Celebrating 150 years of culinary excellence, the Hotel Grande Bretagne marks this milestone with the new anniversary menu "Always Grand|150 Years of Flavors", signed by the twice Michelin-starred Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis. 

From November 6th until December 31st, 2024, guests have the opportunity to enjoy a special gastronomic journey at the Winter Garden City Lounge of the historic Hotel, inspired by the urban culture of old Athens.

Reviving recipes from the mid-20th century, the menu highlights the culinary heritage of the iconic Hotel, with dishes that starred in historic events during its 150 Years of continuous operation. From the authentic “Athinaiki” salad, a symbol of the urban cuisine of the 1970s and the impressive Shrimp fountain to the renowned 'Vol-au-Vent', emanating the elegance of French cuisine, the dishes evoke memories of another era. Paying tribute to the Greek tradition, the menu includes ‘lahanodolmades’ (cabbage rolls), while desserts such as nougatine, which traveled from the great European courtyards to the Athenian salons, complete the unparalleled journey from the past to the present, captivating even the most discerning palates. 

Guests can also enjoy the anniversary afternoon tea, masterfully curated by Pastry Chef Alexandros Koufas, adding a nostalgic touch of authentic Athenian glamour.

Discover the anniversary menu "Always Grand|150 Years of Flavors", an exciting culinary journey that uniquely connects the past with the present, through unique dishes that remain classic and beloved.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has set up a studio on the Greek island of Lesbos to highlight the plight of refugees.

The island has been the main point of entry into the EU for hundreds of thousands of refugees over the past year and the studio would produce several projects with themes related to the refugee crisis from him and his students, Ai told reporters.

“As an artist, I have to relate to humanity’s struggles... I never separate these situations from my art,” he said. The artist is as well-known for his clashes with the Chinese authorities as for his work.

Ai praised the people of Lesbos for having a “very good understanding” of the refugees’ plight,their needs and for being “very helpful and very tolerant”, but emphasised they had limited resources to deal with the issue.

To read more, please visit: ekathimerini

The government has decided to extend its vehicle-scrapping initiative until May 20, in which it subsidizes the purchase of new cars so that old vehicles are taken off the road; although the subsidy will be cut by 50 percent from last year.

The measure will be brought to parliament and once signed by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, it will apply retroactively from January 1. This will bring great relief to the thousands of prospective buyers who have the necessary scrapping documents, but were unable to proceed with their new purchase.

To read more, please visit: eKathimerini

The traditional dance festival called ‘Diamantis Palaiologos,’ held on Skopelos island this August, won a European award by the EILEEN (Enhancing Intercultural Learning in European Enterprises) project. There were over 600 participants and volunteers this year from Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, and Nepal.

The Festival of Traditional Dances ‘Diamantis Palaiologos’ is a member of European Folklore Festival Association and is organized by Konstantina Angeletou, President of the Plegma, a nonprofit organization, along with the Thessaly Region.

The Greek National Commission to UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, the Greek National Tourism Organisation and the Municipality of Skopelos embrace this big cultural event, putting the Festival under their auspices.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

‘Athens is one of the world’s oldest cities; with so many places to visit, things to experience, stories to be told. And if you had only 60 secs to describe it, this is how Athens would look and sound.’

Athens Mayor Yiorgos Kaminis announced the 'Athens Tourism Partnership,' an initiative for tourism promotion in Athens. The City of Athens, Aegean Airlines, and the Athens International Airport unite for the first time having a common objective - promoting Athens as a modern cultural centre and attractive tourist destination throughout the year.

The first result of this collaboration is a new, vibrant and dynamic campaign entitled 'One City. Never Ending Stories' aimed at showcasing the Athenian experience.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda

 

 

Northern Greece is gaining ground for its rich culture and diversity, as well as beautiful landscapes and plenty of outdoor activities. However popular Athens and the Greek islands will be, sometimes it’s worth exploring the road less-traveled. Vogue takes us to 3 areas in Northern Greece where you can go wine tasting in the Rhodope mountains or visit the Great Prespa Lakes, bordering Albania and Republic of Macedonia.

Kavala

‘Northeast of Thessaloniki, in Greek Macedonia, the port town of Kavala serves as an excellent base for visiting the ancient city of Philippi and wine tastings around the semi-continental Rhodope mountains.’

Nymfaio

‘Grevana, to the south, is a quaint village recognizable for its arched stone bridges, mushrooms, and snowboarding. There is a half-pipe at posh Vasilitsa resort and Valia Calda National Park is nestled into a valley nearby as well.’

To read this article in full, please visit: Vogue

Save the date for Sunday, December 15th, when the British Residence will open its doors for the 3rd consecutive time to welcome old and new friends in Athens in an open day event that will reveal the fascinating history behind this magnificent building!

The British Residence is one of the most elegant neo-classical houses in Athens and the home to Eleftherios Venizelos towards the end of his life. Since 1936, the building has hosted the activities of the British Embassy, while today it is the home of HM Ambassador Kate Smith CMG.

To attend ‘THE BRITISH RESIDENCE OPEN DAY,’ applicants are kindly requested to send an email to events@british-embassy.gr noting ‘RESIDENCE OPEN DAY’ at the email subject, to receive further information regarding the registration process. Admission is granted only following a pre-registration on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To learn more about this event, click here.