Ingredients for Dough
300 gr. self-raising flour
300 gr. all purpose flour
½ a yogurt bowl
1 cup sunflower oil
½ cup white wine
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
½ cup margarine
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 sachet yeast
Ingredients for Filling
2 cups left over cooked meat in tomato sauce
1 large potato diced
1 cup carrots diced
1 cup corn
1 cup peas
1 cup mushrooms cut up in small pieces
½ cup parsley finely chopped
1 teaspoon corn flour
Salt, pepper
1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water for the egg wash
Preparation:
First prepare the dough. Place all the ingredients in the bowl of your food processor, except the salt. Use the hook attachment and mix the ingredients. Then add the salt and continue mixing for about 5 minutes. You will have a nice, soft dough. Take it out of the bowl, place it in a plastic bag and leave it in the fridge while you prepare the filling.
Dice the meat and put it in a pan. Add ½ cup of water and bring to a boil. Add the vegetables, salt and pepper, stir and simmer for 10 minutes. Dissolve the corn flour in a couple of tablespoons water and add to the mixture. Check the seasoning and remove from the fire. Let the filling cool down.
Take the dough out of the fridge and divide it roughly in two pieces, the one a littler larger. Roll out the larger piece to fit your pan, with a little more dough to overhang the sides. The pan must be lightly oiled so that the dough doesn’t stick to it. Put the cool filling over the dough. Level it out with the back of a spoon. Fold the dough over the filling.
Roll out the second piece of dough. Brush the dough you have folded over the filling with the beaten egg. Place the rolled out dough over the filling and trim it round the edges. Press down gently so that it sticks to the bottom dough and gently tuck the leftover dough under the pie. Cut a few slits on the pie to enable the steam to escape. Brush the top with the egg wash. Bake the pie at 180oC until it is golden brown.
Source: CookingInPlainGreek.com
XpatAthens
Tuesday, 16 October 2018 13:16
October 16 - Autumn Rhythm In Athens
Whether a local or a visitor, Athens is an extremely vibrant city. Discover some of the absolute best restaurants and cocktail bars in this popular and bustling Mediterranean capital, as it was described by the NY Times!
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
Published in
Newsletters
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Friday, 27 September 2019 14:15
Co-Working Is The Innovation That HR Can't Afford To Ignore
The great skill in human resources is having a sixth sense for how people want to work. It takes a certain amount of clairvoyance to know what the talent of today is thinking – how, where and why they want to turn up to the office.
In today’s world, the increasingly apparent truth is that employees value flexibility, convenience and vibrancy – all great benefits of moving to a co-working space.
“The war on talent is really in full force,” says Sharon Edmondson, IWG Vice President of Human Resources – Americas & Global LSCs. “To be competitive, you have to be able to offer more to your employees than just competitive compensation and benefits. People are wanting more of a sense of community and vibe, to be able to find more to connect to than just the job role itself.”
Employees who are considering a change of employer, then, are looking at a much wider range of considerations than salary alone. And rewarding that desire quickly feeds back into productivity.
“If you've got segregated employees sitting in remote spots, or working from home,” adds Edmondson, “then that isolation leads to drops in both productivity and engagement. What I love in IWG spaces is that you start to see employees from all different companies eating together or grabbing a coffee. You start to leverage the benefits of other employers to build that community and brand within your own organization.”
Employees increasingly want to be in a flexible, lively, dynamic environment. It’s no secret that a trusted, engaged employee is a productive one. In the 2019 IWG Global Workplace Survey, 85% of employers confirmed that productivity had improved as a result of greater flexibility.
“Employees want to go to an environment that's lively and vivacious and drives energy and change,” says Edmondson. “People want the ability to collaborate and the ability to get stretched beyond where they are. We're living in a society where people want to continue to learn and grow. If you're not feeding the employees, then that tends to reduce productivity and talent retention.”
“If you don't have that kind of space to offer, then you're really missing out on driving the most out of your workforce and gaining that engagement and productivity, which in turn creates innovation, and ultimately ties directly into revenue and profitability for the organization.”
Another crucial factor is geography. Offices with huge, city-center headquarters that pull employees from miles around are forcing many of those workers to endure long, thankless commutes, which are not only environmentally unfriendly but also ultimately a chunk of personal time they can’t get back. “People won’t want to commute so far,” says Edmondson. “You risk losing employees, and you also lose a ton of productivity time because employees are spending that time commuting.” Co-working spaces closer to where workers actually live can give them the professional setting of the office, keep their work and productivity up – and extra free time each day.
There’s also the consideration that the work/life balance doesn’t have to refer to being at work vs being at home – perhaps if work was that bit more vibrant, it wouldn’t be such a necessary contrast. As Edmondson says: “Through leveraging the benefits of a co-working environment, work doesn't seem like work all the time. If you have a frustrating moment, you’re able to go and catch a break, to go up to the patio rooftop terrace and play a game of ping-pong – something your traditional employment spaces don't offer.”
When it comes to the value of flexible working to employees, the results are in. In IWG’s survey, over 80% of respondents said that if faced with two similar job prospects they would turn down the one that didn’t offer flexible working.
And what if HR doesn’t catch up? “The reality is you'll miss out on having the ability to stay competitive in terms of talent. Certainly, from an attrition and engagement perspective, there's no doubt that will start to impact potential employees and the organization as a whole.”
This content has been sponsored by IWG - an XpatAthens Brand Partner.
Can you afford to lose out? Find out more about how co-working can work for your company.
Published in
Business News
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Thursday, 23 January 2020 07:00
Classic Whisky Bars In Athens
Did you know that Greeks come second only to the Scots in per capita whisky consumption? Seeing that Greeks love their whisky, Athens offers numerous specialized bars catering to this demand! Below you will find some of the greatest whisky bars in Athens.
In 1996, Stavros Kasiotis turned a small butcher shop in Kolonaki, into a classic atmospheric whisky bar. Low bar is an iconic bar, full of whisky and conversations at the bar, with a musical backdrop of jazz, blues, and rock n roll. In 2014, Low Profile moved down to Syntagma, on Voulis Street, inside the Bolani Arcade.
Address: 7 Voulis ( Bolani Arcade) , Syntagma Square
Telephone: 213 0352144
Jazz in jazz is one of the cosiest bars in Athens. Serving its loyal clientelle since 1978, Jazz in Jazz has become an iconic fixture of the Athenian bar scene. It's warm ambience, smooth jazz music and great selection of whiskys make an excellent combination for a great night out!
Address: 4 Dinokratous Street, Athens
Telephone: 210 7225246
One of the oldest and most historical bars in Athens, Galaxy is also one of the best specialized whisky bars in Athens. Retaining its original decor since the 70's, Galaxy has been serving discerning whisky lovers in a retro setting. It's classic vibes, quiet music, courteous staff and great selection of drinks make this bar a great option for a quiet night out with friends.
Address: 10 Stadiou Street, Athens
Telephone: 210 3227733
Published in
Pubs, Bars & Cafes
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Thursday, 18 November 2021 07:00
Episkyros: An Ancient Greek Form Of Football
A long, long time ago, before there was football, there was episkyros, an ancient Greek ball game. Highly team-work oriented, the game was played with one ball, between two teams each consisting of around 12 to 14 players.
The field was marked with a central white line called the ‘skyros’ dividing the two teams, and another white line behind each team to mark the ends of the field. In the game, which was often quite violent, particularly in Sparta, each team would attempt to throw the ball over the heads of the opposing team. The objective of the game was to play until one team was forced behind the line at their end, with agility and speed being a player’s most useful skills.
However, it wasn’t easy as it sounds as players had to pass within their own team several times whilst also evading the defenders from the other team before they were able to toss the ball over the opponent’s line. If a team had possession of the ball on their own line, defenders could gang tackle him back over the line for a point.
A very similar game to episkyros was phaininda, which takes its name from Phaenides, who first invented it, or derived from the Greek word ‘phenakiein’ (to deceive) because the players would show the ball to one man but then throw it to another, contrary to expectation.
These Greek games of episkyros and phaininda were later adopted by the Romans.
FIFA has acknowledged the ancient Greek game of episkyros as an ancient version of modern-day rugby league.
“ The Greek Episkyros – of which few concrete details survive – was much livelier, as was the Roman Harpastum. ” FIFA.com explains.
A vase on display at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens shows a depiction of a young Greek athlete, balancing a ball on his thigh. It is this same vase that inspired the design of today’s European Cup football trophy.
To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com
To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com
Published in
Greek Philosophy & History
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Monday, 19 September 2022 07:00
How To Boost Your Child’s & Your Own Self-Confidence
Schools have opened and children’s, as well as parents’ lives, are affected. Children must cope with a new class, perhaps a new teacher, old and new friends, old and new activities. Parents are running around trying to put together a schedule that includes everyone’s activities.
Do you remember those days when you were going to school? Maybe your life was a bit simpler and you didn’t have so many extra-curricular activities – if any. But how did you feel at the beginning of each school year? Was it easy for you to make friends or were you anxious about it? Were the other kids nice to you or not? How did you deal with it? Were your parents helpful or did they put more attention on your performance as a student?
Why am I asking you all these questions? Because it’s important to put yourself into your child’s shoes and pay attention to their feelings. Are they happy going to or coming back from school? Do they talk about their friends? Perhaps you will notice small changes in their behavior. Instead of taking it personally try to see what the real story is.
It’s not easy for everyone to make friends. My daughter changed school last year and I know she’s still very conscious about making friends. She’s also very sensitive and this tends to complicate things sometimes. Moreover, in her effort to be accepted by her peers she may do or say something she wouldn’t otherwise. This doesn’t help her self-confidence.
So instead of focusing mainly on her academic performance, I try to understand how she feels and try to boost her self-confidence. One way I do this is by using some phrases I have found to be helpful. They may serve you too:
As for me, I wish my parents would have told me these phrases or taught me to think this way when I was a child. They would have saved me from a lot of trouble as these principles apply to all areas of our lives whether we are children or adults – school, work, family, friends, and relationships in general. It’s a great life attitude to have and one that our children will certainly benefit from.
Originally published on: itsmylife.gr
Do you remember those days when you were going to school? Maybe your life was a bit simpler and you didn’t have so many extra-curricular activities – if any. But how did you feel at the beginning of each school year? Was it easy for you to make friends or were you anxious about it? Were the other kids nice to you or not? How did you deal with it? Were your parents helpful or did they put more attention on your performance as a student?
Why am I asking you all these questions? Because it’s important to put yourself into your child’s shoes and pay attention to their feelings. Are they happy going to or coming back from school? Do they talk about their friends? Perhaps you will notice small changes in their behavior. Instead of taking it personally try to see what the real story is.
It’s not easy for everyone to make friends. My daughter changed school last year and I know she’s still very conscious about making friends. She’s also very sensitive and this tends to complicate things sometimes. Moreover, in her effort to be accepted by her peers she may do or say something she wouldn’t otherwise. This doesn’t help her self-confidence.
So instead of focusing mainly on her academic performance, I try to understand how she feels and try to boost her self-confidence. One way I do this is by using some phrases I have found to be helpful. They may serve you too:
- Your opinion matters.
- It’s absolutely ok to say no.
- Not everyone will like you. And that’s ok.
- You are beautiful just the way you are.
As for me, I wish my parents would have told me these phrases or taught me to think this way when I was a child. They would have saved me from a lot of trouble as these principles apply to all areas of our lives whether we are children or adults – school, work, family, friends, and relationships in general. It’s a great life attitude to have and one that our children will certainly benefit from.
Originally published on: itsmylife.gr
Published in
Parenting
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Thursday, 13 February 2025 16:14
Cinedoc Presents: The Silence of Others – Screening Tour In Greece
With the support of the Cervantes Institute of Athens, Cinedoc presents the Oscar-nominated documentary The Silence of Others in Athens, Volos, and Thessaloniki.
In Spanish, with Greek subtitles.
Cinedoc presents the award-winning historical documentary The Silence of Others, directed by Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar, and produced by Pedro Almodóvar. The screenings are held with the support of the Cervantes Institute of Athens and in collaboration with the Oral History Groups (O.P.I.).
The documentary was nominated for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film (2019) and has been screened and awarded at numerous film festivals. Among others, it won the Audience Award (Panorama) and the Peace Film Prize for Best Documentary at the Berlinale (2018), 2nd Audience Award at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam - IDFA (2018), and the Goya Award for Best Documentary (2019).
To watch the official trailer, please CLICK HERE!
Synopsis
With the 1977 Amnesty Law, the crimes of Franco’s dictatorship (1939-1975) remained unpunished for decades. Thus, although more than forty years have passed since the restoration of democracy in Spain, the wounds of the painful past remain open. Filmed over six years, the film follows the victims, survivors, and their relatives as they begin a collective fight for justice, against the oblivion imposed by the state.
The case makes history: what began as a small effort led to the issuance of the first arrest warrants for the perpetrators, including torturers, ministers, and doctors involved in cases of stolen children, among others.
Often, the cry of the few for justice is enough to break the criminal silence of the many.
Directors’ Note
In 2010, the story of the "stolen children" of Spain began to be published. The history of these crimes, rooted in the early days of Franco’s rule, led us to explore the broader marginalization and silencing of the victims.
Why did Spain come to a "Pact of Oblivion"? And what were the consequences of this Pact, during 40 years of democracy, for the living victims of Franco’s dictatorship?
When we began filming the Argentine lawsuit process in 2012, which challenged this status quo, few believed anything would change. But as we filmed those early meetings, we could see that this lawsuit was creating something vital, leading to hundreds of testimonies from all over Spain. As the number of testimonies peaked, a compelling argument for crimes against humanity was created, for which justice had to be sought at an international level.
SCREENING SCHEDULE
With the support of the Cervantes Institute of Athens and in collaboration with the Oral History Groups (O.P.I.).
- Athens – French Institute
Premiere in Athens: Thursday, February 20, 20:00
After the screening, a discussion will follow with Dimitris Filippis, Associate Professor at the Hellenic Open University - "Spanish Language and Culture" Program.
Presale: https://www.more.com/gr-el/tickets/cinema/festival/cinedoc-2025-the-silence-of-others/
- Athens – Danaos Cinema
Sunday, February 23, 16:00
Presale: https://www.danaoscinema.gr/movie/i-siopi-ton-allon-cinedoc-2025/
- Thessaloniki – “Stavros Tornes” Hall
Wednesday, February 19, 18:45
The screening will be introduced by Nikos Marantzidis, Professor of Political Science, University of Macedonia.
Presale: https://www.filmfestival.gr/el/cinemas-gr/program
- Volos – Nea Ionia Cultural Center
Saturday, March 15, 20:00
Presale: ENTEKA - Digital Prints
Info: https://www.facebook.com/CineDocVolos
About CineDoc
CLICK HERE to view the CineDoc 2024-2025 Program in Greek!
CineDoc selectively screens and distributes award-winning Greek and foreign documentaries as part of the Cinedoc Festival. The screenings are organized in cooperation with the French Institute of Greece, Danaos Cinema, the Thessaloniki Film Festival, CineDoc Volos, the Municipality of Volos, "Simeio" Cultural Space in Rethymno, the Cyclades Preservation Fund (CPF), and Thalassa Foundation. The screenings aim to encourage dialogue and inspire collective actions around themes such as the environment, gender equality, inclusivity, education, history, etc.
Additionally, it collaborates regularly with cultural institutions, universities, agencies, and organizations (e.g., the Gennadius Library, Harokopio University, SAE Athens, European University Cyprus, Megaron Music Hall, Piraeus Bank Cultural Foundation, etc.) and participates in conferences, festivals, and cultural events, organizing special screenings (e.g., Irida Visions, The Future of Retail, Ocean Film Festival, Piraeus Port Film Festival, Athens Pride - Athens, Europride - Thessaloniki, Come as You Are Festival - Larissa, Limassol Documentary Festival – Cyprus, etc.).
CineDoc constantly expands its network through the organization of documentary screenings under the CineDoc Island initiative, both in the islands (Cyclades, Sporades, Ionian, and Dodecanese) and the rest of Greece, in collaboration with local organizations and cinema clubs. The screenings are held under the patronage and financial support of the Ministry of Culture.
For More Information: https://www.cinedoc.gr | cinedocanemon@gmail.com
Published in
Local News
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Wednesday, 18 February 2015 13:39
Kalarrytes Village
Kalarrytes belong to the prefecture of Ioannina, located on the western slopes of Pindos, at an altitude of 1200 m. The village is surrounded by the mountains of Peristeri (Lakmos) and Tzoumerka (Athamanian mountains). On the northwest, the steep gorge of Kalarrytikos river separates the village of Kalarrytes from Syrrako, while on the north and above the village extend the plateaus and mountain grasslands of Baros, which connects Thessaly to Epirus.
The first settlements of vlach-speaking Greek population in the region of Kalarrytes can be traced back to the 10th century AD. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the community achieves its greatest financial, social and cultural development with the Kalarrytan merchants trading wool textiles through a well-organized commercial network to all European markets, while most of them also maintain shops in Ioannina. A large part of the population are distinguished as silversmiths, establishing Kalarrytes as one of the major silversmith centres of the Balkans. During the 19th century, the art of silver spreads from Kalarrytes all over Greece and Italy. Families of silversmiths such as Tsimouris at Ioannina and Kalarrytes, Bafas in Zakynthos, Papageorgiou and Papamoschou in Corfou, and Nessi and Bulgari in Italy are still famous today.
The economic, cultural and residential development of the community is accompanied by intellectual development as the Greek Enlightenment reaches Kalarrytes. Anastasios Bekiaris and rector Georgios Sgouros taught at the school of Kalarrytes, which was founded in 1758. The scholars Vlahoyiannis and Giourtis also originate from there. W. Leak and F. Pouqueville, who visited the community of Kalarrytes at the beginning of the 19th century, describe in their travel journals the lawful society, the culture, the exquisite architecture, the booming trade, and the high educational level of the people.
To read more, please visit epirushotels.gr
Published in
Travel Greece
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Friday, 20 February 2015 15:51
Meat & Vegetable Pie
Undoubtedly, everybody loves pie. This is a fantastic way to use up leftovers and present them in a totally different way. You can use any kind of meat – pork, veal or chicken. If it is not already cooked in tomato sauce, you can add some tomato paste, 1 – 2 ripe tomatoes chopped, or half a can chopped tomatoes. You can make your own dough or use either phyllo dough or puff pastry. To make the pie more appealing to kids, you could make small individual pies. If you are in a hurry, you could use frozen mixed vegetables, instead of dicing them yourself.
Published in
Greek Food & Diet
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Friday, 10 July 2015 01:07
My Week Of Uncertainty
It has been a couple of weeks since I last wrote anything in this space - and what a couple of weeks it has been... Apart from the total confusion and uncertainty that I think all of us have experienced, I have personally experienced a range of emotions, unlike any I have felt before. What does the expat community make of everything that is happening in our adoptive home?
What stands out for me, beyond the material impact of profound crisis, is the intensity of what I have been feeling for the past 10 days. I was raised in Canada, a place where crisis seems impossible, where the system is never far from 'perfect', where 'intense emotionality' reads as cursing under your breath when someone breaks the speed limit.
So to live in Greece during the past weeks has been nothing short of jaw-dropping for me. There have been moments where I just sit motionless, unable to think clearly or act. Like, how is this all possibly happening? What's coming next...?
I learned early on that intensity of emotion was a basic part of life in Greece - from screaming matches with taxi drivers who cut you off to the daily screaming matches on television news to the life-ending reactions when January temperatures hit 0 degrees. Greece is not a land of subtle response. But until the events of the past week, I've experienced this mostly as an observer.
This week... I've felt sad, frustrated, shocked, angry, afraid, tired, confused, ashamed, panicked - intensely so, and often all at once. I am completely emotionally drained. Writing this, all I want to do is sleep. Reading the wide variety of (mis)information and opinions from various news sources and social media - including those of people who have never set foot in this country, and those of people who have never set foot outside this country - made all the above much (much) worse. And this from a guy who has the luxurious option of hopping on a plane and going back 'home' at any moment. I worry deeply about the societal costs of all this 'crisis', the impact on the nervous system of a nation and a culture...
I'm not sure where all this will lead - nor even where I think it should lead. Maybe everything gets somehow fixed next week; maybe we all wake up back in Kansas; maybe 'it gets better', as the saying goes... And maybe it doesn't.
There has been an eerie calm around town the last few days, like we are collectively holding our breath waiting for the next act to begin. If I am the example, then we are simply drained and have used up our reserves of 'intensity'... Who would have thought that possible in this country? Maybe we are just resigned to accept whatever happens next, too exhausted to do anything else...
While I waited in the ATM line to get my €50 early this morning, I recalled some of the reasons I moved here in the first place: to feel the sun on my skin, to dive into the sea as often as possible, to soak in the beauty of the land, to be part of a unique and ancient culture, to experience life more fully, to feel intensely. Κουράγιο...
Until next week,
Jack
Published in
My Week In Athens
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Monday, 16 December 2024 07:00
From Saint Nicholas To Santa Claus & The Tradition Of Giving Gifts
The story says that Saint Nicholas was born on March 15, 270 AD and died on December 6, 343 AD. He lost both of his parents as a young man and reportedly used his inheritance to help the poor and sick. A devout Christian, he later became a famous 4th-century Greek Bishop of Myra, which was in Asia Minor (modern-day Demre, Turkey). Because of the many miracles attributed to him, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him.
How Saint Nicholas Is celebrated In Greece
According to Christmas traditions in Greece, the patron saint of the holiday is Saint Nicholas, who is also the protector of sailors. For this reason, you will often see boats decorated with many sparkling lights, rather than the traditional Christmas trees. The Christmas season in Greece begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicholas Day and ends on January 6th with the Feast of the Epiphany (Theophania). The Greek Navy pays tribute to the patron saint of sailors with a special ceremony at the Hellenic Naval Academy.
How Saint Nicholas Is celebrated In Greece
According to Christmas traditions in Greece, the patron saint of the holiday is Saint Nicholas, who is also the protector of sailors. For this reason, you will often see boats decorated with many sparkling lights, rather than the traditional Christmas trees. The Christmas season in Greece begins on December 6th, which is Saint Nicholas Day and ends on January 6th with the Feast of the Epiphany (Theophania). The Greek Navy pays tribute to the patron saint of sailors with a special ceremony at the Hellenic Naval Academy.
From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus
Over the years, stories of Saint Nicholas' miracles and work for the poor spread to other parts of the world. He became known as the protector of children as well as sailors and was associated with gift-giving. He was a popular saint in Europe until the Reformation in the 1500s, a religious movement that led to the creation of Protestantism, which turned away from the practice of honoring saints. Saint Nicholas, however, remained an important figure in Holland.
Over the years, stories of Saint Nicholas' miracles and work for the poor spread to other parts of the world. He became known as the protector of children as well as sailors and was associated with gift-giving. He was a popular saint in Europe until the Reformation in the 1500s, a religious movement that led to the creation of Protestantism, which turned away from the practice of honoring saints. Saint Nicholas, however, remained an important figure in Holland.
The Dutch continued to celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas on December 6 and it was a common practice for children to put out their shoes the night before. In the morning, they would discover the gifts that St. Nicholas had left there for them. It is said that Dutch immigrants brought St. Nicholas, known to them as Sint Nikolaas or by his nickname Sinter Klaas, and his gift-giving ways to America in the 1700s.
In America, St. Nicholas went through several transformations and eventually, Sinter Klaas became Santa Claus and instead of giving gifts on December 6, he became a part of the Christmas holiday. In the 1820 poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore, he is described as a jolly, heavy man who comes down the chimney to leave presents for deserving children and drives a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer. The cartoonist Thomas Nast added to the St. Nicholas legend with an 1881 drawing of Santa as wearing a red suit with white fur trim. Once a kind, charitable bishop, St. Nicholas had become the Santa Claus we know today.
Published in
Greek Traditions
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