Mediterranean Cooking: Fasolada (bean soup)

By: Ioanna Stamoulou / Greek Classics, Meals.

Fasolada is considered Greece’s national dish and is definitely one of the most traditional recipes of Greek cuisine. 
Every Greek family eats this dish at least once per month, especially during winter.

Serves: 6 Preparation time: 10 mins Cooks in:1.20 mins Ready in: 1.30 mins

Ingredients 
500 g beans
1 large onion, chopped
1 leek, chopped
2-3 carrots, sliced into small round pieces
1-2 tablespoon of tomato paste
½ cup chopped celery + some more for serving
½ red pepper
1 red chili pepper
1 cup of olive oil
salt, freshly ground pepper

Method
 
Step 1
Place the beans in a saucepan with plenty of cold water to cover them. Bring to the boil, turn the heat down to medium and parboil for 30-35 minutes, until slightly tender. Drain in colander and set aside.

Step 2
Fill the saucepan with water up to the middle. Boil the beans with the onion and leek until they are soften and then add the carrots.

Step 3
Add the parboiled beans and boil. Then add tomato paste, celery, red pepper, salt, pepper, chili pepper and continue cooking for about 15 minutes more or until the soup becomes thick and creamy soup.
Step 4
Serve this traditional Greek bean soup (fasolada) while still steaming hot with feta cheese and bread.

New Review on Tripadvisor: 'Best stay in Plakias'

Together with my wife we spent in Plakias Suites almost full week. Both of us loved this place because:
 

Location – great! Very close to the beach (can’t be closer). Close to many popular beaches. Yet, a bit distance from city (village) centre – i.e. away from tourist crowds and noise.
 

Hosts – Eleni and Giorgos are very nice and welcoming hosts! They provide advice about where to eat, where to go, local specificities, nearby beaches, etc.
 

Facilities – looks and feels like brand new. Bedroom, shower, kitchenette, furniture, bed… Everything!
 

This is our second visit to Plakias, so we can compare. And Plakias Suites will be our location for our next visit!

• Stayed: August 2017, travelled as a couple

See here: TripAdvisor

 

 Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 49 Speciality Lodging in Plakias, Retyhymno - Crete!

  

  106 Reviews Certificate of Excellence

Photo of the day: October in Crete, Greece

Best destination for a family holiday in October!

October the weather in Crete usually is hot enough to enjoy the beach..

 Temperatures can vary from a low 16°C to a high 26°C with an average of 22°C. 

https://www.plakiassuites.com 

Photo of the Day: Skinaria beach from above

Skinaria beach is 33 km south of Rethymnon, and belongs to the area of ​​Plakias.

The beach is relatively unknown to most, but for many it is a paradise and they don't hesitate to classify it as the best beach in Crete!
  
It is a small beach with fine sand and crystal clear deep waters.
Also, the clarity of the water is truly impressive and exceeds 40m. horizontally!!

https://www.plakiassuites.com/

New review on Booking.com: Negatives? Hmm... difficult Question... but yes: Our stay was too short...

'Usually I am not the one who gives many reviews and in general I would save the 10 for the batter that could possibly come but in this case I will make an exception because Plakias Suites are exceptional and outstanding.

 How can others rate less than 10? 

Everything was PERFECT. 

Just need to say: Thanks a lot and we will for sure come back!'

Thank U Florian!

Plakiassuites: Exceptional 9.5/10 from 26 reviews on
Booking.com

Greek breakfast from Crete

Breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day, a great source of energy to start an exciting day full of experiences and new adventures!

The high nutritional value and the quality of the Mediterranean products, along with their tradition and experiential character, account for Greek breakfast’s special features.

What can one say about Crete, where life expectancy rates are the highest in the whole country? 

The uniqueness of its products, their daily consumption and their high nutritional value, are the reasons why the Cretan diet is ideal – not to say indispensable - for healthy living.

Vast olive groves, vineyards, sweet smelling honey, wild weeds and herbs are the ingredients that guarantee a delicious breakfast!

Taste the Cretan breakfast:

• Rusks
• Moustokouloura
• Graviera with honey
• Xynomyzithra
• Sygklino (salted and smoked pork)
• Apaki (smoked pork)
• Sausages
• Fried eggs with staka (butter-cream)
• Cream cheese pies (myzithra)
• Fried green pie
• Xerotigana: fried thin plies of dough
• Lyhnarakia: filled with myzithra and cream cheese (anthotyro), etc
• Boureki from Chania
• Bougatsa (cream pie)
• Herbal teas

 (source: VisitGreece)

Greece among top 20 destinations for German tourists

Greece is among the top 20 travel destinations for German tourists, according to fvw tourism magazine. 

The data showed an 11.7% rise in arrivals to Greece in 2017 compared to 2016, placing Greece in the 8th spot in the preferences of the Germans, having attracted 3.14 million people.

Austria, France and Spain were in the top 3 spots...

Greek fava with ouzo-flavored squid

What is fava?
Think of it as a creamy and super tasty hummus on “steroids”, both in nutrition and taste.
Along with squids cooked with ouzo, it is the perfect meal!
Enjoy with a nice glass of ouzo, raki, cold beer or cool white wine!

Serves: 6 Preparation time: 20′ Cooks in: 60′ Ready in: 1:20′

Ingredients

For the fava:
300g yellow split peas
1 onion, quartered
1 bay leaf
3½ lt water

For the squid:
400gr squid, cleaned, cut in rings
1 garlic clove
1 sprig fresh oregano, leaves finely chopped
1 sprig fresh marjoram, leaved finely chopped
1 tsp caper, rinsed
3 tbsp ouzo or other star anise based liquor
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt, freshly ground black pepper

Method

Step 1
Boil split peas in a pot with water for a minute until foamy. Drain and rinse under cold water. Then return to pot and cook with 3,5 lt water, onion and bay leaf skimming the foam when necessary. Add extra water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper 15 minutes before you remove pot from heat. When split peas are left with hardly any water discard bay leaf and whizz half quantity with onions until creamy. When cool, mix with the rest of fava. Brush with oil a medium-sized mould cake tin with a hole in the middle and lay the fava. Let cool completely.

Step 2
Meanwhile prepare squids. Put squid rings with garlic in a pot and in medium heat. Let squid release all juices, then simmer in low heat until absorbed. Then add oil and sauté for 5 minutes. Stir in ouzo and let alcohol evaporate. Sprinkle with oregano and marjoram. Add a little water and allow squid to soften if necessary. Add caper and season with salt and pepper accordingly.

Step 3
Turn the cake mould upside down on a serving platter and scatter the squid in the hole and the rest on top and round the fava. Serve immediately with some sautéed cherry tomatoes and capers.

By: Georgia Kofina | 01.09.2017 | Meals, Mediterranean Cooking
Photo Vangelis Paterakis – Food styling: Antonia Kati

Greece Sees Jump in Tourist Arrivals, Revenue in June

Greece in June saw an increase in foreign arrivals and tourism revenue by 13 and 14.2 percent respectively compared to the same month last year, the Bank of Greece (BoG) said on Monday.

According to the data, tourism revenue last month increased to 2.046 billion euros against 1.792 billion euros in June 2016.

In the first half of the year, travel receipts amounted to 4,133,5 million euros from 3,840,9 million euros in the corresponding half of 2016.

BoG’s data showed that compared to the first half of 2016, foreign arrivals during the January-June 2017 period increased by 6.6 percent and and the corresponding tourism revenue by 7.1 percent.
(source:gtp)

Eleni and Giorgos

 Welcome to Plakias

We are here to help you.

On site or by telephone.

We look forward to hearing from you, to welcoming you and looking after you as our guest.

We will be happy to help and advise you to ensure that your stay is an unforgettable experience.

 Eleni - Giorgos
Suites Owners, Plakias


Plakias Suites is a family complex of 6 apartments that fits perfectly into the natural Cretan surroundings in one of the most attractive locations in southern Crete, the bay of Plakias.

 https://www.plakiassuites.com

A break down of the 10 Best Beaches on Crete (PHOTOS)

Endless choices for every taste!

 Crete is the largest island in Greece and its coastline of 1,046 km or 650 miles makes for some extraordinary beaches. 

With crystal clear waters and sand in a variety of colors, Crete’s beaches are unforgettable – in fact, this year of the 486 Blue Flag awarded beaches in Greece, 112 of the eco-labeled beaches are located on Crete! 

Let’s look at the top ten beaches on the Greek island of Crete.

 1. Elafonissi beach in Chania

This is the beach that you want to go to if you are into sparkling water and beautiful pink sand! Located on the southwestern side of Crete the beach has both soft white and pink sand and the coast is lined cedar trees. There are sunbeds and umbrellas available on part of the beach.

2. Balos beach in Chania

Located on the northwestern side of Crete, this beach gives you a view of the sea and an island with a Venetian Castle on top. There are many ways that you can reach this beach – either by car through a track road from Kissamos or by excursion boat from Chania Town and Kissamos.

3. Matala beach in Heraklion

Once known as a popular hippie destination in the 60’s and 70’s, this beach is now a popular family destination. Surrounded by caves where hippies once dwelled for months on end, there is much to explore and enjoy at this sandy beach!

4. Vai beach in Lassithi

Why not go to a beach that is surrounded by the largest palm tree forest in Europe while on Crete? This beach is surrounded by over 5,000 trees and offers clear blue water. This beach once was a free camping site but now in recent years free camping has been made prohibited.

5. Falassarna beach in Chania

Another beach on the west side of the island and close to Kissamos town, this beach offers many organized facilities and activities which makes it an ideal beach for families. Above the beach you can visit the archaeological site of Ancient Falassarna. Also there are many activities such as windsurfing which you can access from a windsurfing station at the beach during the summer months.

6. Plakias beach in Rethymno

Want to get away form it all? This beach is the perfect escape as it has a mellow atmosphere and sits just in front of the village. There is part of the beach where you can access umbrellas and sunbeds, or you can bring your own and enjoy this sandy beach.

7. Istro beach in Lassithi

While visiting the east of the island in the region of Lassithi, stop by and check out this beach located near the town of Agios Nikolaos. The large beach has golden sand and turquoise water – not to mention you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas.

8. Preveli beach in Rethymno

This beach is located in the south side of the prefecture of Rethymno and has a river which meets the sea and forms a lake! It’s a lovely beach that is surrounded by palm trees and offers activities such as exploring the lake. The beach itself has no organized facilities so bring your sunbeams, towels and umbrellas and dive in!

9. Rodakino beach in Rethymno

This beach is located on the southern side of Rethymno near the village of Plakias. The beach is sandy, large and does have some organized sunbeds for rent. Also, there are some seaside tavernas and apartments which surround this beach.

10. Tymbaki beach in Heraklion

This beach is large and has both sand and pebbles and is also known as Kokkinos Pyros. You can pass the entire day at this beach! It is complete with an organized section in case you want to rent sunbeds and umbrellas, not to mention this beach also has few seaside tavernas serving up local dishes!
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