Sahlep comes from the root of an orchid and apart from its interesting taste, it is also a very strong thickening agent, so very little goes a long way (which is fortunate as it costs 98 euro per kilo!). The most interesting attribute of sahlep, however, is that it gives the ice cream an interesting elasticity, typical of kaimaki.
This recipe is perfect for those avoiding egg-based ice cream and it will keep in the freezer for longer. Serve it on its own with sour cherry syrup called vissinada (another traditional Greek combination) and some pistachios.
KAIMAKI ice cream
• 1tsp salepi (sahlab) or 1tbsp corn starch
• 2 cups milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/4 tsp mastic powder
• chopped pistachios for decoration
DIRECTIONS
1. Dilute salepi in 1tbsp cold milk.
2. Bring milk, cream and sugar to boil, add salep (I used immersion blender because it wouldn’t dilute). Stir in mastic and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Add the slice of orange rind and remove from heat. Let it cool and place in the fridge. Churn in an ice cream machine.
4. Keep in the freezer until needed.
KALI OREKSI!
foodjunkie.eu
XpatAthens
Wednesday, 01 May 2024 23:38
Transforming Athens: The Rise of Europe's Largest Smart City Project
Described by Bloomberg as "Europe's largest smart city project," the Ellinikon Project by Lamda Development is making waves. Specifically, the publication notes that along the southern coastline of Athens, a long-awaited plan to transform the former airport of the Greek capital into Europe's largest smart city is finally gaining momentum. After a decade of delays, the vision for the Greek project is emerging. The marina tower, expected to be Greece's first skyscraper, is beginning to rise, while the iron skeletons of apartment buildings are taking shape. Standing at the marina, with a view of the Saronic Gulf on one side and the tower on the other, one can envision the future city, boasting open spaces, sustainable energy sources, and abundant greenery, elements currently lacking in Athens.
Spanning 6,200 acres and a 20-minute drive from the city center, the Ellinikon project will transform both the coastline and the country itself. It's the kind of project commonly seen in China or the United Arab Emirates and signifies Greece's resurgence post-crisis. Estimates suggest the project will add 2.5 percentage points to Greece's GDP and create up to 80,000 new jobs, while generating tax revenues exceeding €10 billion after its completion in 2037.
Moreover, it's expected to attract an additional million tourists annually, who can choose between a Mandarin Oriental hotel and an integrated casino-resort for their stay. For those looking to reside permanently in Elliniko, 243 units are already up for sale, with 140 already committed. The Marina Tower apartments, beachfront villas, and residential complexes were the first to sell out, with Lamda announcing property sales revenue of €641 million since last March.
Most buyers were Greek citizens, and the city is expected to house up to 20,000 people in approximately 10,000 homes over the next 13 years. Residents will have access to schools, parks, offices, stores, and even the beach within 15 minutes.
The process to start operations at the Greek project was not easy. When Lamda purchased the plot in 2014, parts of it were filled with the former airport's debris, including abandoned aircraft, while other parts housed refugees and migrants. The waterfront was filled with nightlife establishments and long-forgotten sports facilities, while licensing delays further complicated matters. Greece's near-bankruptcy when the project was proposed made it even more unlikely to start someday, as reported by Bloomberg.
While these challenges have receded, Lamda continues to face a labor shortage. Nearly 7,000 workers will be needed next year when construction begins around the project's commercial center. Lamda currently has around 2,000 employees and is in advanced discussions with contractors to bring in construction workers from other countries. By the end of summer, seven new apartment buildings will be visible from the shore, alongside the skyscraper currently under construction.
By the end of 2024, the skyscraper will reach 100 meters, and the number of beachfront residential buildings under development will skyrocket to 15. It's worth noting that by the end of 2025, a sports center with football fields, tennis courts, and swimming pools will open to the public. In conclusion, Lamda's CEO, Odysseas Athanasiou emphasizes that "by Christmas 2026, we want residents to live in their homes."
Originally published in Greek on: newsbeast.gr
Originally published in Greek on: newsbeast.gr
Transladed by: Codico Lab
Published in
Greece In The News
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Wednesday, 18 February 2015 13:27
The National Marine Park Of Zakynthos
Zakynthos is one of the most important loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta nesting areas in the Mediterranean. Finding refuge in the marine area of the Bay of Laganas is actually a matter of survival for this beautiful but critically endangered species. Caretta caretta reaches Zakynthos in summer after having travelled thousands of kilometers across the Mediterranean territory.
During oviparity period, the female turtles head to the shore at night and dig with their back fins big holes in the sand, where they place 120 small eggs the size of ping pong balls. They then head to the sea leaving behind their traces in the sand, a sign that marks the holy ritual of birth.
After forty to sixty days the first eggs begin to “burst”. The little turtles remain protected for a few days more in the warmth of their nest until their body takes its final shape. A strong memory instinct will lead them back to the sea, where they will embark on their fascinating journey of life. They may return—adults this time—to breed and nest in the same place that they themselves were born. Unfortunately only one out of a thousand will survive since they will be exposed to many dangers, mostly associated with human activity. That is the reason why the Marine Park had been founded there in the first place.
For more information, please visit www.nmp-zak.org
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Travel Greece
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Friday, 20 February 2015 15:29
Kaimaki Ice Cream
In Greece we call this type of ice cream “kaimaki” and it very typical of 1960s style confectionery shops selling baklava and kataifi as well as other types of-usually syrupy- sweets, but the recipe is based on Diana Abu-Jaber’s book The Language of Baklava, which was the previous Cook the Books pick. It is very often served in silver-style bowls and I remember eating it after big meals with the family over ekmek kataifi or with ravani. I always thought that it tasted of the mastic, but Diana’s recipe revealed another very interesting ingredient: sahlep (we call it salepi in Greek).
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Greek Food & Diet
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Friday, 06 March 2015 12:41
Athens Is # 3! Top 10 Destinations In Europe For 2015
20 selected destinations competed for the prestigious title of Best European Destination 2015. After a three week period of online voting (244,696 voters made their choice and influenced the result!), Bordeaux has been elected the Best European Destination 2015, followed by Lisbon second and Athens third!
Bordeaux, Lisbon, Athens, Valetta, Riga, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Innsbruck, Milan, Brussels, Vienna, Rome, Barcelona, Istanbul and Madrid are the next best destinations for a holiday or city-trip in 2015.
European Best Destinations describes Athens:
'Athens is considered the cradle of western civilization. Over the years, a multitude of conquerors occupied Athens, and erected unique, splendid monuments - a rare historical palimpsest, evident everywhere in the city.
The contemporary urban scenery of the sprawling city reflects its exciting history, its multi-cultural modern personality as well as the infrastructure and facilities. In other words, Athens is a must destination that combines modern urban innovation with history, culture and natural beauty throughout the year.'
XpatAthens would like to thank everyone who voted for Athens!
Published in
Travel Greece
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Thursday, 07 May 2015 08:00
Greece Takes Part in ‘European Clean-up Day’ Campaign
Greece is participating! European Clean-up Day is running from May 8-10. It is a Europe-wide annual clean-up day coordinated by the European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) in order to reduce littering in nature and give visibility to the issue.
Over 4,500 volunteers of all ages throughout Greece have already registered their action (beach, underwater and forest clean-ups) with the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA), the coordinator for the European Clean-up Day in Greece. These locations are across 50 coastal and mountain areas, displayed on the campaign’s e-map. Last year, some 5,000 volunteers participated in the event.
HELMEPA invites all to give a helping hand by organizing their own beach, lake, river or even forest, park or neighbourhood clean-up.
For more information about how to participte, please visit Greek Travel Pages.
Published in
Greece In The News
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Wednesday, 17 February 2016 07:00
Greek Tourism Thrives In 2015, Recording A 5.7% Rise In Arrivals
International tourist arrivals in Greece increased 5.7 pct in 2015 compared to 2014, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) said on Thursday, announcing its official data collected from the country’s airports.
According to the report, 843,000 more tourists came to Greece in 2015, with the total number of airport arrivals reaching 15.5 million.
In December, Athens maintained its robust numbers with a 15.5 pct rise in arrivals compared to the same period of 2014, while for the entire year the Greek capital achieved an impressive 22.6 pct jump.
For the rest of the country, the Ionian and Cycladic islands secured the lion's share of tourists in 2015 recording a 3.7 pct and 15 pct boost in international arrivals respectively.
To read more, please visit: The TOC
Published in
Local News
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Tuesday, 12 April 2016 07:00
Archaeologists Study Skeletons From Ancient Cemetery At Phaleron
Not even four miles south of Athens lies Phaleron, a port of Athens in classical times. Phaleron boasts one of the largest cemeteries ever excavated in Greece, containing more than 1,500 skeletons. Dating to the 8th-5th centuries BC, Phaleron is significant for our understanding of the rise of the Greek city-state and, in particular, for understanding the violence and subjugation that went with it. Two mass burials at Phaleron include people who were tossed face-down into a pit, their hands shackled behind their backs.
The shackled skeletons, easily the most compelling remains from Phaleron, have received researchers' attention for decades, as they are among the very few instances of shackled deaths in the ancient world and could indicate punishment, slavery, or a death sentence. But study of these “captives” has to take place within the context of the entire cemetery, and analyzing 1,500 skeletons is a massive task.
In the long-term, Phaleron skeletons will give us a window into a critical time in ancient Greek history, just before the rise of the city-state.
For more information about Phaleron and the excavation, please visit: Forbes
For more information about Phaleron and the excavation, please visit: Forbes
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Greece In The News
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Thursday, 01 June 2017 07:00
Walking In Athens With Constantine Cavafy
Renowned Greek poet Constantine Cavafy was born in Alexandria, Egypt, on 29 April, 1863. A cosmopolitan by birth, Cavafy travelled for the first time to Greece in the summer of 1901, accompanied by his brother Alexandros. His stay in Athens constitutes the topic of a new book entitled Walking in Athens with Constantine Cavafy.
Wandering through Athens with Cavafy is a fascinating experience. Readers will have the chance to discover that, despite the fact that it’s been over a century ago and with dramatic changes have taken place in the capital, the city centre has preserved the broad outline of its physiognomy. The urban grid, shaped like a large symmetrical triangle and dating from the time of King Otto (mid 19th century), is still the city’s most obvious trait, while the large public buildings that remain attractions adorning the city would have also been seen by Cavafy at the time.
“Cavafy travelled for the first time in Greece in the summer of 1901 during a period of leave from his job. The poet was 38 years old and was accompanied by his brother Alexandros. Travelling to Athens with Cavafy is a fascinating experience.”
To purchase ‘Walking in Athens with Constantine Cavafy,’ please visit: ETP Books
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Books
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Monday, 27 August 2018 07:00
A Foodie Haven In Kerameikos, Athens
Known as a new foodie haven, Kerameikos is home to unique restaurants, interesting neo-tavernas, and ethnic hangouts. Greece Is explores the neighborhood for food lovers and shares the best places to eat and relax.
Aleria
Aleria is now the home of modern Greek cuisine and is based on the triptych of good ingredients, high technology and modern ideas. You can select the food based on the wine you like – the wine list is long and the staff is knowledgeable. Try the beef tartare with yogurt, wasabi cream and ouzo jelly.
Address: 57 M. Alexandrou
Telephone: 210 522 2633
Athiri
The salon for the winter has 50 seats, while the outer space accommodates twice as many. The food is modern Greek cuisine with a traditional base. The menu changes twice a month. It’s small, with about 12 appetizers and salads and seven mains. They make their own bread daily and their food has a nice Greek character.
Address: 15 Plateon
Telephone: 210 346 2983
To read this article in full, please visit: Greece Is
Photo Credit: Greece Is
Photo Credit: Greece Is
Published in
Restaurants In Athens
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Thursday, 17 May 2018 18:55
May 1st - Happy May Day!
Ever wondered what makes Greek people embrace life? Well you can now discover the few simple steps that lead them to well-being, as well as how May 1st is celebrated and treated like a special holiday!
Please click HERE to view this issue of our newsletter!
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Newsletters
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