki

I have not been blogging for a while.

I was sick first, then went to Japan and back, and lastly have been very busy with job.

Today is the first day off since my return to Greece and finally find time and mood to write something.

The below photos were taken several days after the New Year's Day.

Although I was not really feeling well, had to go to Athens to buy some gifts to bring to Japan. After shopping, we stopped at this cafe in Valaoritou Street for a hot drink.



Although it was pretty chilly, more people were seated outside. It is very Greek of them. :) The inside, thus, was almost empty, although it was getting filled while we were there.



I ordered tea, Hubby a cappuccino and cheese cake. The drinks were just OK and the cheese cake was lukewarm and was starting to melt away. No good.



We won't come back.

Then we stopped at Paul and bought a couple of pastries for the day after. Here is my apple pie.



It was all right, but not that special. But equally, the price wasn't that 'special', so I guess it was OK.



So dear Greek bakers! Please learn to make these pastries so that I don't have to go all the way to Syntagma to buy.

Καλά Χριστούγεννα!

Happy Christmas and other holidays!!!

But this year Christmas coincided with Saturday and we lost one national holiday. A shame.

Never mind. Yesterday Friday we Hubby & I finished work (I was ousted from the office, although I had not really finished work!) at 2:30 and met up in Syntagma.

It was not only us who want to do the same and most of the restaurants and cafeteries were absolutely packed regardless of the fact that the customers are constrained to pay 10 obligatory gratuity.

We headed for Valaoritou Street thinking that there we should be able to find a table as there are several cafeterias. The best tables of course were occupied but we managed to find space in Sofia's (free tables were only two!).

This was the second time for me to be here (the previous visit dates back 1.5 year ago).

Hubby, how had not eaten yet, ordered chicken club sandwich and frappe, while I got a pot of tea having already eaten and drunk coffee.



Hubby was disappointed to find crisps instead of French fries, but said that it was the best club sandwich ever.

My tea was served in heavy iron tea pot.



It was called "Silk Road" (on the menu it was written "Way of Silk" or something) and tea leaves were blended with pink pepper, cinnamon, ginger etc. It was similar to Tazo Tea of Starbacks which I like.

It was about 16 Euros in total incl. Christmas gratuity.

SOFIA'S
Valaoritou 15, Athens
106 71
Tel. 210-3641530


Stoa of Spyromilios was nicely decorated.





Then we went home to clean and prepare the Christmas tree.

Have a happy and peaceful Christmas, everyone!

Pannacotta @ Odos Milioni, Kolonaki

I went to Milioni street in Kolonaki for the first time.

It is a small, narrow pedestrian street lined with cafeterias and restaurants. It is a bit similar to Valaoritou, but it is narrower, darker and cozier.



The well known Italian restaurant/cafeteria Pritanion is in this street.

We entered in an Italian cafe situated in front of Pritanion. I cannot remember the name. In my memory, it seems to be combination of a number and an Italian word like "tazze", but it is too hazy.



I ordered a pannacotta with strawberry sauce and it turned up to be in this shape.



In Greece, people don't care too much about presentation and it is rare to see something unique as this one. A small but dense hand-made pannacotta was served on a boat of slightly sweet pie. I could see that it was prepared with care.

Maybe this is the Kolonaki chic.

I would like to revisit to try some food next time.

Cycladic Art Museum

Went to the Cycladic Art Museum of Goulandris Foundation in Kolonaki.



This Neo-Classic building should look familiar to those who passed Vas. Sofias Avenue, although this is not the main building.

As you can imagine, the occasion was to see the temporary exhibition about "Eros".



It has been highly acclaimed and is going to end on 11 April: I really had to go before it is too late.

The exhibition has nothing to do with Cycladic civilization. It collects artistic and non-artistic objects regarding Eros (carnal sort of love) from Archaic period to late Antiquity.

It is a beautiful exhibition. The best thing was that, as the theme is clear, the viewers do not get distracted and get bored.

I was, however, even more impressed by the permanent collection.



I must have visited here once before, probably about 10 years ago, but I did not remember almost anything. It houses cycladic sculptures (as above) and some objects from Cypriot Antiquity, besides things from more recent and familiar antiquity (what we usually call Greek-Roman).

Most of the Cycladic statues represent woman. It is not known why they made these statues and what was the use. Are they cult statues? Or are they just ex-voto of child birth? Did they have matriarchal society?

It is very mysterious and will remain as such, as there is no literature from this period.

At Cafe Mente in Valaoritou, Kolonaki

Friday afternoon in a Kolonaki cafeteria, Mente.

Valaoritou Street is full of cafeterias and restaurants cater for shoppers and workers in the area.

Cafe Mente is more for drink than for food: food menu is short.



I ordered a single cappuccino (€3.90), with a lovely heart drawing.

Hubby ordered a culb sandwich (€6.80).

He said it was fine except for that it was already cold when was brought to him. It is a shame, as the place wasn't so busy at that moment.

Another minus point was that the people were allowed to smoke indoor space in this cafeteria. There are many tables outside, but the Greek smokers prefer to smoke in warm indoor (why not?). The waiters willingly provide ash trays for those who want to smoke.

And the receipt.

In Greece the hunt for receipts has started. According to a new law for tax reduction/exemption, those who earn more than the minimum can present receipts to get some tax back. I think this practice is ubiquitous for self-employees but in Greece from this year on even the employeers can do it.

One of the reasons of the change is that in Greece many exercises, like restaurants/cafeterias, doctors, lawyers, do not write receipts and those declear to the tax office much lower income/profits than actually is. The state, not without reason, hope to duely collect the tax from these professionals/exercises.

Good luck for the tax collectors!

Fresh @ Kolonaki, Athens

Went to Fresh patisserie in Kolonaki yesterday. It is a small confectioner cum cafeteria (only several tables for eat-in) in Kolonaki area, but it is probably closer to Syntagma Square than Kolonaki Square itself.




When we arrived at around 7 o'clock there was no one else eating in, although some people dropped in to buy cakes.

We order a cappuccuno (€3.80), a Greek coffee (€2.80), and ... I went to look for sweets. On the menu, there are only tarts for a bit less than 7 euros. I thought it was too much and went inside the shop to look through.

Unfortunately for us, most of the things they have are either tarts, chocolatey stuff, or moussey things, i.e. things neither I nor Hubby like. Finally I settle on small cakes with cream and orange flavour for €0.90 each.



When I ordered, I thought this price was only for take out and expected to pay more, but, in fact, we were charged as it was written on the cake fridge. This made me wonder what are the prices on the menu were. Most of the tarts in the fridge were around €3.50. If we order from the 'carte', maybe they will prop them up with whipped cream and some slices of fruits, but still €3 for that looks to much. I have seen this technique elsewhere, but I cannot agree with the strategy (if my supposition is correct, of course).




The cakes were actually quite good; strong dairy and orange flavour in the moussey cream and almond-rich sponge as the base.

The coffees however were not particularly good; I might go back to buy cake, but not to drink coffee.

The shop offers salads and light-lunch sort of food as well for around €13.

Fresh Haute Patisserie
Kriezotou 12, Athens
210-3642948

Sofia's in Valaoritou Street, Kolonaki

Post scriptum: Unfortunately this restaurant was closed in 2011.

---------------------------------

Visited Sofia's Brasserie/Cafe in Valaoritou Street, which is near Voukrestiou Street in Kolonaki.

There are only several tables outside, but inside there are really many tables. The whole space is divided in a few rooms and I cannot easily guess how many tables there are.

My visit was made in the pre-smoking ban period and I really had an unpleasant time as the guy next to my table kept on smoking. I hope it is not happening now.



In the regular menu there are only sandwiches (from 3 euros), salads, omelets and drinks, but on a separate sheet (also on the black board on the photo) there was a list of "Today's Dishes" including pies, pastas, and meat/fish dishes, ranging from 6.50 to 16 euros. There are also assorted dishes of Greek cheeses or cold cuts, to be enjoyed, I guess, with wine.

This is bread basket (1.50 euros) of integral wheat bread and kritsinia with seeds. Very nice, but, if you (like my husband) don't like integral stuff, you won't appreciate it. I wish we could have a choice.

I ordered aghinares ala polita (Artichokes in Constantinopolitan Style) (9 euros), as it was Friday. You might not know, if you are not Orthodox Christian, but this is one of the typical dishes for Orthodox fasting days.

What is not very evident in this photo is that the portion was very Very generous. The largest artichoke in this photo is about 7 cm in diameter.

To my surprise, this dish was served hot, while I expected it to be lukewarm as all the "ladera" (vegetables cooked in olive oil and sometimes with tomatoes) dishes are. And artichokes and the other veggies had different temperatures; probably they separated artichokes so that they became too soft.

I finished almost all, but I must confess it was hard to keep on eating the same thing; I would have happier if I could have smaller portion of artichokes and a bit of salad or some carbo.

The total bill came to 10.50 euros, as I did not order any drink (I got free glass of water). Probably I did not make the best choice of food, but it was a pleasant meal in pleasant environment. I would recommend this place for lunch or afternoon snacking, or even for light dinner, although it closes at 9:30 in the evening.

Sofia's Brasserie
Valaoritou 15, Athens
106 71
Tel. 210-3641530