Tirokafteri: a delicious, creamy cheese spread from Greece.

It is usually served as part of a mezze platter but it can also be enjoyed by itself, with slices of warm bread.
  
Serves: 1 jar Preparation time: 10m Cooking time: 5m Ready in: 15m

A delicious, creamy cheese spread from Greece. It is usually served as part of a mezze platter but it can also be enjoyed by itself, with slices of warm bread.
Ingredients
1 Florina pepper or any sweet pepper
1 -2 chili peppers (depending on how spicy you want the spread to be)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
250 gr. anthotyro, a traditional fresh cheese
250 gr. crumbled feta cheese
A pinch of sweet paprika
Preparation method
Step 1
Remove the seeds from the Florina pepper and the chili peppers and finely chop them.
Step 2
Heat the olive oil over medium heat and saute until tender.
Step 3
Place the anthotyro cheese and crumbled feta cheese in a blender. Add the sautéed peppers with the oil from the pan and the paprika and process the ingredients until you get a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
Step 4
Keep the cheese spread refrigerated in a glass jar, pouring a little oil on the surface from time to time.

Source: Olive magazine
Chef: Ioanna Stamoulou
Photo: George Drakopoulos
Food Styling: Tina Webb

Photo of the day: calm evening by the sea..

By reaching the first days of November, the touristic season gradually fades away, and Plakias returns to its easy and relaxing winter pace....

New Review on Tripadvisor: “Better than ever” 5 of 5 stars

 Reviewed 1 week ago...

We have just returned from our 4th stay at Plakias Suites, our first in late season, and it was perfect! 

Eleni and Giorgos are such wonderful hosts. 

The proximity to the fabulous beach, beach bar, and the great taverna next door makes it an ideal location for relaxation. 

Every day we returned to a spotlessly clean apartment. I wish we could stay there for ever!

• Stayed October 2015, travelled with family.

See here: http://bit.ly/1WqcDyL

 Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 46 Speciality Lodging in Plakias

  

91 Reviews Certificate of Excellence

Photo of the day! October sunset..

Plakias: Set beside a long southern-coast beach, between two immense wind tunnel gorges, Plakias was once a humble fishing village. In 1961, the official census recorded a population of just six!! Today its population explodes each summer with Central European package tourists...

Plakias has some decent restaurants and plenty of accommodation options. From here you can walk through olive groves, along seaside cliffs and to some sparkling hidden beaches. It’s also a good base for regional excursions..

33rd Athens Marathon. The Authentic..

 The Athens Marathon, the Authentic Marathon, will be held on Sunday November 8, 2015 along the route from Marathonas to Athens, offering the opportunity to those participating to make their dream come true.

A record number of 16,000-plus runners are expected to take to the classic course from the town of Marathon to the 1896 Olympic Stadium in the heart of Athens which was the route used for the 1997 World Championships and 2004 Olympic Games.

In total 43,000 runners are expected to take part in all the running events on offer.

With this gesture, the organisers invite runners from around the world to run the Athens Marathon in solidarity with the Greek people at this testing time. Online entry for the marathon race is still available on the website at www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr.

Date: 08/11/2015. Area: Attica. Place: Athens (5km and 10km Road Races, and Fin. Point of the Marathon Race). Start. T.: Marathon Race: 09:00, 5km Road Race: 07:45, 10km Road Race: 08:45, 5km Road Race Afternoon: 16:00.

For more info: www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr

Do you know how Cretans make rakí?

Rakí is the traditional Cretan spirit that is famous throughout the country for its very high alcohol content and its richness of aromas. Rakí is so intrinsically connected to joy that even its making procedure sets Novembers in Crete on fire!
At the end of summer, the infinite vineyard of Crete generously offers its valuable harvest to the special century-old procedure of making the renowned Cretan rakí, a procedure that remains unaltered through time: the Cauldron feasts (called kazanemata).
Rakí (or tsikoudiá) is much more than the aromatic nectar of the Cretans; it’s their loyal companion to happiness, sadness, meetings with friends, dances, festivals.
No wonder the feasts of rakí making are the mega autumn event in Crete. Travel there in November and visit the mountainous villages of the hinterland to see the farmers in the act!

Distillation
Pulped grapes - called tsikouda or strafylla - leftovers from wine-pressing are stored to go through a process of fermentation for 20-40 days. They are subsequently poured into the cauldrons with water. Boiling i.e. distillation starts right away before your very eyes!
In just one hour the first rakí starts falling in small drops; it’s very strong, almost pure alcohol! Little by little, distillation passes through several alcohol percentages to reach its minimum number at 18 degrees. That is when the cauldron is put out and hot rakí urges everyone to careless dancing.
Tables are set early enough. Luckily, it is Cretan food guests will be treated with: small pies of all kinds, kalitsoùnia (sweet mini cheese pies), dácos (the traditional hard Cretan bread accompanied with tomato, mizithra cheese and plenty of virgin Cretan oil) snails boubouristì (popping fried snails), sausages, gruyere cheese. Barbecues bend under the loads of meat.

Cretan products lend their touch of freshness to the table: chestnuts, pomegranates, apples and quinces.
The rakí “orgy” has just begun with friends, guests, even passersby lifting their glasses to toast, and wishing well to each other. Instruments start play; hearts warm up; arms open; spirits are high! Big Cretan men lead the dance, while women and men alike sing traditional songs. People exchange smiles, banters, good feelings.
After all, that is what Cretan culture is about and that is exactly what rakí is about: to bring people back to the age of innocence, directness, authenticity.
(source:visitgreece)

New Review on Tripadvisor: “Saved our holiday!” 5 of 5 stars

 Reviewed yesterday..

 I can't say enough about Plakias Suites and the hospitality of the owners (Eleni and George). We had a horrible accommodation experience in the early part of our holiday (we walked away from a paid booking) and Eleni took us under her wing and ensured we had a fantastic rest of our trip.
Her suites are simply lovely! The beach is perfect, views are amazing, and the in suite amenities are divine. Exceptional value for money!

Eleni even researched the next area of Crete we wished to visit and found our next accommodation for us! What service!!!

We would happily bring our whole family from Canada across the Atlantic just to stay at Plakia Suites again:) 

Stayed October 2015, travelled with family

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g319776-d1897412-r320273425-Plakias_Suites-Plakias_Rethymnon_Prefecture_Crete.html#

 Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 46 Speciality Lodging in Plakias

  

90 Reviews Certificate of Excellence