Aposperida at Agios Pantes is one of our favourite places - and it is open all year round.
A new building without much ambience as yet, but that is made up for by the warm welcome and good food provided by Michalis and his family. Good value too. ( There is a log fire in the winter for cosy evenings)
We stopped by for a lightish Sunday lunch
Knowing we always order too much we settled for:
Delicious Greek salad with local Mizithra cheese
Home made Tirokafteri - spiced cheese
and we shared a portion of braised Pork and mushrooms
As you can see we scraped our plates
Nothing left for the compulsory cat!
We were given lovely chocolate orange cake with our tsigoudia
You may like to know:
Service: Very friendly and efficient.
Type of food: Traditional Cretan home cooking
Prices,Extremely good value
"Star ratings"- on the "Guzunder" scale 9.
- Clean, modern, recently refurbished, doors have locks, toilet seats present, paper and paper towels available. Huge, you could hold a dance in there! Plenty of space for disabled, mothers with small children or elderly
Complimentary raki and home made cake at the end of the meal
Raki on Richter scale 9. Good raki flavour, fiery and warming.
Would we return? Yes, certainly, (and we do, often!).
After my blog about good Cretan reads I have been told about a new book due to be published. I have to read it yet, but, as it involves the area in which I live it is likely to be entertaining and I thought many of you would be interested too.
It is a collection of tales about some of the author's experiences. Some are true, or based on some degree of truth, whilst others are complete fiction. Some are crazy, hence the title "Chocolate Chunks From Crazy Crete".
Also included are 3 stories about local folk in Kalyves, who generously gave their time and permission to use their names as well as some of their personal memories.
Much of the book is written 'tongue in cheek'. It is described as fun, thought provoking, and entertaining.
It is available for pre-order on Amazon with a launch date of the 14th of November in both the UK and the USA. At at 99p/ 99cents it seems a bargain for 22 stories.
Here is the foreword from the author Rick Haynes and the links to find out more. Let me know how you get on! Is it one for our top ten?
FOREWORD
Writing a book about something you love is easy but putting all the pieces in the right place is much harder. Some of the tales have a degree of truth, but mostly they are products of my overheated imagination. Well, it is hot in Crete.
The people of Crete can be abrupt, shout loudly and gesticulate wildly but you simply need to look beyond their mannerisms, for you will find a race ready to oblige, are polite, honest and their excellent cooking is probably the most underrated in the world.
The local grapes are used to make superb white wines, and with few additives it’s a little difficult to incur a nasty hangover the next morning, unless you imbibe a few too many glasses of the local fire - water, known as Raki.
My observations have been based on everything from the unbelievable to the unimaginable, thus my crazy tales needed a crazy name. The alliteration in the title seemed apt for this collection, as it is indeed, a selection box of bite-sized treats.
I have split the collection into two parts, entitled My Stories and Their Stories.
The first, deals, to a degree, with my own experiences.
The second, looks at the amazing characters that leap out from around every street corner, every taverna, and on every journey. Everyone has a tale to tell.
So sit back, put your feet up, open your box of chocolates and nibble away.
Yesterday was my birthday and although there were many events going on I plumped for a more intimate evening, a visit to Parasia Rakadiko just outside Vamos
Being a Saturday it had live Greek music with Menelaus Paterakis and Tasos Sitarenios
All the old songs, that you know the tunes even if you do not remember the words - You can see a video at the end of the blog to get a taste of it.
We had our own private balcony overlooking the musicians
Fred tested the Raki
and then because there was also honey raki on the table he tasted that too!
Toasted bread and dips were brought to the table along with the two types of raki while we were choosing our selection.
Arpaki - smoked pork
Parasia salad
Fried mushrooms
Pork and celery
with the ubiquitous chips
A veritable feast. We remembered that last time we visited we had over ordered so we only ordered one main course to share.
Three types of dessert appeared as if by magic
The house wine was delicious
A group of young people arrived and enjoyed the music, joining in the singing
and dancing.. Click on the videos to hear and see the fun.
A lovely birthday evening
You may like to know:
Service: Friendly and efficient.
Type of food: Tasty traditional dishes - and a little more
Prices, Very good value for money
"Star ratings"- on the "Guzunder" scale 6.5.
- Basic but clean, lock on gents not working, toilet seats present, paper and paper towels available
Raki on the Richter scale 8. Quite a kick! Honey raki for the more sweet toothed was smoother.
Both plain and honey raki on table when we arrived and refilled at regular intervals during the evening. Extra wine on the house and three desserts to share between two at the end of the evening
