The above menu includes :
Zakynthos, internationally known as “Zante” or “Fior di Levante” (Flower of the East), as the Venetians named it, is one of the seven Ionian Islands. It is the eleventh largest Greek island, the third largest after Cephalonia and Corfu and the second in population of the Ionian Islands. It spans an area of 406 square kilometres and its population according to the 2011 census was 40,758 inhabitants. Zakynthos has a long musical tradition. Zakynthians are very keen on music and they often create musical groups that sing old traditional songs and mostly Kantades! Zakynthos has a tradition of a remarkable, unique outdoor folk theatre called “Omilies”, staged by locals who improvise monologues or parlates, a tradition which has lasted for over three centuries. Since 2009, Zakynthos has hosted its own jazz festival: Zante Jazz Festival and a classical music festival, as well. The beautiful beach of Laganas bay has been the site of a National Marine Park since 1999, as it is the nesting habitat of the endangered species Caretta caretta. Zakynthos' western coastline is 34 kilometres long, rocky with steep cliffs, and many caves and coves. Contrary to the western side, the eastern coastline opposite Peloponnese is 37 kilometres long with sandy, beautiful beaches.
Kalimera from Zakynthos:
Cosmopolitan, picturesque and sophisticated Mykonos is the most famous island of the Aegean! It is connected to Athens by ferry and plane.
Mykonos is one of the most popular, world-famous destinations in Greece. Since the 1960s, the cosmopolitan and glamorous island has attracted many VIPs from around the world. Life on the island started to change during the 1950s when Mykonos became a holiday destination for legendary personalities such as Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas, Jackie O, Marlon Brando, Grace Kelly, Princess Soraya, Liz Taylor, Nureyev, Pierre Cardin and Stavros Niarchos. Mykonos still remains a preferred holiday destination for celebrities, such as Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Steven Spielberg, Monica Bellucci, Liam Neeson, Hugh Jackman, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Clive Owen, Jean Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani and Russell Crowe.
The most popular souvenir of Mykonos is its famous hand-woven textiles. During the interwar period, professional weaving was developed and the local textiles became internationally competitive. Newspapers from that time report that textiles from Mykonos had been awarded in a Paris exhibition. In the 1930s, hand-woven textiles were very fashionable, according to information that we have collected. The Myconian textiles initially served only for the need for clothing of the family, but during the interwar period, professional weaving was developed and the local textiles became world famous, winning the first prize in a Paris exhibition.
Mykonos is a unique island, known for its gastronomy. Its local products and remarkable cuisine take us to the island of the winds.
Kalimera from Mykonos:
Syros is an island in the Cyclades. Its capital is Ermoupoli, the jewel of the Cyclades. It lies 8 nautical miles from Piraeus and the trip can last from 2.5 to 4 hours depending on the ferry, or 25 minutes by plane! During the 19th century, its port was one of the most important ports in the Eastern Mediterranean. The island then developed its unique architecture which, combined with its beautiful beaches and its exquisite cuisine, attracts many cultural events and tourists.
Macedonia is the largest and second most populous region of Greece's northern mainland.
It is a historical region of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its present geographical limits, which cover an area of 67,000 square kilometres, were mapped in the 19th century during the weakening of the Ottoman Empire.
Alexander the Great was born in Pella, Macedonia in July 356 BC. His parents were Philip II of Macedonia and Olympias, princess of Epirus. Alexander the Great's story is renowned all around the world. Alexander was a role model for many subsequent generals and rulers. Great men, such as Hannibal Barca and Napoleon considered his strategic skills the greatest in history.
Macedonia has an authentic, exquisite cuisine. Its dietary habits are followed throughout the region. Each area though, has its own unique delicacies, inspired by its traditions.
Gastronomy in Macedonia was developed according to the cycle of seasons, its geographical location, climate, local products and customs.
Macedonia's gastronomic culture has gathered elements and delicacies from Istanbul and Pontus's cuisine that have blended into the Greek diet.
Kalimera from Macedonia:
Crete is the largest and most populous island in Greece, and the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica. Archaeological findings prove that Crete has been inhabited for at least 8000 years. The first Cretans were primitive people who probably arrived there from Asia Minor or North Africa and developed slowly throughout the following 3000 years, starting to cultivate the land with primitive means and learning how to raise animals.
The religious worship of this era was dedicated to the goddess of euphoria, Rhea. Due to its great climate, Crete soon became one of the richest regions of Greece. Crete's economy was based on its agriculture. The Mediterranean diet is based on the CRETAN DIET.
The Cretan diet is now famous all around the world. The island of Crete attracted the attention of the scientific community in 1948, when the Rockefeller Foundation conducted research on the Cretan diet, which would be the base of the Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean Diet was recognised by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of humanity in 2012. The production of local products is an important part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece and helps the country maintain its cultural elements and unique gastronomy. Crete has 18 PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) products out of 101 in total in Greece, making the island the region with the largest number of PDO and PGI products!
Kalimera from Crete:
Naxos, the biggest island of the Cyclades, is located in the heart of the Aegean Sea and is connected to Athens and the surrounding islands, such as Mykonos, Delos, Syros by ferry and plane daily.
Naxos has been permanently inhabited since 4000 BC.
The study of the place names shows that Naxos, unlike other islands of the Aegean has never been deserted. Naxos has been historically significant not only in the Cyclades, but throughout Greece as well. The island's products, such as the wine, figs, almonds, goats and natural wildlife, such as deer that once lived on the island were praised in the ancient times by the ancient Greek writers.
Naxos has always been famous for exporting large quantities of marble and is also famous for its emery. The beauty of Naxos can be found in its numerous natural springs, its blossoming gardens, beautiful plains, olive groves, lemon, citron and orange orchards, its vineyards and famous wine. Naxos is also known for its stockbreeding and its variety of cheeses, its salt and above all, its gastronomic delights!
Here is a selection of its most important and nutritious products!
KALIMERA FROM NAXOS
Epirus is a mountainous and craggy geographical and historical region in southeastern Europe between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea. It was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century and became semiindependent during the rule of Ali Pasha in the early 19th century, but the Ottomans reasserted their control in 1821. Despite being poor and mountainous, it has many gastronomic delights to offer. Its stockbreeding produces many delicious cheeses while its trademark is definitely its pies.
Kalimera from Epirus, Central Greece:
Santorini, the volcano island! Santorini, Thera or Strongyli is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades, south of Ios and west of Anafi. Situated 128 miles from Piraeus, Santorini has frequent connection routes to Athens and the other islands of the Cyclades every day by ferry or plane.
It is well-known for its cosmopolitan flair, its peacefulness, its wines and its worldfamous volcano.
During the course of time, the volcano has contributed not only to the history of the island but also to its shape. The soil of the island is volcanic and Santorini has many plains. In the areas surrounding the volcano, the landscape is craggy but also fertile, and grapes, fava (split peas) and tomatoes (a small cherry tomato that needs no water to grow) are cultivated there.
There are 15,000 square kilometres of vineyards on the island. Vineyards of Santorini are nowadays the most traditional in Greece. The three main white grape varieties are Asyrtiko, Athiri and Aidani. The blending of these varieties resulted in a whιte, dry wine, Santorini OPAP wine (Wine with Appellation of Superior Quality). The island's climate is arid, getting moisture from the infrequent rains of the winter and the evening mist of the summer which is a result of the evaporation of the sea water of Caldera. The moisture is then absorbed by the pumice stones, giving anything that is cultivated in Santorini's ground a unique flavour.
Another characteristic of the island is its rock-carved buildings, houses which are carved through the volcanic rock called “aspa”. They are arched, carved in the rock and have no foundation, with a narrow facade but very long inside. The roof of the built parts consists of vaults or cross vaults, using a casting method. The material used is stone (red or black) and Theran soil, which both provide excellent insulation.
The unique cuisine of Santorini includes salt-cured meat, rusks, cheese and pastes. According to sources, the dietary habits of Santorini's inhabitants have maintained for 4,000 years the most important elements of the Mediterranean cuisine: olive oil, wheat and wine.
Kalimera from Santorini:
Icaria is one of the largest islands of the Eastern Aegean. The island spans an area of 255 square kilometres with 102 miles (160 kilometres) of coastline!
Icaria is known around the world for the life expectancy of its inhabitants. People of Icaria live on average 88.1 years exceeding the Greek life expectancy, which is 79.8 years. The island has been added to the world map of “Blue Zones”, a short list of places throughout the world where people tend to live longer. Icaria ranks 5th on the list of Blue Zones globally.
Icaria's economy is mainly based on seafaring or local professions. The residents form close relationships and they are famous for not taking things too seriously.
The expression “Icariotiko Rahati” is commonly used on the island and refers to the slow pace of life. This feature is met in many areas in Icaria, from the local cafes of Agios Kyrikos, to the mountain villages Raches, where the shops open after the sun has set. This habit is a remnant of the past, when people used to work in the fields during the day.
In local celebrations, Icarians dance the well-known in Greece Icarian dance. Lately, the celebrations have been brought back to life since many young locals and visitors take part in them. Those celebrations are characteristic of the life on the island. Icarian celebrations are organised by volunteers from the villages, who cook and serve goat stew or roast goat, potatoes, salads etc, while the orchestra, with the violin as the leading instrument, plays music for Icarian dances. The money from the celebration is given to complete works in the village. Many celebrations are so lively, that they last the whole night. These distinctive characteristics make Icaria and its celebrations so unique in Greece.
Perhaps the most important celebration is the one that takes place on June 24th, in Agios Giannis in the village Christos in Raches. Young people (and anyone that dares) jump across large fires that are lit around midnight, making it a unique experience for those who attend the celebration.
KALIMERA FROM ICARIA:
The above menus are accompanied with one salad with vegetables of the season, traditional rustic bread and feta cheese. In the end, mastic or tentura liqueur is served!