WELLNESS HUB
XpatAthens
Friday, 20 February 2015 14:40
Chicken With Hilopites Pasta
This is a Greek recipe which is easy to make. Chilopites are traditional Greek egg pasta which can be found in long form, similar to tagliatelle or these are cut into little square pieces, like the ones I have used. If you cannot find chilopites see how you can make them yourselves or you can substitute hilopites with other egg pasta. To make this simple dish not many ingredients are necessary. Greek cooking is based on simple but good quality ingredients. The chicken is baked whole, or cut into pieces, in the oven with the skin on, in a tomato sauce and when baked it is then removed and additional water is added, for the pasta to be cooked in the chicken-tomato sauce, which makes it extra delicious.
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Serves: 5 – 6
INGREDIENTS
• 1 medium sized chicken (about 1.200 grams) or just thighs and breast
• 500 grams Chilopites pasta
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 4 ripe tomatoes peeled and blended with 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 cups water plus 2 more cups of boiled water
DIRECTIONS
1. Wash the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Blend the tomatoes in a food processor with tomato pasta.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper and place it in a baking dish. If you are cooking a whole chicken place the breast facing down.
3. Add the olive oil, half the water and the tomatoes.
4. Preheat oven at 180 degrees C and roast the chicken, turning once. When roasted, remove chicken to a platter and add the remaining hot water. Bring to a boil and then add pasta. Stir a couple of times until the pasta is cooked (about 20 minutes) and if needed add more hot water.
5. Serve, grating some Greek dried Myzithra, graviera, kefalotyri, halloumi or any other hard cheese on top.
kopiaste.org
Published in
Greek Food & Diet
Tagged under
Monday, 07 January 2019 07:00
Traditional Greek Tavernas Ideal For Children In Athens
Whether it's on a weekday or during the weekend, anytime is the perfect chance for parents and children to spend some quality time together. Nothing compares to a family lunch outing at a taverna in Athens, where the kids can play while you enjoy your meal.
Here are some of the top tavernas in Athens, ideal for families with young children!
Here are some of the top tavernas in Athens, ideal for families with young children!
O Tasos
One of the most popular family restaurants in Athens, O Tasos is famous for its ribs, a traditional Greek meat dish called 'kokoretsi', and oven cooked goat in a traditional ceramic pot. The restaurant offers excellent and fast service, an outdoor playground where children can pleasantly pass their time, and if you decide to visit the tavern on a Sunday, a clown is there to entertain the kids. The taverna also has plenty of parking so no need to worry about your car.
Address: 9 Aiginis, 122 44, Aigaleo
Hours: Open daily from 12:00
Price: 17-25 euros per person
To Steki Tou Antrea
If you wish to get away from the centre of Athens for a bit, a very wise choice would be to visit To Steki Tou Antrea in Spata. It's a family restaurant who opened their doors in 1975. The restaurant includes a wide variety of Greek dishes to choose from and guests have the opportunity to enjoy their meal while the kids may play in the playground inside the restaurant. The restaurant's ground floor is non smoking, while smoking is allowed on the upper floor.
Hours: Open daily from 12:00
Price: 17-25 euros per person
To Steki Tou Antrea
If you wish to get away from the centre of Athens for a bit, a very wise choice would be to visit To Steki Tou Antrea in Spata. It's a family restaurant who opened their doors in 1975. The restaurant includes a wide variety of Greek dishes to choose from and guests have the opportunity to enjoy their meal while the kids may play in the playground inside the restaurant. The restaurant's ground floor is non smoking, while smoking is allowed on the upper floor.
Where: 64 Dimarchou Christou Beka, 190 04, Spata
Hours: Open Fridays & Weekends
Price: 18-28 euros per person
Hours: Open Fridays & Weekends
Price: 18-28 euros per person
To Vrasto
With 40 years of presence in the field of gastronomy, Vrasto intends to bring to mind memories and smells of your childhood. The specialty of Vrasto is boiled meat soup, which is from where the restaurant received its name. Recently renovated, it has four different rooms and on sunny days, you can enjoy your meal in the green courtyard with a fountain. Other feaures of the restaurant are the child seats for toddlers, changing tables for babies, and a play area for children. Smoking is not allowed indoors.
Where: 3 Rodon & Rododafnis, 152 33, Chalandri
Hours: Open daily except Mondays from 7:30 pm. Weekends open at noon.
Price: 17-24 euros per person
Koralli
Koralli is well known for the quality of their food and service, which proves the longevity of the restaurant. Koralli opened its doors in 1995, focusing on fresh seafood and ouzo. However, if you are not fond of fish, you can try one of the roasts and choose from a variety of hot and cold appetizers! The restaurant offers a lovely dining experience with its stylish interior and modern playground, where you can leave your child to be entertained while you enjoy your food!
Hours: Open daily except Mondays from 7:30 pm. Weekends open at noon.
Price: 17-24 euros per person
Koralli
Koralli is well known for the quality of their food and service, which proves the longevity of the restaurant. Koralli opened its doors in 1995, focusing on fresh seafood and ouzo. However, if you are not fond of fish, you can try one of the roasts and choose from a variety of hot and cold appetizers! The restaurant offers a lovely dining experience with its stylish interior and modern playground, where you can leave your child to be entertained while you enjoy your food!
Where: Agamemnonos & 19 Kolokotroni, 176 75, Kallithea
Hours: Open daily at noon
Price: 10-16 euros per person
Gallery tou Meze
Hours: Open daily at noon
Price: 10-16 euros per person
Gallery tou Meze
Decorated as an old mansion, Gallery tou Meze makes you feel warm and cozy as you enter the restaurant. Οne of the unique characteristics of this restaurant is its love for homemade food, including sauces, mayonnaise, sausages, and sweets. Do not hesitate to try the special dish of the day. Smoking is not allowed inside there is, however, a smoking section outside. There is live music on Saturdays and a pedestrian zone where children can play.
Where: 63 Megalou Alexandrou, 121 32, Peristeri
Originally published in Greek on: Mama365
Translated by XpatAthens
Hours: Open daily at 1 pm
Price: 14-21 euros per person
Originally published in Greek on: Mama365
Translated by XpatAthens
Published in
Kids Life
Tagged under
Wednesday, 08 February 2017 15:59
Between Two Cultures - Εffie Spilioti Describes The Benefits & Hardships Of Returning To Homeland
Attorney Effie Spilioti was born and raised in Chicago. Her parents were first generation Greek immigrants who arrived in Chicago in search of a better future for their family. Like most immigrants, they left Greece with almost no resources, but with hope for the future and with a dream of returning to Greece someday.
“I followed my family to Greece after they decided to relocate there, for their retirement. When I arrived in Greece, I initially studied at the American College of Greece, but I had my mind set on studying law. After studying intensively for a year, I took the exams and was admitted to the Law School of the University of Athens.”
“I always believed that my upbringing in an immigrant family, watching them succeed through hardships and limited resources, has guided me and even assists me today in adapting to the insecurity of the current situation in Greece. If there is one thing that I learned from my parents as immigrants, that is importance of perseverance, hard work and “ethos” in all aspects of life. These are the traditional values that are common in all Greek immigrants, whether they are in the United States, Australia or other countries.”
Being exposed to two cultures has not been easy. When you are exposed to two cultures it is inevitable that you compare them to each other. As a woman living in Greece, I cannot say that I faced discrimination based on my gender in the workplace. It should be noted that Greece has laws that significantly protect the rights of mothers in the workplace.
To read this article in full, please visit: Greek TV
Published in
People
Tagged under
Tuesday, 22 August 2017 09:25
A Second Serving Of Greek Summer 2017
It tastes so good. You know it does. The Greek summer – wherever you’re living it – leaves you wanting more and more.
Those blue skies. That amazing sea. That soft sand.
So why stop? After all, the Greek summer doesn’t. September, October … perfect for a second serving.
Post a photo of your Greek summer experience and tag a friend back home and the two of you will automatically enter the draw to win a pair of Aegean Airlines tickets to Greece!
For more information, please visit: Discover Greece
Published in
Greece In The News
Tagged under
Friday, 10 November 2017 10:33
September 6 - Back To Life In Athens
We welcome September in this issue with local news updates, latest strike information, and all you need to know about local Greek farmer's markets.
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!
Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!
Published in
Newsletters
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Tuesday, 13 February 2018 05:24
NKUA Introduces Greek Culture & Heritage Through E-Learning Platform - YouGoCulture
A new initiative has been developed by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which promotes Greek culture and heritage in a digital E-learning platform. YouGoCulture creates images that allows us to travel to Greece from across the world, all through its online platform.
YouGoCulture is a free access, public and nonprofit platform, which captures the charm of unique destinations in the Peloponnese and in Attica. This new digital platform is committed to highlighting the character of cultural heritage and modern lifestyles all over the country. So far, their work includes 9 destinations, dozens of videos and interviews, thousands of photos and panoramas, and much more.
"The site is designed for international visitors to Greece and is entirely in English. It has been operational for almost a year, currently offering nine digital destinations: Mystras, Lavrio-Sounio, Elefsina, Marathon, Mycenae, Ancient Olympia, Messene, Epidaurus and Athens. Five more are set to be added in the near future (Limnos, Delos, Knossos and Delphi), while another 16 are in the pipeline."*
YouGoCulture, supported by Act4Greece and the National Bank of Greece, is seeking to raise €65,000 to produce more original audiovisual material to promote Greece's culture and heritage to international audiences. So far, over €41,000 euros have been raised.
*Source: Ekathimerini
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Tuesday, 25 June 2019 16:26
June 25 - Olive Oil: Greece's Liquid Gold
There are countless aspects of Greek culture that make it so unique. One of them is its ''Liquid Gold'', or Olive oil! It has a long history dating back to Ancient Greece, has won a variety of awards and many interesting facts about it which you probably didn't know! So don't waste any time, learn all about them in this week's Newsletter.
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
Published in
Newsletters
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Friday, 08 May 2020 17:32
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Published in
About Us
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Tuesday, 08 December 2020 19:00
Athens To Play A Leading Role For International Movie Makers
With its high-impact blend of famous ancient sites and urban edge, Athens has long been a sought-after location for international movie makers.
Getting the cameras rolling in the Greek capital, however, has not always been easy. Red tape and a shortage of competitive incentives have often driven filmmakers elsewhere. But now the stage has been set to transform Athens into a “Film Friendly City” with the launch of an Athens Film Office and boosted cash rebates from the Greek Government. In the best practice of major European cities, the new Athens Film Office will be a one-stop-shop for receiving and managing film and television requests, facilitating filming requirements, and acting as a go-between to clear bureaucratic obstacles for overseas productions.
According to the Athens Film Office website, makers of films, television episodes, or advertisements will soon have over 70+ Athenian locations to choose from. Current options span from landmark squares like Syntagma and Omonia and Athens’ emblematic National Garden, to the Maria Callas Municipal Theatre with its magisterial lobby, and contemporary urban hub, Technopolis, in Gazi.
The new approach is already paying off. More than 10 international audiovisual works (movies, TV series, and advertising) will take place this year despite the pandemic and two-month lockdown; with work already underway on several.
Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis Says: "The Municipality of Athens, through the Athens Film Office, aspires to play a leading role in the effort to better utilize the development potential of the city, so that in the near future, Athens becomes a key pole of attraction for new investments - and hosts more and more international film productions.”
Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis Says: "The Municipality of Athens, through the Athens Film Office, aspires to play a leading role in the effort to better utilize the development potential of the city, so that in the near future, Athens becomes a key pole of attraction for new investments - and hosts more and more international film productions.”
In the city’s bid to lure more big movie makers to the city, the Athens Film Office - which comes under the "umbrella" of the Athens Development & Destination Management Agency (EATA) - will also work closely with the This is Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau to ensure that international film executives have access to premium facilities and services throughout their stay.
To read more about Athens as a filming location and the new Athens Film Office, please visit: thisisathens.org
Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs, to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!
Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.
To read more about Athens as a filming location and the new Athens Film Office, please visit: thisisathens.org
Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share! This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs, to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!
Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.
Published in
Local News
Tagged under
Tuesday, 19 October 2021 07:00
What To See In Athens Museum District
Anaktora, the area between Vasilissis Sofias and Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue, may appear like a demure residential neighborhood. But there’s nothing humble about it. Within a two-kilometer perimeter, you’ll find more blockbuster museums than any other area in Athens.
At the Benaki Museum, soak up a panorama of Greek history, folk art, and culture from the prehistoric era to the 20th century. If you’ve got a little more time, head a few doors down to see the world’s most extensive collection of ancient artifacts from the Cyclades at the Museum of Cycladic Art. Also on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, the Byzantine and Christian Museum is a trove of religious art and artifacts from icons to altarpieces, surrounded by one of the city’s loveliest secret gardens. If you’re into military paraphernalia, the National War Museum tracks Greek history through its military conflicts. (Allow for a bias towards success rather than defeat; the museum was erected by the junta as a “monument to Greek valor and military prowess”.)
Recent years have delivered three more compelling reasons to add the city’s museum district to your itinerary. First came the long-awaited Goulandris Museum of Contemporary Art which opened its doors in Pangrati in October 2019. There, visitors to Athens may gaze upon masterpieces by the likes of Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, Degas, Rodin, and Picasso, alongside works by famous Greek painters. Unearthed during construction at the gallery’s initial intended site was Aristotle’s Lyceum - one of the three famous philosophy schools of ancient Athens. It was here that Aristotle once strolled, discussing philosophy and mathematics with his students. And finally, cementing the district’s status as a nexus of both ancient and contemporary culture, the country's flagship art repository, the National Gallery, reopened in spring 2021 after a bold makeover.
This downtown neighborhood isn’t just about museums though. It’s also a corridor of political and financial power, lined by the city’s most exclusive real estate. These local sights and landmarks are definitely worth checking out in between museum-hopping.
The Presidential Mansion and the Prime Minister’s Office
Credit: Georgios Makkas
Executive power is concentrated in two splendid mansions midway down Irodou Attikou, a surprisingly tranquil street running alongside the National Garden. It’s subtly symbolic that the premier’s quarters sit just inside the gated grounds—and thus more directly accessible to the people—while the more aloof presidency is separated from the street by a wide lawn.
Evzones stand sentry outside the Presidential Mansion, designed in 1890 by Ernst Ziller as the palace of Crown Prince Constantine, but used as the president’s ceremonial residence since the monarchy’s abolition in 1974. Between state visits, the building lies dormant, except for visitors outside taking snaps of the hourly changing of the guard. Next door, the Prime Minister’s office is a hub of activity, with the media often camped outside. Known as the Maximos Mansion, it was built in 1924 as a private home. While nominally the premier’s official residence, no head of government has ever lived in it.
The Athens Conservatory
Credit: Georgios Makkas
Credit: Georgios Makkas
This sleek marble paean to the Bauhaus style was left to languish for nearly 50 years before its 5,000-square-metre music halls and stunning 150-meter porch teemed with melodies and people. Commissioned in 1959 from Jan Despo, a Greek student of Walter Gropius, the Conservatory (or Odeio, as it’s known locally) had the bad luck of being completed in 1971, four years after the junta seized power in Greece. Deemed too ‘foreign’ by the dictators, it was tainted by their brush and was not officially inaugurated until 2016.
Student activity often spills out of the 35 classrooms and two auditoria, with impromptu performances delighting young visitors to the small Hellenic Children’s Museum, housed on the ground floor. Occasional exhibitions and art fairs (such as the annual Art Athina) in the lower-level gallery add to the creative vibe.
Rizari Park
Credit: Georgios Makkas
Credit: Georgios Makkas
Commuters streaming from Evangelismos metro station trample Samuel Beckett’s Cascando, whose verses are used in an installation by artist David Harding, oblivious to the delights of this small urban park. Originally the grounds of the Rizarios Seminary, this wedge of greenery contains Roman remains, works by top contemporary artists like Giorgos Zogolopoulos, and one of the city’s oldest modern sculptures—a marble bust of Enlightenment scholar Neophytos Doukas by Christian Hansen. The Rizarios seminary was founded in 1841 by an Epirot merchant in Odessa who helped to fund the Greek War of Independence. The silver-domed Agios Georgios church next to Evangelismos station was part of the seminary. As well as interior murals by the 19th-century Corfiot artist Eleni Prosalenti, the church crypt contains Rizarios’ remains.
To read this article in full, please visit: thisisathens.org
To read this article in full, please visit: thisisathens.org
Whether you've just arrived in town – or have been here for years – Athens always has new secrets to share!
This is Athens is the official guide to this captivating city of ancient energies and booming urban culture. Compiled by a team of specialist local writers, This is Athens brings you an authentic and intimate portrait of a living Athens beyond the guidebooks – along with daily curated listings of all the best events and great weekend inspiration all-year round. From must-know neighbourhoods and emerging art hubs to gourmet hotspots, cool shopping, and the buzziest bars, This is Athens will help you to get the most out of living in Athens!
Thank you This is Athens for your contribution as an XpatAthens Partner.
Published in
City Discovery
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