Aki’s Spiced Christmas Cookies in Syrup! (Melomakarona)

1 hour

Preparation Time

80

Portion(s)

3

Difficulty

Method

These amazingly aromatic little cakes are a traditional Greek Christmas sweet…called "Melomakarona". Your house will be filled with aromas of orange, honey, cinnamon and cloves… Each bite is so deliciously Christmassy…it will become an instant personal favorite!
For the syrup:

• Boil all of the ingredients for the syrup, apart from honey, for 3-4 hours. This is done so that by the time the cookies come out of the oven, the syrup will have cooled.
• When the syrup is ready, remove from heat and add the honey. Stir and set aside to cool completely.

For the cookies:

• Preheat the oven to 190* C (370*F) Fan.
• To make the cookies, you need to prepare 2 separate mixtures.
• For the first mixture, add all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Mix, using a hand whisk.
• In a separate bowl, add all of the ingredients for the second mixture.
• Combine the first and second mixture.
• Mix by hand, very gently and for a very short time (10 seconds at the most). If you mix longer the mixture will split or curdle.
• Mold cookie dough into oval shapes, 3-4 cm in long, 30 g each. Try to keep them as similar as possible.
• Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until they are crunchy and dark golden brown.
• As soon as you remove them from the oven, soak the hot cookies in the syrup for 10 seconds.
• Allow them to drain on a wire rack.
• Drizzle with honey and chopped walnuts.

Tip

Be careful not to overwork the cookie dough because the oil may start to seep out and then they won’t turn out crispy! The orange used for the syrup should a whole fresh orange, cut in half!  

Ingredients

For syrup:

• 500 ml water
• 800 g granulated sugar
• 150 g honey
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 orange, cut in half

 1st mixture:

• 400 ml orange juice
• 400 ml sunflower oil
• 180 ml olive oil
• 50 g caster sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 2-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• grated zest of 2 oranges

2nd mixture:

• 1 kilo all-purpose flour
• 200 g fine semolina

See here: Kitchen Lab by Akis Petretzikis

Photo of the day..

"December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come."
 -Fennel Hudson

 Yesterday photo at Plakias!

Photo of the day: Preveli beach

 Heart-shaped rock on Palm Beach, Preveli, Rethymno, Crete, Greece. 
 Preveli is located about 35km south of Rethymno and 10km east of Plakias.
 It is certainly the most famous beach in southern Crete, accepting thousands of visitors every   summer.

Photo of the day: Autumn sunset..

Beautiful late afternoon at Plakias Suites beach in Crete island...

The Greek islands on the top, for the Conde Nast Traveller worldwide list.

 The Greek islands received the votes of Condé Nast Traveller readers and ranked first in the “Favorite Islands” category.

The world’s best islands – Top 20

1. Greek Islands
2. Balearic Islands
3. Maldives
4. Hawaiian Islands
5. Bali
6. Mauritius
7. Sicily
8. Seychelles
9. St Barth’s
10. St Lucia
11. Koh Samui
12. Jamaica
13. Barbados
14. Antigua
15. Great Barrier Reef
16. Capri
17. Sardinia
18. Malta
19. Cuba
20. Lombok

 Access the full study here.

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

Balos Crete - One of the most beautiful beaches!!

The surreal beauty of Balos enchants anyone who visited. On Crete's most northwesterly peninsula. A mix of bright white and pinkish sand and incredibly vivid turquoise water in the lagoon have made this one of the most beautiful beaches of the world.

(By nikos sarantos)

Photo of the day

 30 degree today…stay at the beach!

Holidays in Plakias, Rethymno, Crete, Greece.

Heidelberg Museum returns fragments of the Erechtheion to Greece..

A small step towards the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures

The Museum of Ancient History of Heidelberg intends to return to fragments of the Erechtheion, the ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis, to Greece. The announcement was made by the Culture ministry on Friday.

The decision for the return was expressed by Dr. Reinhard Stupperich, during his meeting on Thursday with Greek Culture Minister Aristides Baltas. The meeting was also attended by the head of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, David Hill and the Chair of Marbles Reunited, Andrew George.


(source: protothema)

2015 Expedia travel survey on etiquette reveals the worst hotel guests...

 Travel can be strenuous, and the last thing we want to deal with when we settle into our hotel room is annoying behavior from strangers. And yet, no matter how lovely our hotel experience ultimately is, it seems there's always some person or group of people we encounter that really get on our nerves!

 
 Online travel site Expedia has released its first study on hotel etiquette, asking people to rank the types of guests that most aggravate them at hotels.

 See the full list:
1. Inattentive Parents
2. The Hallway Hellraisers
3. The Complainers
4. The In-Room Revelers (noisemakers nearby)
5. The Bickerers
6. The Poolside Partiers
7. The Loudly Amorous (indiscreet lovemakers)
8. The Hot Tub Canoodlers (amorous couples in a public hot tub)
9. The Business Bar Boozer (sloshed business travelers0
10. The Elevator Chatterbox

The world's most spectacular theatres

See some of the most amazing theatres in the world, as Telegraph shows:

1.The Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Greece 

 

 
Situated on the southwest slope of the Acropolis Hill, Athens, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, completed in 174AD, originally had a wooden roof and a capacity of 5,000. The seating and stage was restored in the 1950s, since when it has hosted concerts by singers ranging from Maria Callas to Elton John.

 2.The Seebühne, Austria
 The Seebühne (floating stage) juts into the Austrian waters of Lake Constance, and is the most dramatic setting for performances at the Bregenz Festival. The photo here shows a 2002 production of La Bohème

3.Gran Teatro La Fenice, Italy

Venice's La Fenice theatre staged world premieres of operas by Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi. The theatre's name translates as "the Phoenix", which is appropriate as it has burned down twice in its 224-year history

Access the full study here.

One of the most traditional recipes of Greek cuisine: Fasolada (bean soup)

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 Cooking time: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
PREPARATION 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.
 Source: www.olivemagazine.gr

Save Greek nature! By WWF Greece.

Do you have a soft spot in your heart for Greece? If the answer is "yes", this probably has a lot to do with the magic of Greek nature! But what will Greece look like if it loses the most precious pieces of its natural heritage?

The campaign is organized by WWF Greece and invites people to participate to help WWC to fight for Greece’s future, Greek nature.

For more information, click here.

 

Greece ‘All Over’ Finland with ‘Ellada Pantou’ Fest

The 1st “Ellada Pantou” Festival, to take place in Helsinki, Finland, on October 23-24, aims to bring together diaspora Greeks through cooperative initiatives in efforts to better promote the country and its products abroad.
Held under the auspices of the culture ministry, the Embassy of Greece in Finland, and the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad, the “Ellada Pantou” (which translates into “Greece All Over”) festival will further enhance ties between the two countries, promote Greek products, services and culture, and pave the way for social entrepreneurship initiatives and collaborative projects in a social economy. In this direction, a workshop has been organized for October 23 at the European Commission’s Eurooppasali.
Parallel events include an art exhibit, a networking event for Greek food and trade professionals, a sampling event featuring Greek food and products, as well as a workshop focusing on the promotion of Greece as a tourist destination.
On October 24, Helsinki’s “Kaisaniemi” restaurant will host a song and dance event as part of celebrations for the 35-year anniversary of the Federation of Finnish-Greek Societies.
The 1st “Ellada Pantou” Festival will be aired live on public broadcaster ERT3 on the “Diaspora” program.
(source:gtp)

Photo of the day: Yes! the weather is wonderful, time for swim...

October.. at Plakias beach!

New Review on Tripadvisor: “Merveilleux souvenirs ...” 5 of 5 stars

Plakias is a very nice village in the southwest of Crete. Nearby, you can discover wonderful coves with fabulous underwater. Plakias Suites is located in the far east of the opposite station to a beautiful beach. Eleni & Giorge do everything to make the stay as pleasant as possible. Rentals are pleasant and we enjoyed the many services (free chairs and umbrellas on the beach, daily cleaning of the apartment, provision of towels, and the specialties offered on arrival). Rarely, we experienced a stay as perfect. These holidays leave us a lasting memory. Thank you Eleni and Giorge.

(see here: http://bit.ly/1Z4WK4Q)

Plakiassuites: Ranked #1 of 46 Speciality Lodging in Plakias 88 Reviews

Certificate of Excellence

Greek Tourism. An eternal journey: Awards for the new film of the Greek tourism

"Greek Tourism. An eternal journey" is the new film of the Greek Tourism Organization that has already won three awards in international touristic festivals.

The Greek video, produced by the Greek Tourism Organization and directed by Antonis Theocharis Kioukas, participated recently at the International Festival of Tourism and Ecological films SILAFEST 2015, held in Veliko Gradište, Servia, where it won the “Blue Danube” award for the best cultural tourism film.

The video has also won the first price at the “Country” category at the Festival of Berlin in the international tourism exhibition ITB, and also was the main winner at the “US International Fim and Video Festival”.

Enjoy...

Tourism sector group: 2015 will be record-breaking year for Greece

The Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) announced that 2015 expected to witness the arrivals of roughly 26 million tourists and related tourism revenue worth more than 14.5 billion euros, both record-breaking figures.
If the numbers prove true, it would mean that the Greek tourism sector persevered in the face of continued political instability in the country, ominous capital controls and de facto “open borders” in the eastern Aegean for refugees and undocumented migrants sailing over from Turkey.
International tourist arrivals at the country’s main airports increased 4.6 percent compared to the corresponding period of 2014, exceeding three million.
According to SETE’s figures, in the first eight months of the year tourist arrivals increased 6.3 percent to 11.7 million.

Beautiful cafés in Greece..

Cafés in Greece is not just an entertainment place, it is a meeting point, a place where you discuss with friends your problems and current affairs and plays a big role in Greek culture.
For years the Greek traditional café, called kafenion, was a place were mainly men used to gather to drink Greek coffee, ouzo and tsipouro, play cards or backgammon (tavli) while discussing politics.
 
Today, things are quite changed; women have taken their place there, too. But, the idea remains the same. You will see cafés in every corner of Greece, from the busiest spot of the town till the most secluded village in the mountains.
Greeks are really enjoying their coffee time, spending hours with their friends. An average coffee meeting in a cafeteria for a Greek is about 1 and half hour.
 (source:protothema)

Mediterranean cooking: Crispy pittas served with a dip made of feta cheese and ouzo!

An ideal summer appetizer to share with family or friends. This recipe is easy to prepare and you don’t even have to turn on the oven.
 
Ingredients
6 Arabian pittas (flatbread)
250g. Feta cheese
½ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons ouzo
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 green onion, finely chopped
4-5 sprigs parsley, finely chopped
Pepper
For the accompanying salad
1 tomato diced
1 bell pepper diced
1 cucumber diced
Fresh basil, finely chopped
Olive oil
A few drops of lemon
Salt
Preparation method
Step 1
Drain the tomatoes, put them in a bowl with the rest of the salad ingredients and mix well.
Step 2
Crush the fennel seeds using a mortar. Mix in a blender the feta, the ouzo and the crushed fennel seeds and then gradually add the remaining ingredients until you get a smooth mixture.
Step 3
Heat the pittas in a toaster and then cover them with the dip and the salad.
Tip
Instead of Arabian pittas you can use Greek pittas for souvlaki.
Chef: Eleni Psihouli
Photos-Food Styling: Antonia Kati
Source: www.olivemagazine.gr

Photo of the day. Autumn sunset!

Plakias is 35 kilometres south of Rethymno, on the southern coast of Crete on the Libyan Sea and is a popular tourist resort well-known for its award-winning Blue Flag sandy beach stretching for 1400 metres.

It combines everything as it offers visitors many facilities: surgery, pharmacy, all kinds of shops, car hire, post office, ATM, many tavernas, exciting nightlife, organized beaches (Souda, Damnoni, Ammoudi, Schinaria), diving centre, free-riding centre, and an extensive marina where even large yachts can berth.

Guardian: “No fear, the real Greece is still here” (beautiful pics)

 Greece is still an attraction

In beautiful piece of what it means to vacation in Greece, and contrary to fear surrounding the country’s future in the Eurozone, the Guardian explains why it is still the right choice visit Greece during summer. The generous and friendly people, the fresh foods and the sense of warmth one feels there. Here is an excerpt of the article by Kevin Rushby:

Whatever happens, I’m heading for Greece this summer. Once upon a time that would not have sounded like a political statement, but it does today. And yet I am only going to Greece for the same old reasons I ever did: warm breezes off the sea well into October, traces of ancient heritage, the elemental, straightforward lifestyle, and to try, once again, to convince myself that retsina tastes good. And what could be more straightforward than putting your money, and your faith, in a place that you know and love?
 
Three years ago – when Greece was in one of its frequent “this is the end of everything” moments – I was sitting at a dining table on a beach in the Peloponnese. The restaurateur had moved it there – “Because you will like it!” – and then he sat down and started sloshing wine into glasses. There were Greek friends with me. I hadn’t known any of them for more than 24 hours. The table seemed to exert a gravitational pull, gathering people to it, all talking of whether tourists would come, of whether livelihoods would survive. But before too long, laughter broke out and somehow the financial crisis evaporated … and no one mentioned it again.
 
A fisherman’s catch was examined and a ridiculous quantity dispatched to the grill. More wine arrived; another table was added. The party got bigger. For people anxious about their financial future, I thought they showed a remarkable ability for wild feasting. Perhaps it was pagan superstition to fool the gods of bleak austerity. I liked that. I didn’t want the evening to end.
 (source:protothema, Guardian)

#SeeYouInGreece: Hollywood Celebs in Hashtag Campaign to Support Greece

 News website Greek Reporter recently launched a hashtag campaign to support Greece that includes a video of supportive statements on the country, made by some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

 The video includes statements on Greece made in the recent past to the Greek Reporter by Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg, Gerard Butler, Jodie Foster, Sofia Vergara, George Clooney, Ethan Hawke, Michael Douglas and Robert Redford.

 The best way to help Greece and get a dream vacation bargain, is to visit the country NOW! Cause despite the debt problem, the sun is still shining, the culture is stronger than ever, and prices have hit an all-time low! If not now, then when?!

World's Best Places to Visit: Crete, the famous Greek island found on 22nd place!!

'Even after you've conducted plenty of research, choosing the perfect vacation spot can present a challenge. That's why U.S. News compiled a list of destinations using opinions and recommendations from travel experts and users to help you narrow down your options. The top spots range from big cities, such as Paris and New York, to coastal getaways, like Maui and Puerto Rico.'

 The Greek island, Crete is found on 22nd place.
If there was one word to describe the Greek island of Crete, it would be "diverse." Sandy beaches hide amongst soaring mountains, palm-tree forests grow in the middle of sprawling plains, bustling modern cities share coastline with ancient ruins.

 Read the whole list:
 1. London
 2. Bora Bora
 3. Barcelona
 4. Paris
 5. Sydney
 6. New York City
 7. Maui
 8. Rio de Janeiro
 9. Cape Town
 10. San Francisco
 11. Maldives
 12. Prague
 13. Yellowstone
 14. Bahamas
 15. Vancouver
 16. Washington D.C.
 17. U.S. Virgin Islands
 18. Zurich
 19. Budapest
 20. Las Vegas
 21. Hong Kong
 22. Crete

Photo of the day!

In Greece there are chairs enough to accommodate everyone. Come and relax with us. Eat. Enjoy a bottle of wine and become friends.

Balos: The jewel of Crete, prior to this year’s high season

Pink sands, blue turquoise seas..

Paradise-like waters, deep blue or turquoise, pink sand, and a backdrop of a wild bushy nature. This is Balos, a beach in southwestern Crete which has become the talk of the proverbial town amongst tourists and international media. Business Insider recently praised the beach as one of the world’s hidden jewels. Conde Nast Traveller included it in its favorite spots in Greece...
 

Since we’re on our way to the summer high season and Balos will be brimming with tourists, Sooc offers you a series of pictures that bring out its beauty, as it is naturally.

 

Acropolis Ranked Among Top Landmarks in Europe!

Travellers across the globe have ranked the Acropolis in Athens among the top landmarks in Europe for 2015, a leading travel website said on Tuesday.
According to TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travellers Choice Attractions Awards, the Acropolis was ranked 21st in the list of top landmarks in Europe.
The annual awards are based on the millions of valuable reviews and opinions from TripAdvisor travellers from all over the world.
Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, topped the Europe list, followed by Italy’s St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and the Milan Cathedral (Duomo) in Milan.
Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews for landmarks worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period.
Tripadvisor also released the Top 10 Landmarks in Greece as voted for by TripAdvisor travellers.

Archaeological Site of Delphi. Photo © Shutterstock

1. Acropolis
2. Parthenon
3. Meteora
4. Delphi Ruins
5. Temple of Hephaestus
6. Monastery of Panagia Hozoviotissa (Grace of Panagia -Virgin Mary)
7. Acropolis of Lindos
8. Spinalonga (Kalydon)
9. Epidaurus Theater
10. Hermes by Praxiteles
(source:gtp)

Greece Slips to Third in the World on ‘Blue Flag’ Beaches List.

 The Blue Flag Program has awarded its prestigious “Blue Flag” recognition to 395 of Greece’s best beaches, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature announced on Wednesday.
According to the announcement, Greece this year slipped one place to third spot on the Blue Flag quality award list, this year among 50 countries. Greece came third after Spain topped the list with 578 beaches, followed by Turkey with 436 beaches awarded the blue flag.
In total, 395 beaches and 9 marinas in Greece have been recognized for their excellent seawater quality, litter management, organization of the swimming area, safety procedures for bathers and protection of the environment, among other factors.
The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature said that an effort is being made to increase the number of Greek awarded beaches and marinas.
Last year, 408 beaches and 10 marinas were honored with the quality “Blue Flag” award in Greece.
The “Blue Flag” is a voluntary eco-label awarded to the cleanest and best managed beaches across the world and is run by the independent, non-profit organization Foundation for Environmental Education (based in Copenhagen). The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature is the program’s coordinator for Greece.
(Source:gtp)

British Airways returned to Heraklion, Crete, after thirty years!

British Airways announced new direct flights to Heraklion, Crete.
The decision marks BA’s return to Crete after 30 years.

British Airways flights are expected to transport around 30,000 tourists to the island by the end of the summer season with four flights per week and extra flights expected in July and August.

 
With the addition of the new flights, BA is offering flights from London to Greek destinations until the end of the tourist season. Specifically from London to Heraklion: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday.

Noteworthy is the fact that Lufthansa will also start flights to the Nikos Kazantzakis airport on May 23 after a 20-year absence.

Galaktoboureko with kataifi

 Different dough gives the traditional Greek sweet a different texture

Serves: 1 full dish of 36 cm in diameter Preparation time: 20m Cooking time: 55m Ready in: 1h 15m
An alternative to the classic recipe using different filo pastry. Kataifi dough gives the sweet a different texture.
Ingredients
500 gr of kataifi dough (filo)
250 gr of melted butter
For the cream:
860 ml of full cream milk
150 grams of sugar
100 grams of finely ground semolina (simigdali)
35 gr of butter
3 egg yokes
1/2 vanilla scent
For the syrup: 
320 gr sugar
130 gr water
70 gr glucose
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon skin
Preparation method
Step 1
Preheat the oven at 180 degrees and comb out the kataifi dough so that there are no tangles.
Step 2
In a round tin of 40 cm in diameter spread out 400 gr of the dough. Press it down with your hands so that it is firm and lightly butter the surface.
Step 3
Butter a round dish of 26 cm diameter and turn over the buttered pastry so that it sits steadily in the smaller dish.
Step 4
Prepare the cream. Heat the milk at medium temperature in a pan. Just add the sugar, the ground semolina (simigdali), the egg yok and mix together with care so that it doesn’t stick. Take away from fire once its starts to boil and add butter and vanilla until it is a unified mixture.
Step 5
Empty the cream on the dish with the dough. Cover the dough and then add the rest of the dough to cover the surface. Butter the surface of the dough. Bake for 40-45 minutes until it has a golden color.
Step 6
Prepare the syrup. Place water, glucose, lemon and cinnamon in a pan and add the sugar once it is heated. let it bubble for a minute before leaving it to cool. Once the syrup is ready pour over the galaktoboureko (milk cake)
(from: Mediterranean cooking)

Plan your trip: Top 10 Destinations for Greece - TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards - Rethymno ranked 7th.

Rethymnon is one of the most well-preserved Venetian old towns on the island of Crete.
Its 16th-century buildings are stunning examples of ancient architecture, and the monolithic Fortezza reflects both European and Moorish influences.
Explore the magical waterfalls, rock formations, and ‘"cave church" of Saint Anthony Gorge before taking a pleasant evening stroll along the colorful Venetian Harbor. Relax in a taverna over a plate of Cretan meze, like fresh feta drizzled with local olive oil.

Three more towns of Crete are among the top 10!!
See the full article: TripAdvisor


 

National Geographic calls UK travelers to “Return to Greece”

The UK issue of National Geographic Traveler gives travelers around the world 11 reasons to visit Greece in its May issue whose cover story is titled “Return to Greece”.

The article admits that Greece has experienced a “tumultuous few years” but it is still worth visiting due to the increasing number of flight connections, alternative hospitality options beyond the usual draw cards such as sea and sun.

It's Island Time: TripAdvisor Names the Europe's Top 10 Islands in 2015 Travelers' Choice Awards. Crete ranked 3th

The island of Crete is a Greek jewel floating in a sea of melted turquoise.
 The beaches are godly stretches of pillowy sand and smooth pebbles.
 Its historical and mythological significance can not be ignored: Crete is said to have been to be the birthplace of Zeus, the king of the Gods, and was the site of Europe's first modern civilization. 
 Archaeological and historical sites abound and make an awe-inspiring break from a sun-soaked day at the beach.
 
Two more Greek islands are among the top 10!!
Best islands in Europe: 
1. Santorini, Greece
2. Madeira, Portugal
3. Crete, Greece
4. Zakynthos, Greece
5. Fuerteventura, Spain
6. Jersey, Channel Islands
7. Mallorca, Spain
8. Capri, Italy
9. Tenerife, Spain
10. Corsica, France

Crete Governor Calls on Tourism Professionals to Put Best Face Forward

Attracting quality tourism by putting on its best face is the Region of Crete’s motto ahead of the summer tourist season set to kick off this month.
Speaking recently at a Crete taxi union meeting, Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis stressed the need to work together in a coordinated manner in order to upgrade the quality of services offered.
Mr Arnaoutakis reached out to all tourism sector professionals and invited them to do their best in ensuring that the professional side of Crete comes forth.
With regard to taxi services offered, Mr Arnaoutakis and union representatives addressed recent complaints by drivers concerning lost fares and discussed issues of proper operation as well as the need for regular checks.
“We will do our best to ensure a productive cooperation with all parties involved. We must show another side to Crete. We need to invest in quality tourism, and all drivers must display professionalism,” Mr Arnaoutakis said.
Meanwhile, Crete taxi union representative Lefteris Petrakis demanded the enforcement of the law with regard to private means of transport on the island.
(source:gtp)

Grandma’s meatballs with a twist

Tradition meets… something new

Serves: 5 Preparation time: 35m Cooking time: 25m Ready in: 60m


Ingredients
For the meatballs
200g. sausage (pork)
500g. minced beef
1 onion, finely chopped
1½ cup parsley, chopped
80g. Greek graviera cheese from Crete, grated
200g. fresh bread crumbs, ground in a blender
1 egg
salt, freshly ground pepper
For the tomato sauce
1 small cup of olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cans chopped tomatoes or 900g. fresh tomatoes, grated on grater
1 tsp. tablespoons tomato paste
75ml red wine
1 tsp. tablespoons sugar
1 cup chopped parsley
1 handful fresh basil leaves

Preparation method
step 1
Making the meatballs: Open the casing from sausage and remove the flesh into a large bowl.
step 2
Add the minced meat, onion, parsley, cheese, bread crumbs, egg and plenty of spice. Knead with your hands until you get a homogeneous mixture.
step 3
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees in the air. Shape the minced meat mixture into about 25 balls and bake in oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
step 4
Making the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a saucepan and sauté the garlic for 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, wine, sugar, parsley and spice. Simmer the sauce for 20 minutes or until thickened. Then add a few leaves of basil, add the already cooked meatballs and stir gently. Serve the meatballs with pasta of your choice sprinkled with Greek graviera cheese from Crete.
Instead of pasta you can use rice or fried or boiled  potatoes etc.

Source: Olive Magazine
Chef: Ioanna Stamoulou