Rich Cookies and Thick Yogurt

Tried for the first time a patisserie close to our flat to buy breakfast biscuits. It says to be founded in 1909, but the shop itself seems to be recently renovated and very neat.

What impressed me at this visit was the entusiasm of the seller; she tried to explain to me how and why good are their produces (fresh, good ingredients, their own pastry or butter).



7 euros worth of hand made biscuits (well, hand-made is very common in Greek bakery and patisserie). They are fine, but too rich to be our breakfast biscuits. They are more for afternoon tea. Besides, the round ones are savory and do not do as breakfast biscuits.

Being impressed by her, I bought a tub of Greek yogurt. She said it was their own product.



This middle size tub costs 2 euros, slightly more expensive than supermarket yogurt. It was very thick and creamy yogurt. I liked it, especially the buttery suface layer. But the fat content of 6.6% means that it is not for everyday consume for me.

I will try some other sweets next time. She said galaktoboureko is very good...

Fish Taverna without Name

The other Sunday, Hubby and I decided to go out for dinner, but, as soon as we went out, it started to rain and we ended up in a roadside taverna near our flat. It is strictly for the neighbours and you don't see even the name outside.

It does not even have menu and you just order from the list of dishes orally given by waiteress. At this point, we figured out it was a psarotaverna (fish tavern).

Bread (xoriatiko psomi).

Nice, but I cannot accept bread as accompaniment to fish. Is it just me? Probably.

Salad.

We never manage to finish feta slab on horiatiki salata (Greek salad), so we ordered it without cheese. The chili pickles were slightly chilly hot as I like it.

Feta saganaki.

Hubby wanted tyrokafteri, but they had only fava.

Black kitty watching us.


A huge mountain of fried potato.

Probably hand-cut. Fine.

Highlight of the day was grilled squid.



It was soft and sweet.

Unfortunately grilled tsipoura wasn't so good.

It was baked far too long in my opinion. Greeks like to overdo fish as well as meat.

The taverna keeps a cat to entertain customers.


Or to clean un-eaten fish.

Perhaps her son?


The bill with a bottle of beer was 36 euros. It is very good considering the presence of two big fish/seafood.

A Kitty on Lunch

Lunch consists in Greek BBQ.



He is being spoilt!

Briam

Recently I haven eaten Briam at two restaurants (tavernes) in Athens and both of them served briam very similar to ratatouille. Cooked in tomato sauce and very wet.

I am not saying that they were not briam, but I was rather disappointed at them, as what I know as briam is much drier.

So I tried mine.



It is very easy to make. Slice aubergine, zucchini, potato and tomato. Add olive oil, salt and oregano. Place slices in layers in a over proof dish or oven tin, and bake 30 min in oven. I added also anthotyro, but you can use feta or can do without cheese at all.

It is not to be eaten hot, but in room temperature. It is a perfect summer dish, you know.

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From laiki market, I bought vlita. This one included some red leaves.



But, not that tasted different. Just interesting.

Beer Factory in Athens

Beer Factory in Athens. I am not sure if it is a brewer or just a bottling factory.