Τρίτη 17 Οκτωβρίου 2017

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.

Σάββατο 7 Οκτωβρίου 2017

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. 

Κυριακή 1 Οκτωβρίου 2017

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/

Δευτέρα 4 Σεπτεμβρίου 2017

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

Κυριακή 3 Σεπτεμβρίου 2017

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...