XpatAthens

Thursday, 06 August 2015 07:00

Serendipity Magazine - 5th Issue

Serendipity Magazine explores artist expression. In this fifth issue, Serendipity explores how various media is utilized by artists. Inside you'll discover interviews with authors, artists and sculptors as well as a variety of interesting guest articles.

Click HERE to read this issue of Serendipity Magazine.

Published in Greek Language & Culture

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Tuesday, 05 January 2016 07:00

Traditional Greek Galaktoboureko Recipe

Galaktoboureko is a traditional Greek dessert made with layers of golden brown crispy phyllo, sprinkled with melted butter, filled with the most creamy custard and bathed in scented syrup.. Simply amazing! This is a very easy to follow Galaktoboureko recipe for you to recreate this traditional sweet delight from scratch. After a lot of experimenting, My Greek Dish has distilled the essence of this delightful traditional Greek dish to a few easy to follow steps for you to make the very best Galaktoboureko on your first effort!

This easy to follow recipe can be summarised in three key stages:

1) Layering the phyllo sheets

2) Preparing the creamy custard filling

and

3) Preparing the scented syrup

The key for thee most flavourable Galaktoboureko is to use a good quality fresh butter to butter the phyllos sheets. The authentic Greek Galaktoboureko recipe calls for 'galaktos' butter - made from a mix of sheep's and cow's milk, but if you can't handle very strong flavour, then you can substitute with good quality fresh butter from cow's milk. When preparing phyllo based desserts, a little trick to make the phyllo crispier and flakier is to sprinkle the melted butter over the phyllo sheets, rather than brushing them. Working with phyllo can be trickey as it's brittle and can dry out very quickly, so check the handling tips before preparing.

Preparing the Galaktoboureko custard:

For the custard, all traditional Greek Galaktoboureko recipes use thin semilina, to achieve the characteristic grainy texture of the crea, which in this case is not considered a flaw. On the contrary, what is considered a flaw of this recipe is a very smooth, starchy and tight custard. In most recipes, the eggs are added whole towards the end, but with Galaktoboureko, the eggs are beaten into meringues and combined in the semolina based cream. This is the secret to a more fluffy and creamy custard and to avoid the egg-y semall, which can ruin the flavour of this dessert. Just be sure to add the semolina slowy to the warm milk to avoid it forming lumps!

To read more, please visit: My Greek Dish

Published in Greek Food & Diet

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Tuesday, 04 October 2016 04:48

June 21 - Staying Connected

Stay up to date on entrepreneurship in Athens, what factors make our city successful, and the renovations of the Metropolitan Cathedral!

Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!

Remember to stay connected with us through our weekly newsletter, Facebook, and Twitter!

Published in Newsletters

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Tuesday, 11 February 2020 16:06

Celebrate Valentine's Day At Two Of The Most Historic Hotels In Athens

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and two of Athens' most iconic, luxurious and famous hotels invite you to spend this special day with your loved one by benefiting from their exclusive offers!

GB Corner Gifts & Flavors

The most renowned 'corner of Athens' welcomes St. Valentine’s Day and invites you to a world filled with authentic gifts and indigenous delicacies by French Pastry Chef Arnaud Larher. On that special day, visit the historic Hotel Grande Bretagne and gift your loved one with the most elegant products as well as with the exclusive Valentine’s Day dessert that the awarded Chef Pâtissier inspiringly has created.

GB Spa Experience

On Valentine’s Day, surrender to the nurturing of the awarded GB Spa. Visit the best spa of Athens and embark on a journey of rejuvenation and relaxation, revitalize your senses with an amazing range of spa treatments and an extensive spectrum of health and beauty therapies performed by our professional spa experts.

--> Half-Day Retreat in a Couple’s Suite

For the month of February, the awarded Spa will be providing its valued guests with a 20% discount on the two following treatments:

--> Purity of the Alps Facial treatment

More than a simple skin cleansing, the new Purity of the Alps treatment offers a true revival for the face. Designed to purify, balance and unify the complexion, this treatment is intended for all

--> Back, Neck & Shoulders Massage and Complimentary use of the GB Spa facilities

For 40' feel the tension in your back, neck and shoulders simply melting away after a long, demanding and stressful day with this wonderful classic massage.

Accommodation Experiences

Visit the landmark Hotel Grande Bretagne or the elegant King George, celebrate the most romantic day of the year and enjoy the opulent selection of privileges with an outstanding accommodation package that includes:

Hotel Grande Bretagne

- Room service full breakfast in bed

- Champagne & Chocolate strawberries, upon arrival

- Complimentary late check out at 4 pm, subject to availability

Offer is valid for stays between February 13th and February 15th 2020.

King George Hotel

- Room service full breakfast in bed

- Bottle of Bava Moscato D’Asti & Box of Valentine macarons, upon arrival

- Complimentary late check out at 4pm, subject to availability

Romantic Dining Experiences

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at GB Roof Garden and Tudor Hall Restaurant. Experience an alluring atmosphere and a romantic menu with the most beautiful view in town.

GB Roof Garden - Valentine’s Dinner Menu: 85€/person

Tudor Hall - Valentine’s Dinner Menu: 75€/person

HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, ATHENS
Syntagma Square, Athens
grandebretagne.gr | gbspa.gr | 210 33 30 000

KING GEORGE, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, ATHENS
Syntagma Square, Athens
kinggeorgeathens.com | 210 32 22 210

Published in Local News

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Tuesday, 02 March 2021 13:42

Greek Doctor Creates Stunning Mosaics With Expired Pills

Eleni Ioannidou, an infectious diseases specialist and director of the Pathology Clinic of Rethymno Hospital in Crete, creates stunning mosaics with expired pills! The tireless physician decided to revive the spectacular art of mosaics, and her main themes revolve around the Coronavirus pandemic.

Her original idea, however, dates back to 2008 when Ioannidou voluntarily operated a social pharmacy that dispensed medication to those in financial need. It was back then that she first started creating mosaics with unused expired pills. The Greek doctor saw the multicolor patterns shaped by the drugs decided to turn them into an alternative art medium. This decision was probably one of her greatest moments as her works are spectacular!

In her Blogspot, the doctor writes that ”during the quarantine period, this occupation worked psychotherapeutically and offered me a great relief from the intensity of work, and it was creative and enjoyable at the same time.”

To read this article in full, please visit: greekreporter.com

Photos: https://eleniioannidou.blogspot.com

Published in Greece In The News

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Friday, 25 June 2021 07:21

Athens Unpacked Episode 3 - A City Of Villages

"Athens is the most foreign capital in the world," wrote the Greek poet Michalis Ganas. Indeed, “True Athenians” - those who have lived in the Greek capital for generations - are rare. Most call another place home; whether it’s an ancestral mountain village or island. Or another land entirely. From the Cycladic islanders who built their picture-perfect settlement on the northern slopes of the Acropolis; to the displaced Greeks of Asia Minor who fled the great 1922 Catastrophe; and the 21st-century refugees who risk everything to escape.

In this episode, we explore the vibrant collection of outsiders who have made this city their own - and in their wake, created an ever-evolving tapestry of Athenian villages; each with its own distinct personality.

Bestselling writer and former anthropologist, Sofka Zinovieff, embarks on a quest to uncover the true essence of her adopted home, in all its layers and mysteries. Discover how Athenians feel about their own architecture, how tragedy and trauma have flavored the city’s cuisine, why Athens has always been a “15-minute city”, and much, much more.

Listen To Episode 3 HERE

Produced by Pod.gr, for This is Athens, tune in each fortnight and get ready to capture the seductive soul of Athens!

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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Thursday, 10 April 2025 11:11

The Maria Callas Museum Brings Music To the Children of “Agia Sofia” Children’s Hospital

The Maria Callas Museum is expanding its mission beyond its walls, reaching young patients at the “Agia Sofia” Children’s Hospital with a unique and inspiring educational program titled "The Power of My Voice – A Musical Journey with the Maria Callas Museum."

True to its educational and social mission, the Museum is stepping into new territory, offering hospitalized children a chance to explore creativity, self-expression, and communication through the universal language of music.

This original music-education program is specially designed for children staying at the hospital. It includes musical improvisation, theatrical play, and visual arts activities, all aimed at encouraging self-discovery and emotional expression. Each child even gets the chance to create their own musical composition, which is recorded and gifted to them – a personal keepsake from a moment of inspiration.

035 MARIACALLASMUSEUM PAIDON 7 4 25

A Museum Experience at Their Bedside

What makes this initiative even more special is that authentic items from the museum’s collection – such as photographs, annotated scores donated by the Hellenic Maria Callas Association, and Maria Callas’ own leather gloves, a gift from Konstantinos and Viktoria Pylarinou – are brought directly into the hospital space. Children are given the rare opportunity to see these cultural treasures up close, forging a personal connection with the legacy of one of the world’s greatest opera icons.

In this way, the performing arts become not just accessible, but deeply meaningful and experiential.

Behind the Scenes of the Initiative

This touching initiative is the result of close collaboration between the Maria Callas Museum’s experienced team and composer/music educator Markella Skourti, founder of AMKE “The Path of Music.”

The project was warmly embraced by the hospital’s administrative board and the Head of the Nursing Services Department, Ms. Efrosyni Vlachioti, making it possible to bring this program to life in a nurturing and supportive environment.

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A Cultural Outreach Mission

Two workshops have already taken place, receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback and proving just how impactful exposure to the arts can be in boosting emotional resilience and sparking joy in children’s lives.

This initiative is part of the Maria Callas Museum’s broader outreach strategy, which continuously invests in sharing its cultural identity through innovative methods. By bringing music, art, and legacy to communities that need it most, the Museum redefines what it means to be a truly public cultural institution.

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Published in Local News

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Thursday, 05 February 2015 13:12

My Week in Athens… Aug 2

Athens is well and truly in holiday mode. This means that many locals have left the city, there is less traffic, no line-ups, a sense of calm… For those of us who remain in the city during August, life goes on, although admittedly at a reduced pace and a not-so-secret desire to ‘get out’!

Resigned to tough it out and enjoy August in the city, I spent the past weekend catching up with friends before their mass exodus. I was reminded of the many faces of Athens neighbourhoods – the variety of visuals and communities one encounters. A world away from the historic centre, daily life in the northern suburbs reveals an interesting mix of different ‘hoods…

On Sunday I met some friends for breakfast at White Spoon in Cholargo. This is a hip little corner spot, with good coffee (!) and tasty food – omelettes, baguettes, salads. Interesting space, good service – I’d call it ‘cool and low-maintenance’ – busy with neigbourhood locals reading their morning papers…

In the afternoon, I ventured up (way up) to Dionysos, 20km north of the city centre. This is a very nice, well-organized and mostly well-to-do residential area, surrounded by forest and the Penteli mountain. While Athens was scorching, Dionysos was pleasantly warm – I’m told that snow is quite common in winter!

I finished the day off with an evening barbeque at a friend’s apartment in Maroussi. Maroussi is one of those neighbourhoods with something for everyone – apartments & offices, the usual shops, cafes & restaurants – but with enough variety to satisfy most tastes.

Athens truly has many different faces and neighbourhoods– quite handy when one’s vacation turns into a ‘stay-cation’…

Until next week…

Jack

White Spoon
Mesogeion 234, Cholargo
210 653 3645

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest...

Published in My Week In Athens

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Monday, 16 February 2015 10:57

Baku Restaurant At The Margi Hotel

Award-winning chef, Panagiotis Giakalis imparts his gastronomic experiences and skill to create dishes that will surely delight the most selective of palates. Bakù can best be described as an expression of the evolution and convergence of Greek and ethnic cuisines using locally produced Greek products at an affordable price.

Architect and co-owner Giagkos Agiostratitis designed bakù with the intention of creating an inviting and eclectic atmosphere reminiscent of the town Βakù. Custom made furniture, warm woven fabrics, crystal sconces and rare rugs from Βakù create a timelessly stylish and warm ambiance to complement the dining experience. Bakù is one of the first restaurants in Athens to have an open style bar, which has become a prominent feature in the space. The ivy-clad courtyard, complete with a fireplace creates another magical dimension to the restaurant.

The Margi
11 Litous Street
Vouliagmeni 16671
Athens-Greece
Tel. +30 210 8929000
Fax. +30 210 8929143
themargi@themargi.gr

Reservations department
Tel. +30 210 8929128
Fax. +30 210 8960229
reservations@themargi.gr

Do you have a recommendation or recipe to share? Send it to us at ideas@xpatathens.com!

Published in Restaurants In Athens

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Wednesday, 18 February 2015 15:54

Niarchos Foundation Making Central Park in Athens

In what is the biggest private venture in Greece, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Foundation is planning to build a “Central Park” in Athens to surround its cultural center, a 566 million euros ($768.46 million) project that government officials said would give an important business and psychological boost during a crushing economic crisis. It is expected to take two years to complete and will bring much-needed greenery to the concrete cityscape of the city. The center is being designed by famed architect Renzo Piano.

The visitors center opened on Oct. 7. It was designed by two young architecture students, Agis-Panagiotis Mourelatos and Spiridon Giotakis. Its purpose is to give the citizens the opportunity to find out about SNFCC and learn more about its role.

Through the Visitors Center you can see the SNFCC construction site up close and learn about the intensive work for its construction. There are also guided tours in order to see construction underway.

The center will be constructed in Kallithea, a neighborhood three kilometers (1.86 miles) south of Athens’ center. It is a multi-functional and environmentally viable project, where the culture and the arts are together.

It will use the natural resources in order to reduce its carbon footprint. The park is designed to ameliorate the level of life in the Greek capital due to its recyclable structure. The site will house the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera in a 170,000-square meter landscaped park.

You can get there:
By Bus: Get off at the Onasseio stop along Sygrou Avenue.
From Palaion Faliro: use the underground pass at the Planitarium to cross to the opposite site and then make your way to the pedestrian bridge.
By tram: Get off at the Delta Falirou stop and through the Esplanade you will reach your destination.

By Maria Papathanasiou

greekreporter.com

Published in Local News

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