Yummy and easy pasta and spinach recipe (Tip:You don;t need to speak Greek!)

You may also cook them with fresh cream!

Let them eat CAKE in Athens

A week ago, I received a couple of friends in Athens. 

As they don't visit often, I took them for a stroll in the most beautiful part of the city, next to the Acropolis, the Kolonaki area. 

Athens's fashion and good life district has always been home to me, and I trully love living in the city center. 

As it wasn't morning enough for coffee and midday enough for lunch, I chose CAKE , an american-style coffee house, owned by the Elliott clan, once neighbors in my hometown of Kifissia.
We tasted a lovely and light carrot cake, a stevia mousse and a quiche that was an absolute delight. We had a quiet time connecting with each other, with the discreet personel gently atteding to us. And we left happily ever after!
Though I might visit again soon as I do covet those mugs! I do believe though -and I said so to the lady in charge of the shop- that a line with their delightful pink and green trademark colors would be a success. I'd definitively buy the latte cups!

xoxo

Rena

CAKE, Irodotou 15 , Kolonaki Irodotou 15

210 721 2253Irodotou 15
210 721 2253

Dine out in Athens-Yoleni's

Last night, on my way home from work, 

I decided to stop by a spot I always passed by, but never decided to enter.

In my part of the city which I cross from age 9,

we are not used to this type of "alternative" facade.

It is a new spot, anyway, so I can be party excused, but still, I was wondering whether it is an eco/raw/food-cum-cannabis shop of some kind, with insanely high prices and poor service. 

And yet,

last night I did get inside.

I was greeted at the door -but a little further inside, 

which was a good thing, as I got to spot the place first,

by a trendy but nice young man who showed me in but not to my table. 

I got to pick the one just behind and above the music duo who was playing jazz for the night. 

This gave me the opportunity to survey the people (young, "alternative", older with grown children)

and the atmosphere (informal yet tightly woven). 

There is also an extra spacious upper room which houses some rather more fashionable and older groups, but which was so tightly packed that 

I wouldn't care to cross, unless I was meeting someone special.

I'll go back for the smoothies

I ordered a pita with egg and a caramelised onion chutney.

The pita was kind of heartwarming, I'd say. 

this soulful kind of food that is not exacly a dish to talk about, but it does its job of making feel 

a simple plate, a treat. 

What I need to say, though, is praise for the onion chutney, that turned out to be delicious, given that I am not an onion fan but tried it on purpose.

This special little dish was washed down with a home made lemonade which was not really, really special, and rather too sugary for my taste, 

but was a nice alternative if you don't want to drink alcohol.

On my way out, I stopped by the selection of Ionia crockery that is for sale. 

Ionia is a Greek company that produces premium quality porcelain since 1972. 

Finest quality and lovely design. Highly recommended. 

As it turned out, they also do take away and delivery, 

and

they work with TV-famous chef Dina Nicolaou,a graduate of

«Le Cordon Bleu», «Ritz Escoffier», «Alain Ducasse formation», «Lenotre».

which goes a long way to explain the imaginative dishes they sell in a creative manner.

 The even better part is that the store has also a basement where you can shop for

  GReek-only items of food and wine, all presented in an aboundant yet boutique manner, 

which really does fit the neighborhood, 

linking upper class Kolonaki to the student-in-rebellion Solonos/Exarcheia planet.

All in all, a lovely experience 

with real food

reasonably priced

and

efficient but non-intrusive service. 

YOLENI'S

SOLONOS 9

ATHENS

T:0030 2122223623

open all week 8:00-22:00

Sat:9:00-22:00

Sun:10:00-22:00

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Royal in Athens

Did I trick you into reading this post , by its title?

I hope I did, because Royal doesn't get any more royal than this rest-bar in the heart of Athens.

It used to be one of the residences of King Otto and Queen Amalia, the first loving king and queen of Greece at the beginning of the 19th century.

Today the residence at 16-18 Kalamiotou str. is a lovely greek-with-a-twist restaurant and bar with cocktails like the one named after Helen of Troy. Between Hera, goddess of marriage, this queen of Sparta, chose Aphrodite, goddess of love. I very much feel for her!

Do let me know when you visit Athens! 

I'll be glad to show you around the best unseen spots of us locals, at a very reasonable fee. 

xoxo

What to eat in France: Dessert

Parce qu' on peut resister a tout, sauf a la tentation!...

xoxo

Eating out in France

Eating at a French bistrot is charming, though not my best experience in eating out. 

I love the charm of the places more than the food they serve. Which is delicious, but nothing terribly special that you have never tasted before. 

So,

if you may,

get an invitation for a brunch at home. 

It surprises me how French women do not really cook. They rely more on cheese, crudites, and different kinds of bread and perhaps an ice cream to cup it all up. And that's it!

I'm going to adopt this technique. Happy lady of the manor, happy guests!

xoxo

What to eat in France: Street Food

There is something very tempting about street food. 

Something that makes me carefree. 

A surprise.

A delight.

Happiness in every bite.

xoxo

What to eat in France: Le pain

Le Pain is a blessing.

I know people will advise you not to eat bread, but unless you have a serious reason not to eat bread, it is imperative that you try bread in France. 

A simple delight that will put a smile on your face.

Breakfast, lunch, simply there,

a smile of the Earth, a blessing of the Gods and Goddesses

Thankful.

xoxo

What to eat in France: Part I: The Health Conscious

Happiness is a decision we make. A trip we take. The people we meet. 

I'll get you started though, with the food that we eat. 

Fuel for the journey.

It is happy if it makes us happy.

Is it good for me?

I bet!

Let's get started with a good breakfast.
My best friend who has the graceful body of a professional dancer, tells me that we do not actually need breakfast. Our bodies put every morning an hormone into good use, helping us move into our day without the need for any heavy breakfast as is usually suggested. What is more, milk (protein) and corn flakes make for a deadly combination for our stomach!
OK!
But when I am staying in a hotel, well, I kind of like having breakfast. And then make(perhpas) a few wise choices.

I did say "maybe"! That pain was delicious!

Cheese and fruit, delicious!

My French friend is a Raw expert. I used to cook raw myself, one and a half decade ago. It is the best, believe me. And you may try a softer approach, if it makes you scared of the total no-no. Believe me, you will be just fine!

With a little tossing in olive oil, and some olive pate, perhaps?

Those colours! Add a delicious sauce with some garlic and thyme.

Occasionally some saucissons are not a bad idea!

Or perhaps one is a sea person
...
And now I shall leave you waiting for the dessert!

xoxo

Elvis for the World Cup?

I was always thrilled with sporting events.

Not being raised sporty myself, 

I enjoyed my share of the active world 

looking at people finding happiness

 in pursuing impossible tasks.

Pizzas, bier and football go perfectly together, you might think, but there certainly are alternatives, or so dear Nigella says.

So, if you are dreaming of Maracana, 

have a taste of the exotic

Take a look at whay the domestic goddess has in store for you.

I know you might not expect to find the World Cup as a leading topic on a food website, but 1) I love the World Cup, and 2) you've got to have something to snack on while you watch it, don't you?
Obviously, first up for footie food has to be my Soccermole which you probably don't need me to explain is a variant of that gorgeous creation Guacamole. Talking of gorgeous creations, my Roquamole which adds salty blue cheese to the creamy green avocados, absolutely deserves a place as you watch the soccer on the sofa. You can dip into it (as the Soccermole) with breadsticks or tortilla chips and crunch down noisily whenever things get tense. Ditto with my Peanut Butter Hummus.
Other easy-to-make, easy-to-eat soccer snacks include Quesadillas, my Cosmo Cocktail Sausages - inspired by the cocktail not the magazine! - some Mini-Meatloaves, a good grabbable bowl of Bar Nuts, some Tuna or Crab and Avocado Wraps, a Na'an Pizza or two,Lamb Patties with Hummus and Pitta or - if many beers have been downed - the incomparable Elvis Presley's Fried Peanut-Butter and Banana Sandwich.
And if you don't like the football, don't worry: there's always the food!

Let's not mess around: you want trashy, I'll give you trashy - I'll give you the King. This recipe, for want of a better word, comes from a rhinestone gem of a cookbook, Are You Hungry Tonight?, a collection of his favourite foodstuffs bought on a visit to Graceland many years back, prized ever since and a delight from cover to cover. Even my most recent addition to a library already bursting with bad-taste titles, Liberace Cooks!, can't lose him his crown.
Believe it or not, the quantities below appear in edited, attenuated form. I honour the King but I can't be him. 

• 1 small ripe banana

• 2 slices white bread

• 2 scant tablespoons smooth peanut butter (don't use extra smooth)

• 2 tablespoons butter

Mash or slice the banana. Lightly toast the bread, and then spread the peanut butter on one piece and the banana on the other. Sandwich together then fry in the butter, turning once, until each side is golden-brown. Remove to a plate, cut the sandwich carefully in half on the diagonal and eat.