Friday 22 December 2017

CHRISTMAS 2017


Ready for the Journey


According to the famous ditty, "Christmas comes but once a year and when it comes it brings good cheer...".   Once more, we wish, hope and pray for health, happiness, peace and sanity, in this extremely troubled world.



To my great joy, my children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren are coming for Christmas lunch.   This year I intend to prepare a Christmas meal, without the traditional turkey. but with a modern touch, I hope.




                                                             MENU

                                               Pumpkin and Ginger Soup

                              Spinach Au Gratin with Prawns and Mushrooms

                                                           Baked Ham

                       Pork Fillet Medallions with Champignons Mushroom Sauce

                                         Lettuce. Red Lolla and Walnut Salad

                                                       Christmas Pudding

                                                        Chocolate Dessert

                                                        Strawberry Pavlova






As I have already published the recipes for Baked  Ham, Christmas Pudding and Chocolate Dessert, in previous posts,  I'm giving the remaining recipes below.
                         

                                                          


                                            PUMPKIN AND GINGER SOUP
                                                       
    


Beautiful Soup

  This a recipe for a very tasty pumpkin soup.


1 kg (2 lb) pumpkin, peeled and cleaned from seeds and fibres, cut into chunks
2 large leeks, white part only, slit in four lengthwise, thoroughly washed and sliced
1 onion, chopped
2 large potatoes cut into chunks
A thin slice of fresh ginger root, peeled

1 ½ litre (6 cups) tasty chicken stock (or half milk, half stock)
100 g (1 cup + 1 tbsp) kasseri or Gouda, grated
2 tbsp San Mihalis or Parmesan, grated
1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste
1 liqueur glass good brandy, like Metaxa (optional)
125 ml (½ cup) or more thick yoghurt or whipped cream

Parsley leaves for garnishing


 Place the vegetables and the ginger slice in a large saucepan with sufficient water to just cover, and cook until tender.   Then, remove the ginger and blend.   If you prefer a spicier taste, blend with the ginger slice and sieve the pulp.

 Return the pumpkin pulp to the saucepan, add the stock (or stock and milk), and sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and a little nutmeg.   Simmer gently until the soup thickens.  Stir in the cheese, taste and adjust seasoning with salt, if necessary, white pepper and nutmeg.  Bring again to the boiling point and pour in the brandy, if using. 

 Simmer the soup for a minute or two, and serve with whipped cream or thick yoghurt and garnish with parsley.   For a party, you could serve the soup in a pumpkin shell, instead of a tureen.






                          SPINACH, PRAWN AND MUSHROOM AU GRATIN



A Tasty Spinach Au Gratin



 The original dish was a spinach au gratin with chicken and mushrooms.   I replaced chicken with prawns and added feta cheese to give it a Greek touch.    


2 kg (4 lb) spinach leaves, blanched and chopped

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 medium onion, grated
1 large leek, white part only, slit in four lengthwise, thoroughly washed and finely chopped
1-2 tbsp dill
Salt and pepper

1½ kg (3 lbs) prawns, shelled, deveined, washed and patted dry (about 1 kg /2 lb when shelled)
2 sprigs rosemary
125 ml (1/2 cup) dry white wine or more

Freshly ground black pepper

500 g (1 lb) button mushrooms, cut into halves or quarters
1 garlic clove, sliced
A little olive oil

150 g (5 oz) feta cheese (if salty, soaked for 15 minutes in cold water), slivered

White sauce:
150 g (5 oz) butter
150 g (5 oz) cornflour
1 bay leaf
1 ¼ litre (5 cups) hot milk, or more
Nutmeg
120 g (4 oz) equal amounts of grated Graviera from Crete, Parmesan and a bland Cheddar 
4 eggs, separated, whites whipped to soft peaks with a tiny pinch of salt

A knob of butter for greasing the baking dish and
2 tbsp dried breadcrumbs  

2 tbsp grated Parmesan 



Cook the onion and leeks in olive oil, with a pinch of salt and a little water, until soft.  Stir in the butter, spinach and freshly ground black pepper and simmer gently until the vegetables are quite dry. Add the dill and mix until well combined.

Cook the prawns in batches. on both sides, with the rosemary twig, in a little wine each time, until they just change colour.  Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.  Discard the rosemary, remove the prawns with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Also cook the mushrooms and garlic in olive oil, tossing frequently, until no cooking liquid is visible. Season with a little salt and pepper and reserve.


Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F) and meanwhile, prepare the sauce.  Melt the butter, add the bay leaf, sift the cornflour over and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly.   Pour in the hot milk and stir for 10-12 minutes until the sauce bubbles and thickens.  Remove from the heat, discard the bay leaf, stir in the cheese and cool a little.  Add the beaten egg yolks and season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.  Finally, gently fold in the whipped egg whites, until no traces of white are visible, taste the sauce once more and season accordingly, if necessary.

Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F).

To assemble the dish, fold two cups of white sauce into the spinach, stirring well to combine. Taste again, to test the seasoning.

Spoon the spinach, carefully into the buttered and crumbed baking dish and even the surface.    Add a layer of prawns and mushrooms, pushing them, slightly, so that they are partly covered by the spinach,   Then, top with slithers of feta cheese and mask, evenly with the remaining white sauce.   Sprinkle with finely grated Parmesan and bake for 45 minutes or until puffed and golden.  Kali orexi!






                       PORK FILLET MEDALLIONS WITH MUSHROOM GRAVY



Fillet of Pork Medallions and Mushroom Sauce Over a Bed of Rice


This is one of my family’s favourite dishes, the gravy is superb.


1½ kg (3 lb) pork fillets, trimmed and sliced into 1.25 cm (½ inch) medallions
2 tbsp olive oil
1 knob butter
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
187.5 ml (¾ cup) Metaxa brandy

Sauce:
1 kg (2 lb) white mushrooms, trimmed and thickly sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 large onions chopped
1 clove garlic, sliced
4 tbsp plain flour
125 ml (1/2 cup) Metaxa brandy
1 lt (4 cups) hot, tasty chicken stock or more
3 tbsp duxelles* (please see recipe below)

1-2 tbsp tomato ketchup, optional


Sauté the pork medallions in olive oil and butter, two minutes on each side, over high heat.  Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground white pepper, drizzle with brandy and simmer for a few minutes until the alcohol evaporates.   Remove from the saucepan and set aside.

In the same saucepan, sauté the mushrooms, over high heat, until they are cooked and dry. remove with a slotted spoon and reserve.

Simmer the onions and garlic in olive oil, until limp and translucent.  Sift in the flour and cook, stirring constantly for 6 minutes, to prevent the taste of raw flour.   Add the brandy and cook, stirring for 2 minutes until the alcohol evaporates.  Pour in the hot stock and stir constantly, until the sauce thickens and bubbles. Then add in the duxelles and the reserved sauteed mushrooms.

Place the pork medallions into the saucepan with the mushroom sauce, swirl and cover the saucepan and simmer gently for 12-15 minutes more, or until the meat is tender and the sauce thickens, adding more hot stock, when and if necessary.   If you wish to improve the colour, add a little tomato ketchup. 

Serve with steamed rice or smashed potatoes and an interesting green salad.



* Here is the recipe for Duxelles:


                                                         DUXELLES


250 g (8 oz) assorted mushroom, (portobello, shiitake, cremini and white button + stalks) trimmed and very finely chopped

1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 onion, peeled, and finely grated
2 tbsp olive oil, or
2 tbsp butter
Coarse salt and freshly ground  black pepper to taste
1 tbsp parsley, chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, optional


Saute the onion in olive oil or butter, stirring, until transparent, add the garlic and the mushrooms and cook stirring constantly until the mixture is dry, about 12-15 minutes or more.  Then add the seasoning and herbs and simmer for a few minutes more.   Use the amount of duxelles that you need for the dish you are preparing and store the remaining in a sterilised jar in the fridge or freezer.






                            SMASHED POTATOES WITH SAGE AND CREAM




 Delicious Potato Dish


I have given you this recipe umpteen times, but here it is once more.

1 1/2 kg (3 lb) potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
Tasty chicken stock
1 large garlic clove, peeled
1 small sage twig, with 4-5 leaves

375 ml (1 1/2 cup) cream or more
Salt, if necessary and freshly ground white pepper
A few gratings of nutmeg

Snipped chives for garnishing


Cover the potatoes with chicken stock, add the garlic and sage twig and simmer until the potatoes are tender but not falling apart.   Discard the sage and garlic clove and strain the potatoes, reserving the stock for a soup.

Place the potatoes in the saucepan, pour the cream over, and bring to the gentlest possible simmer. Taste for seasoning and add salt, if necessary, freshly ground pepper and grated nutmeg.    Serve sprinkled with chopped chives.






                                LETTUCE, RED LOLLA AND WALNUT SALAD






A refreshing and healthy salad.


1 curly lettuce
1 curly red lettuce
Walnuts

Dressing:
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
(Mix all the ingredients well together until thick)

Arrange the lettuce leaves in a salad bowl, sprinkle with walnuts, drizzle with dressing, toss and serve.






                                              STRAWBERRY PAVLOVA



A Delicious Chewy Strawberry Pavlova




This is a delicious dessert, inspired by the talented and beautiful Russian prima ballerina, Pavlova.


6 egg whites
A pinch of salt
375 g (12.5 oz) sugar
1 scant tsp vanilla extract

500 g (1 lb) strawberries or

250 g (1/2 lb) strawberries
120 g (4 oz) raspberries
120 g (4 oz) blueberries
120 g (4 oz) blackberries
(All berries washed and hulled)

Marinade:
90-120 g (2-4 oz) caster sugar or according to choice 
1 tsp lemon juice, to accentuate the taste
2 tbsp Cognac or Metaxa brandy or Grand Marnier

Cream Chantilly:
500 g (2 cups) fresh cream
1 tiny pinch of salt
2 heaped tbsp icing sugar
1 tbsp of the liquor used in the berry marinade


Two or even three days before you wish to serve the dessert, prepare the meringues.   Preheat the oven to 120 C (248 F).  Whip the egg whites with salt, to the soft peak stage.   Add the vanilla and the sugar by the spoonful, whipping constantly until the egg whites turn into a stiff and glossy meringue. 

Line baking tins with baking parchment and trace two equal circles.   Preferably with a piping bag or with two tablespoons, evenly place equal amounts of meringue within the traced circles, on the parchment.  Bake for 1 hour or more, until firm but not coloured    Then turn off the heat and leave the meringues rounds in the oven, until completely cold.   The following day, store them in tins, at room temperature.

The morning of the day you wish to serve the Pavlova, wash, hull and dry the strawberries and place them in a large bowl.   Beat the marinade ingredients together and pour over the berries and gently mix together.  Leave in the fridge for 2 hours at least. Then dry the strawberries completely.

Meanwhile, beat the cream with the salt and icing sugar until stiff.  Sprinkle the liquor over the Chantilly, fold very gently and refrigerate

Two hours before serving, place one of the meringue rounds on a serving dish and spread with whipped cream. Cover with sliced strawberries  Sandwich with the second meringue round, spread lavishly with whipped cream and garnish, attractively, with the remaining strawberries.   Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  




   

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
  


  

CRITICAL ELECTIONS IN CATALONIA


The Spanish Flag




Catalonia's Coat of Arms



These are the results of the Catalan elections:



Cs Citizens                                          25%  of the vote                   37 seats

JxC Together for Catalonia                 21.7% of the vote                 34 seats

ERC Republican Left                          21.4% of the vote                 32 seats

PSC Socialists                                      13.9% of the vote                 17 seats

Comu                                                      7.4% of the vote                  8 seats

CUP Popular Unity Candidacy               4.5% of the vote                 4 seats

PP Peoples Party                                     4.2% of the vote                 3 seats




Although the anti-independence Cs Citizens Party gained the most of the seats, it, apparently, doesn't have sufficient willing political partners, in the new Spanish Parliament, to form a government, because the results were so very close.   On the other hand, three Catalonian successional parties declared victory because they jointly obtained 70 seats in the 135-seat Parliament.  Win-win election results!   Nevertheless, we hope that. in the very near future, they will agree to form a coalition government that will rule Catalonia with unity and harmony.

( The information for this post was from newspaper articles such as Estia. Kathimerini. The Guardian, The Telegraph and television programmes like ERT TV.gr, ALPHA TV.gr, STAR TV.gr,  CNN, BBC etc.)



CAVA the Sparkling Wine of Spain and Catalonia



                                                 CAVA AND SHERRY COCKTAIL                                         




La Barcelona




Here is Spanish/Catalan cocktail which I hope you will enjoy.

1 bottle Cava
150 ml (5 fl oz) Jerez Sherry
90 ml (3 fl oz) simple syrup
1 tsp lemon juice
Twists of lemon or orange peel  for garnish


First, mix the sherry with the syrup and lemon juice and top with iced Cava.  Serve immediately in iced glasses and garnish with twists of lemon peel.






Saturday 25 November 2017

TERRORIST ATTACK AT A MOSQUE IN EGYPT - PANIC IN LONDON



Attack  at a Mosque in Egypt

In a Mosque in Bir-al-Abd, Egypt, cowardly Islamist barbarians slaughtered 305 innocent pilgrims, including 27 children, and injured at least 100.    How can civilized countries protect their citizens against this unbelievable brutality?

Heartfelt condolences to families of the victims and our sympathy and admiration for the people of Egypt for their strength and fortitude.



Fortunately, it was only fear that caused Christmas shopping crowds to flee in London.    A fight between two men at the Oxford Street Underground station, induced people fleeing in panic, armed police being deployed and a section of the West End being evacuated.  A false alarm, which indicates how anxious and edgy people have become after the heinous terror attacks in Manchester and London.


Wednesday 15 November 2017

DEADLY FLOODS IN WESTERN ATTICA








Streams of Mud  Flood West Attica 


Tragedy in Mandra


Cars Swept by Nature's Wrath


Early on Sunday morning, torrential rains slashed Mount Pateras, which was burnt bare by wildfires during the last few years.   Two menacing currents, carrying large amounts of silt and debris, rushed furiously down the mountain, flooding the towns of Nea Peramos, Mandra and Magoula.   Unfortunately, 19  people were drowned, at least 13 were injured and 3 are still missing a great, unnecessary tragedy.

2.000 homes and 1.500 businesses were completely destroyed and hundreds of vehicles were swept away by the angry mud streams.  Shocking scenes of "Biblical destruction" only a few kilometres from the centre of Athens.

Beyond the excess downpour, the floods were mainly due to filling streams' courses with rubble, in order to build, and for insufficient flood controls, both of which were and are superintended by the respective governments.

Our heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and let them know, in their profound grief, that Greece mourns with them.  Also, our very best wishes to the wounded for a speedy and full recuperation.

Moreover, the exemplary achievements and bravery of the men and women of the fire brigade and the police who saved so many people from drowning must be applauded.   We, also, hope that all who lost the homes and businesses will be promptly compensated.



In Memoriam - Chrysanthemums by Nikiphoros Lytras



Monday 13 November 2017

MONSTER EARTHQUAKE AT THE IRAQUI-IRANIAN BORDER



The Epicentre of the Deadly Earthquake 


A devastating earthquake, measuring 7.3 degrees on the Richter scale, rocked Iraq and Iran at 9.35 pm, on Sunday, leaving 402 dead, 6.650 injured and thousands missing.   Most of the buildings, in cities and large towns, have been destroyed and many villages have been completely flattened out.

Heartfelt condolences to all who have lost their loved ones and may the injured have a speedy recovery.   Our heart goes out to all the residents of the region, and let them keep in mind that with courage, resilience, hard work and international aid they will quickly reconstruct their homes and cities.



Saturday 11 November 2017

HOME LEAVE 1956 (Continued)

After Volos, we returned to Kifissia and spent a few days with my Mother-in-law.  It was late May 1956 and we were on home leave.

The Old Family House in  Kefalari, Kifissia

Once more, we were utterly spoilt by Aleco's large family, who had already become mine.



The Island of Corfu


With our Fiat Cinquecento, we drove along the lacy cost of the Nothern Peloponnese to Rio to catch the ferry to Antirio, on the mainland.  After ten long but interesting hours, we arrived in Igoumenitsa and boarded a ferry-boat to Corfu, where we had rented a house.

A friend from India, Pitsa Dendrino was there to meet us and we drove to Perama, which was, then, a picturesque village, south of the town of Corfu.

When we arrived, I was completely captivated with the quaint, strawberry pink cottage, built on a hillock covered with pine trees.   It had a beautiful Mediterranean garden, with flowers and herbs and its own private beach.  Evidently, beaches are not private but, as this particular one could, only, be reached by sea, we considered it our own...  The property also had a shady pergola and a pond with goldfish.  One of the most treasured objects of this tiny house was a toilet made of blue and white antique china, which should have been exhibited in a museum!   The owners of the cottage, Tony and Elle Palatianos, a charming, sophisticated and generous couple, welcomed us warmly.

Corfu was a revelation to me, it is such a beautiful island,  Aleco had very fond memories of the town, where he had lived for several years with his family when he was a child.   Early every morning we used to sit on the patio, with a cup of coffee, waiting for the sun to rise over the hills of Albania, across the glittering blue Ionian Sea.  Then, we used to go swimming on "our beach" and later we either visited local landmarks or explored the island.





Here are several paragraphs about the historic monuments of the island.  It is estimated that the ancient town of Corfu, Palaeopolis, was situated opposite the grounds of Mon Repos and the Acropolis on top of the Kanoni Peninsula.


A Google  View of Palaeopolis


The Monument of Menecrates

The above monument dating 6th century BC and was discovered in 1843.  It is engraved with an archaic inscription pertaining to Mencrates, which is read upside down and is one of the oldest of its kind in Greece.




The Ruins of the Temple of Artemis


A Replica of the Temple of Artemis the Goddess of Hunting

A significant ancient monument of Corfu is the Temple of Artemis Gorgon. a 6th century BC construction, which is located near the monastery of St Theodore.  It was discovered in 1822 but unfortunately, only a few elements were saved.




The Temple of Hera (?)

Two more ancient temples were discovered in the vicinity of Mon  Repos.  One is situated on the precipitous east shore of the Peninsula of Analipsis "slightly higher than the spring of Kardaki" from which the temple derives its name.  This Doric temple, dating back to 510 BC. is considered to be the best preserved archaic monument in Corfu, despite the fact that part of it has slid down to the sea.   The popular belief is that it was dedicated to Apollo, the god of light, but archaeologists are not convinced.   Unfortunately, I could not obtain a photo of this beautiful temple.

The other temple was supposedly dedicated to Hera, the mother of the gods.




The Tower of Neranzicha

The Tower of Neranzicha is situated behind the cemetery and was part of a 4th century BC, 6-metre high defensive wall, which it still exists because it was, later, converted into a Byzantine Church.







The Old Fortress by Nikiforos Kouris

 Contrafossa the Moat that Separates the Castle from the City of Corfu

The Old Fortress covers the peninsula that once included the old town of Corfu.   The first fortifications were built during the Byzantine period, therefore, Corfu was considered a "strongly fortified" city.

During the early 15th century the Venetians started replacing the old Byzantine fortifications by constructing bastions and towers, which still exist today and are "considered masterpieces of military engineering".   They, also, erected the Contrafossa, a moat that separated the castle from the city Corfu, thus converting it into an island.








The Belfry of  the Church of Saint Spiridon the Patron Saint of Corfu

The Cathedral of Saint Spiridon, the patron saint of Corfu, was built during the late 16th century. it is situated in the old town of Corfu and houses the relics of the saint.  It has a single nave basilica and its belfry is the highest in the Ionian Islands.








The Palace of St Michael and St George  -  Museum of Asiatic Art

Indian Art

The Interior of the Palace

The Palace of St Michael and St George was built during the British occupation of the Ionian Islands.  It was commissioned by Sir Tomas Maitland and was initially used as the residence of the High Commissioner.   It is situated on the Spianada, a large square in the city of Corfu, it has magnificent gardens and, presently, houses the Museum of Asiatic Art.








Panagia Antivouniotissa


















The Byzantine museum in Corfu is housed in Panagia Antivouniotissa, a church of the 15th century that has an outstanding collection of Byzantine icons from the 13th to the 17th century.  Many are the works of famous hagiographers such as Michael Damaskinos, Nicholas  Tsafouris, Emmanuel Lombardos, and  Emmanuel Tzanes.








The Gorgon Pediment from the Temple of Artemis


The Lion of Menekrates

The small Archaeological Museum of the city of Corfu contains, among others, two magnificent works of ancient Greek architects and artists, the Gorgon Pediment from the Temple of Artemis and the Lion of Menekrates, which is among the earliest European animal carvings in stone.








The Corfu Banknote Museum is housed in the Ionian Bank




Various Greek Banknotes Showcased in the Museum

The Banknote Museum is situated in the town of Corfu and showcases a collection of  Greek currency from 1822 to present times.  It presents around  2000 items including "the first treasury bonds issued by Greece in 1822 until the drachma was replaced by the Euro in 2002".    Sketches and printing plates of Greek banknotes are, also, exhibited in this museum.








 Serbian Museum of Corfu

The Serbian Museum

Showcase Depicting  the Torture and Pain of War



Serbian Soldiers Marching on to War Just Before the Collapse

The  Corfu Serbian Museum contains unusual exhibits, pertaining to the 150.000 Serbian soldiers, who found refuge in Corfu for three years, after the tragic consequences of the defeat of the Serbian Front, by the Austro-Hungarians in October 1915, during World War I.

One can find "photographs, pamphlets. uniforms, arms and ammunition of the Serbian army, also regimental flags, decorations of the Kingdom of Serbia" etc.  It is ever so sad to realise how many thousands of young Serbian soldiers were killed during this terrible attack.   There can be nothing worse than war, where so many members of the armed forces and civilians are killed, including young children, due to avidity or fury or hatred or insanity.   Presently, I have a nagging apprehension that certain of the leaders of this planet could easily start a disastrous armed conflict...








Mon Repos




A Few Rooms of this Beautiful Palace

Mon Repos Palace is situated on top of Analipsis in the area of Kanoni.   It was built in 1826 by the British High Commissioner Frederic Adams as a gift to his Corfiot wife, Nina Palatianou.   It is a very beautiful small palace "with many colonial elements".

In 1864, when the  Ionian Islands were united with Greece. Mon Repos was offered to King George I of the Hellenes as a summer residence for the royal family.  Many royal babies were born in this small palace, such as Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburg and Princess Alexia of Greece.   Mon Repos belonged to the former Greek royal family, until December 1967.

Today it has been beautifully restored, it belongs to the municipality of Corfu and has been converted into a museum that includes many Ionian treasures.







Achilleion Palace

The Terrace of the Muses

The Staircase

A Painting Depicting Achilles Triumphant by Franz von Matsch

Achilles Triumphant by J.G.Gotz

Achilles Dying by Ernst Herter


The beautiful and imposing Achilleion Palace is built on the outskirts of the picturesque village of  Gastouri.   It was constructed by the Empress of Austria Elizabeth of Bavaria, known as Sisi.  She had a powerful personality and loved beautiful people, buildings and objects, but she was, also, in deep mourning due to the tragic death (suicide or assassination?) of her son Prince Rudolph of Austria and of his lover, 17-year-old Baroness Maria (Mary) Vetsera, in the Mayerling royal hunting lodge, in 1889.

The Achilleion was constructed, in an extensive park running right down to the sea, between 1890 -1892.   It is, evidently, named after Achilles, the triumphant and handsome young hero of Homer's Iliad, who died so young, fighting against the Trojans, because he was pierced by an arrow in the only vulnerable part of his body, the heel.

The Achilleion has beautiful terraces with numerous statues and in its lush gardens one can find several statues among the trees, the two most important masterpieces being Achilles Triumphant and Achilles Dying.







 Corfu Town by Alex Damien

"Corfu Old Town" by Theresa Nicolas

Ta Mourayia - Corfu Town by Samir Sokhn

A Painting of the Old Town by Alan Smith

Clothes Drying in a Narrow Alley


The old town of Corfu is a maze of "kantounia", argot of the Ionian Islands for narrow lanes, leading to beautiful squares with colourful buildings and old churches.   Some of the charming four-storied, semi-detached houses date back to the Venetian period, while others were constructed during the early 19th century.

It really is a gem of a town, beautiful, interesting and friendly.  Everybody thoroughly enjoys visiting both the town and the island, young and old, sportsmen and intellectuals, artists and bons viveurs, even students on a very low budget.







Liston  by Night


The Liston is an arched collonade, in front of the Spianada.   It was designed and partly constructed by Mathew de Lesseps, during the French denomination (1807 - 1817), following the trend of French architecture of the time, and was completed during the period of the British Protectorate (1817 - 1864).   Lighted by elegant Venetian lanterns, that must have been on the island since the Venetian occupation, it presently houses many popular cafes, restaurants, bars and boutiques.







The Town Hall of Corfu


The Town Hall stands on Voulgareos Street, on one of the most beautiful squares of the old town.  Its construction started in in 1663 and ended in 1693 and primarily it housed the Society of the Nobles.    In 1720, it became Saint James' Lyric Theatre and finally, in  1903, a floor was added and it became the Municipality of Corfu.







The Ionian Parliament

The Ionian Parliament was designed and constructed, in 1855, by Ioannis Chronis,   It is a Neoclassical building with a Doric Arcade and has inscriptions in both Greek and English referring to the annexation of the Ionian Islands to Greece, in 1864.   Later, it became a Protestant Church and in 1978, it was fully restored and it is now a museum dedicated to the "Freedom Fighters" of the Ionian Islands.






Ionian Academy

This building was initially built by the Venetians in a "gamma-shaped design" and was used as a barracks.  It is situated at the corner of Acadamias and Kapodistriou Streets, facing the Spianada.

The Ionian Academy was established by Frederic North, the 5th  Earl of Guilford, in 1824.  during the period of the British Protectorate.    Initially, it had three faculties the Philological, Law and Medical schools.    After the annexation of the Ionian Islands with Greece it became the Municipal Library.

It was partially destroyed by Italian bombs, during World War II.   Today, after being restored, it is the seat of the Rectorate of the Ionian University, dealing with the administrative services.







Kapodistrias Mansion


The above photograph depicts the residence of the famous Greek diplomat and politician, Ioannis Kapodistrias, in Corfu town.   It was designed by the architect Ioannis Chronis and it was used by the Ionian Parliament as a seat of the President of the Senate.







Angelokastro

Angellokastro is considered one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture in the Ionian Islands.   It is situated on a precipitous knoll, above the sea, on the Northwestern coast of Corfu, near Paleokastritsa.

It was supposedly built during the period of Angelos Komnenos I and completed by his son Angelos Komnenos II, both Despots of Epirus, to whom the name of the castle was attributed.

Angelokastro after being occupied by the French and the Normans of Sicily became the official capital of Corfu, during the Venetian period.    It was also the seat of the Provvenditore Generale di Levante, Governor of the Ionian Islands and commander of the Venetian fleet which was stationed in Corfu.







Mount Pantokrator and Medieval Villages

Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ

The Interior of the Monastery 

Mount Pantokrator, 900 metres (2.927 feet) tall is Corfu's highest mountain. and is situated in the North Eastern area of the island.

We drove up the zigzag mountain road and passed through Sideri and the medieval village of  Spartias to reach the summit.   The view was extraordinary and panoramic.   We saw the lush countryside and the lovely coastlines of Corfu, the mountains of Albania and mainland Greece to the East, the island of Paxos to the South and the tiny Diapontian  Islands to the North.   Apparently on particularly clear days, one is able to discern the coast of Italy.  We didn't.

We lit candles in the magnificent 17th-century monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ and admired the beautiful murals.

Then, we zig-zagged down from the other side of the mountain, passed through the villages of  Leuki and Petalia. and enjoyed a  delicious pastitsada with an excellent moschato wine, in a small tavern.







On the Hilltops of Kanoni

The Above Cafe with a Fabulous View

Pontikonissi and Vlaherna Monastery  (Foreground) Seen from Cafe Kanoni 

A Luxury Hotel  Built on Kanoni Beach

Kanoni is a quarter of the city of Corfu, a few kilometres from the centre of the town and its name is due to the battery cannon that is on the top of the hill since 1798, to protect the island from vicious invaders.   At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, it was a popular meeting place where Corfiots strolled in the cool of the evening, and where many a romance, apparently, started.

In 1956, it was considered a suburb of the city of Corfu, with beautiful houses.  Today. it is a  cosmopolitan part of the town, with luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants, popular cafes and trendy bars.







Paleokastritsa Beach and Coves

An Arial View

The Monastery of Paleokastritsa

The Monastery Seen from Above


Although tourism has defiled parts of  Corfu's coastline, Paleokastritsa has remained unspoilt.  For me, it is the most beautiful spot on this beautiful island and, amazingly, it is quite and it awakens feelings of tranquillity and peace.   It was even more so, back in June and July 1956.

We often spent the day there, swimming and underwater fishing.   The scenery was spectacular and the sea was a clear, almost cobalt blue and full of fish.   For obvious reasons I hated fishing but as I loved seafood, I decided that I was being hypocritical, to say the least.

I still remember the luscious food we used to eat in small tavernas in Paleokastritsa.  A delicious fish or lobster "bourdetto", a Corfiot dish, cooked in a sybaritic, spicy tomato sauce with fresh herbs and a touch of garlic.   Incidentally, lobsters were quite cheap during those good old days, when the sea was not overfished.



We visited most of the spectacular beaches of Corfu.





Agios Georgios Bay Beach


Agios Geordios Beach


Glyfada Beach


Ipsos Beach 

Nissaki Beach 


Sidari Canal d'Amour


A Thick Forrest  Fringes Dassia Beach

Thanking atCorfu.com for the Photograph of the Dassia Club Mediterranee Camp



The Dendrinos introduced us to their friends and as Corfiots are very hospitable, we were invited to their homes and parties, and to our great joy, we soon became part of the crowd.

We very often met with Tony and Elli Palatianos and their young son.  The Manessi brothers and their wives and mother invited us to their beautiful homes.   We went swimming together and they taught us underwater fishing, which, for many years to come, became our favourite sport.   Also, Jenny Saramandaris and her Italian husband Carlo held at least two large cocktail parties that summer and they often had us over for the most fabulous meals.   I must, also, mention a naval officer, Dimitris Soutsos, a childhood friend of Pitsa Dendrino, who was, then, an aide-de-camp of King Paul I.   He used to, frequently, pick us up in his speedboat to visit beautiful, small coves, to which no roads led to.





Most of the information for this post was from Wikipedia, Wikitravel, Greeka.Com, TripAdvisor, atCorfu.com and hearsay from dear friends, all of whom I sincerely thank.  I am especially thankful to Maria Rallis, a warmhearted and wonderful young friend, who is, moreover our Yianna's cherished sister-in-law.


Finally, I'm grateful to my fading, but persistent, memory for recollecting the exceptional holiday my husband and I enjoyed on the beautiful island of Corfu, sixty-two years ago.







Landscape of Corfu by an Unknown Artist

"Corfu from Ascension" by Edward Lear 1862

"Corfu from Gastouri" by Edward Lear 1862







I'm giving you below a few recipes for the luscious dishes we enjoyed in Corfu so many years ago.




                                          BOURTHETO WITH GREY MULLET

 A Wonderful Way to Start a Meal


Bourtheto is one of our favourite fish dishes.


1 1/2 kg (3 lbs) grey mullet, scaled. cleaned, washed and sprinkled with salt for 30 minutes and then rinsed to remove the salt

About 80 g (1/3 cup) olive oil
2 onions, peeled and finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground  black pepper
2 tbsp roast garlic paste* please see recipe below
1 heaped tbsp sweet paprika
1 tsp Cayenne pepper or according to taste
2 heaped tbsp tomato paste
250 ml (1 cup) dry red wine
375 ml (1 1/2 cup) hot water or more, if necessary

Thyme leaves

1/2 cup chopped parsley


Gently saute the onions, garlic paste in olive oil, sprinkle with a little salt and freshly ground black pepper, stirring constantly until the onions wilt.   Then sprinkle with sweet paprika and Cayenne pepper and stir for a few minutes more.  Add the tomato paste and saute, stirring for a moment or two, pour the wine over and cook for 3-4 minutes until the alcohol evaporates.  Add the water and bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the sauce thickens a little.

Place a few thyme leaves in the cavity of each fish, and arrange them, side by side over the sauce.  If the fish are large cut them in half, adding a little hot water, as they ought to be partly submerged by the cooking liquid.

Cover the saucepan and simmer very, very gently until the grey mullets are tender and flake easily when tested with a fork.  Taste the sauce and season with salt, freshly ground black pepper and a tiny pinch of Cayenne, if necessary, then sprinkle with chopped parsley and cook very gently, for two minutes more.

Place the fish on a hot platter and spoon the sauce over.  Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.




                                                          PASTITSATHA

A Tasty Festive Dish

A delicious Corfiot dish fit for special occasions.


1 kg (2 lb) stewing beef
1 heaped tsp spetseriko* (please see recipe below)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
3 onions, peeled and finely sliced
1 tbsp roasted garlic paste* (please see recipe below)
1 bay leaf

2 tbsp tomato paste diluted in
125 ml (1/2 cup) white wine
Hot water or beef stock

1 1/2 litre (6 cups) hot, tasty beef stock
500 g (1 lb) thick macaroni
1 tbsp olive oil

Grated Corfu or Parmesan cheese for sprinkling over


Rub the meat all over and with salt, pepper and spetseriko. then sautee it in olive oil and butter until brown, transfer to a plate and reserve.

Saute the sliced onions in the same saucepan, sprinkle with a little salt and cook for 6 minutes stirring occasionally.   Then add the garlic paste, bay leaf, the reserved meat and pour in the tomato paste and wine mixture and cook for 3-4 minutes more, until the alcohol evaporates.  Then pour in just enough hot water or stock to cover, place on the lid and simmer gently, until the meat is tender and the sauce thick.  Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly.

Meanwhile, boil the macaroni, "al dente" in the beef stock and strain, reserving the stock for a soup perhaps.  Return the macaroni to the saucepan, pour 1 tbsp of olive oil over, and swirl.

Serve the pasta on hot plates, cover lavishly with the meat stew and sprinkle with grated cheese.



*Here are the recipes for spetseriko and garlic paste:



                                                     SPETSERIKO

This is the notorious spice mix of Corfu!

1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp grated nutmeg


Mix everything well together.  Place in a jar and seal the lid tightly.  This spice mix is always combined with a bay leaf.



                                             ROAST GARLIC PASTE


Roast Garlic Bulbs 

This is a recipe my Mother gave me, ages ago.   Roasting makes garlic deliciously tasty and removes the strong odour.


Bulbs of garlic, the exterior skin removed and part near the stems sliced off
Olive oil

Wrap the trimmed garlic bulbs in foil and roast in an oven preheated to 180 C (370 F) for 40 minutes or until soft.  Allow to cool, unwrap and squeeze each garlic clove to extract the delicious paste.  Place in a jar, cover with olive oil, seal and refrigerate.




                                                        SOFRITO


Add caption

Another delightful dish of the Corfiot cuisine.


1 1/2 kg (3 lbs) thinly sliced veal
Salt to taste
1 heaped tsp spetseriko (spice mix please see above) or
Freshly ground black pepper
130 g (1 cup) plain flour
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
2 large onions, peeled and finely chopped
2 tbsp roast garlic paste (please see above)
1 sprig rosemary
1 bay leaf

250 ml (1 cup) white wine
1 liqueur glass vinegar
Hot water

1 cup finely chopped parsley


Season the meat with salt and spetseriko or freshly ground black pepper, and dredge with flour, shaking each slice to remove the excess.

Saute the veal slices in olive oil, in two or three batches and transfer the meat to a dish, with a slotted spoon.

In a clean frying pan add a little olive oil and butter and gently simmer the onions, roast garlic paste, a tsp of the spice mix, the rosemary twig and the bay leaf, stirring, until the onions become translucent.    Place the meat slices evenly over, pour in the wine and cook gently for  3-4 minutes, until the alcohol evaporates.  Then lower the heat, even more, add the vinegar and enough hot water just to cover and swirl the saucepan.   Simmer very, very gently, covered, until the meat is cooked and the sauce thickens. Add the parsley and cook for 2 minutes more.

 Discard the rosemary twig and bay leaf, and serve with chips or steamed rice and a zesty green salad.




                               ROCKET, FENNEL AND ORANGE SALAD


A Delightfully Fresh Salad. 


This salad resembles the one that was brought to Corfu, in the 12th century, by Jews after they were expelled from Spain, during that barbarous and shameful period of Christianity, the Inquisition.


1 bunch rocket,  leaves and tender stems only
2 small fennel bulbs, trimmed and shaved
The fillets of two oranges

Dressing:
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp orange zest
Salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste
(Mix well  together until the dressing thickens)


Arrange the salad ingredients in a pretty dish or bowl and sprinkle with dressing.  You might not need all the dressing, so pour the rest into a jar, seal and refrigerate for no longer than 4 days.



                                    
                                                        PASTA FROLLA

                                      
JamTart


Pasta frolla is a favourite tart that needs excellent butter and jam.

210 g (7 oz) butter, softened
260 g (2 cups) self-raising flour
1 level tsp baking powder
1/3 cup semolina
An ample 66 g (1/3 cup) sugar
1 egg
Pinch of salt
62 ½ ml (¼ cup) brandy

500 g (1 lb) jam, preferably apricot


Mix all the ingredients together (except the jam) and knead until a soft, pliable dough is obtained.

Roll out 2/3 of the dough and line a 30 cm (12 in) buttered tart dish.  Press the pastry up the sides, trim it neatly and spread thickly and evenly with jam.   Then, shape fine pencil-sized cylinders with the remaining dough and form a lattice pattern on the top of the jam.

Bake in a moderately hot oven, preheated to 180 C (190 F) for about 40-45 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden.   Cool, cut into wedges and serve.




                                                      TSITSIBIRA


Fresh Ginger Cut into Medallions

This is my version for preparing Tsitsibira which is Greek for ginger beer.   I first prepare fresh ginger medallions in syrup or just a plain ginger syrup, and whenever we want a ginger beer we stir 1 tablespoon of this delightful, aromatic syrup into a glass of iced lemonade made with fresh lemons.



Fresh Ginger Medallions in Syrup:

250 g (1/2 lb) fresh ginger, peeled and cut into medallions
250 g ( 1/2 lb) sugar
Water

Place the ginger in a saucepan that will hold it comfortably.   Cover well with cold water and, simmer for about an hour, until the ginger is tender when tested with a sharp knife, adding more hot water when and if necessary.

Stir in the sugar and a pinch of salt and simmer until a syrup is formed that has the consistency of runny honey.   Spoon, immediately into sterilized jars and store in a cupboard.   Once a jar is opened, place in the fridge.



Fresh Ginger Syrup:
A 250 g (1/2 lb) piece of peeled fresh ginger, cut into  very small pieces
500 ml (2 cups)  water
400 g (2 cups) sugar
1 tbs lemon juice, to accentuate the taste


Simmer the ginger in water until soft.  Prepare a thick syrup with the sugar and the aromatic water that the ginger was boiled in.  Strain and pour into a sterilized bottle and store in a dark cupboard.  The pieces of ginger can be kept for making puddings or desserts or just enjoyed as a delightful morsel.




A Bush on our Front Porch at Perama