Tag: Greece

The 10 best bakeries in Athens,Greece

The smell of bread coming out of the oven is unique in Greece. It awakens childhood memories, reminds you of situations and travels you on delicious paths and roads. I think there is no better start to the day than visiting an oven that is full of freshly baked goodies and that is why we have gathered the 10 best stops that if you stay close you have to go every day if you stay for it is worth visiting if they are on your way.

Before we go on, some more details about bread in Greece.

Psomi” (greek: ψωμί) is the word for the classic, traditional type of bread found throughout Greece, dating back perhaps thousands of years. Historically, when homes did not have their own ovens capable of baking bread, women would take their dough to the town baker to use his oven to get this essential item fresh for their families daily. In Greece the local baker became a central point in every village, sometimes acting as a communal kitchen. That had as a result the Greeks having very intimate, personal, and involved relationships with their favorite bakers and bakeries.

Have a look now on the best bakeries in Greece

Takis

Takis Bakery in Koukaki

If you live in Koukaki then you are lucky. You have the privilege to start your day with a stop at Takis, who has been working in the same position since the 70’s. It is a small struggle to find what you will choose from its huge variety of breads. And it does not stop there. Sweets, sandwiches, buns and everything else you can imagine, you will find them all in their excellent quality at Takis. Its aesthetics are genuine and traditional. If you want to be stunned by its smells, you can spend the early morning hours. But believe me this is a slow torture.

Misaraliotou 14, Athens

Pnika

The history of bread in Athens is intertwined with Mr. Dimitris Kotsaris, who built a legacy that even today seems to teach the right bread. Its ingredients are simple. Water, a little salt and proper flour. The latter was his greatest passion, so he built his own stone mill in the bakery of Pagrati.

Today, his son continues the glorious work and the three shops of Pnyx daily offer pure, divine and delicious bread. Do not forget to try the bread ‘Pnyka’ with buckwheat and sourdough, as well as the bread with herbs in a form with stone mill flour. Also, on the way to get his cheese pie with a secret recipe from Pnyx. With the three bakeries in the center of Athens, you have no excuse that you were not close to try it.

Pratinou 13, Pagrati, 2107251941,

Lycabettus

If you are a fan of the German school in bread then you will love this oven to death. The wonderful aesthetics of the space is harmoniously combined with the wonderful aesthetics on its shelves, with the breads making a wonderful canvas with their different colors. I will not start giving you categories of bread, since you have to go from there to see them, to smell them and to choose which one will turn a blind eye to you. Of course, you should not forget to try his mini sandwiches, his sweets and his Christmas melomakarona. Generally, once you enter Lycabettus, you will not know where to move and you will lose your orientation.

Deinokratous 59, Kolonaki, tel. 210 7211348

Mom bread

From the outside, it looks like another bakery in the neighbourhood. But as soon as you enter, first, the aesthetics and then the smells (or even upside down) make you understand that something beautiful is happening in here. The piano has its own prominent position and you may be surprised to find it in an oven. But the issue here is bread. Pure, delicious and fragrant, made with organic flour by small producers in Epidaurus, you immediately understand that in this corner shop the bread lives its apotheosis.
Zacharitsa 42-44 & Zinni, Koukaki

Rizos

Koukaki could easily be the perfect area for bread. Another stop you must make if you are in this beautiful neighborhood is Rizos. With continental roots, it is a guarantee for delicious traditional bread. But Rizos does not live there alone. It has a wide variety of German breads, rusks and a wonderful bun. I’ve had fun with his baguette but these are preferences.

Matrozou 12, Koukaki

Bread Varieties Exarchos

There in Piraeus there is a bakery that has a tradition since 1934 and is located in Gallipoli. He moved to his current location in 1981. From generation to generation, few things have changed and that is what makes him so enchanting. More than ten types of bread, from Gianniotiko, with yellow village flour, wholemeal dandruff to octahedron but also more modern breads with chia seeds. Do not forget when you go to try his awesome cheese pie and his handmade sweets.

Friendly Society 29

Karras

A little further north, on the borders of Attica and specifically in Agios Stefanos, is Karras. An oven that bakes in wood and has a tradition since 1930. Whatever you choose has the magic touch of the wood oven that makes it even more perfect. Apart from his bread, everyone is talking about his bun with the chocolate layers.

58 Marathonos Ave., Ag. Stephanos

Ioannina

As we said before, Epirus and Ioannina have a special tradition in bakery. From its name alone, this oven in Peristeri predisposes you to hide something very delicious. It has been there since 1970, with traditional recipes, it offers wonderful bread and goodies. Personaly, i love the traditional pies and cookies you can find there.

Megalou Alexandrou 35, Peristeri – Athens

The Good Boy Bakery

The most recent addition to the space is the one that has brought a youthful air to the bakery. The awesome kid came to offer quality, delicious and fragrant bread in the city but with a fresh and modern look. His baguettes may even be envied by Frenchmen who grew up with them.

Papadiamantopoulou 30, Ilisia

Bettys Bakery

The last sentence on our list does not look like any other oven. Maybe very simply because it is not an oven in the natural sense of the store. When Elizabeth decided to quit her previous job, she had only one vision. To make wonderful, fragrant bread, with authentic raw materials that will arrive at your door every day. She succeeded and now you know that if you want the best bread at your door while you are in Greece then Betty will make it and bring it to you every day. Go to her site, choose and try. Then you will understand what fresh bread means.

www.bettysbakery.gr tel: 6944600896

Article was written with info from the greek websites oneman and popaganda.

March 20, 2021
What do you need to have on your fridge for a Greek meal

what have you got in your fridge? In order to be here, maybe you don’t have too many things.. some beverage cans, a clay jar mask jar, and a leftover package from the delivery guy . Maybe we can fix that.

Since you are here, it means you always want to have an equipped refrigerator, which at every moment of the week will contain the necessary materials from which you will “build” healthy, nutritious meals for you and your family that will have a spice of Greece inside them. Obviously, we won’t talk about meat over here but all the things you need to have so you can add a Greek flavor to your burger if you do wish to .

There are some basic things that, if you’ve always got them on your shopping list, you can cook many, many recipes, other easy and more complicated.

Lets Go

Vegetables

Easily keep some vegetables, such as lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers, in the refrigerator drawer. Traditional recipes involve a lot of vegetables and always they are used as a salad to accompany your main meal. The type of vegetables depend on the type of the year always, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and courgettes in the summer while carrots and cabbage during the winter. If you have those you are in the right start.

Seasoning

Tomatoes in a local Greek market

You cant have Greek food without the necessary seasoning. A bunch of parsley or dill – which will cost you nothing – will help you make the most simple, everyday dish. Always keep a bunch as they will make the difference on your everyday food. Parsley, dill and oregano are the basic ones i would say but… i always have also a bottle of capers with me. You never know where you will use them…

Fresh milk

The only sure thing is that fresh milk will need you. Even if you do not drink it simple, so many recipes ask for it. If you have too much of it, you will have the perfect besamel stuff to put on the baked lasagna in the oven, or the opportunity to make a nice milk pie with a sheet.

Fruit

Put in your fridge apples, oranges, pears and any seasonal fruit you like. If you do not eat them like healthy snacks, you will put them in fancy recipes (sweet pies, jams, cakes, tarts, etc.). Remember, you do not buy huge quantities every time – so you have time to consume – and always put them in the special drawers to keep them fresh and crisp.

Eggs

If you consume eggs fairly often, you can store them outside of the refrigerator, ie on the kitchen counter. But if you use them in the same way, you better put them in the refrigerator, as most do. You may be doing a nice Greek Kayanas (Eggs in tomato sauce with feta cheese) or a simple omelette.

Feta Cheese

Which Greek home does not always have at least one slice in the fridge? It is used in a thousand ways: it enters the salads and the daco, accompanies the olive oil and enters countless recipes. If you do not know what to eat, there is no better meal than some nuts, olives, a tomato cut into 4 (with salt and freshly ground pepper) and a few pieces of delightful feta cheese slice. Still not convinced?

Greek Yoghurt

Ok, some times i do get the classic yoghurt Marks and Spencer have. Nevertheless, if i have to choose there is nothing comparable to the flavor, the texture and taste of a proper greek yoghurt. Try it as the classic morning yoghurt-honey combination, or as an add on sauce on a variety of dishes.

Grated cheese

Pasta comes from Italy but as you might know…we are neighbors and we do love our pasta also. And because pasta with no cheese is not possible, always put in a basket with your shopping a Trimmed Kefalograviera. If you do not use it in pasta, you can put it in omelets, salty buttercups, pies, and still in a chicken broth.

Olive Oil

On a separate category on its own. Greeks use it everywhere… Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. You will see it in 95% of recipes. Obviously use the best one for salads but in generally you need to have a huge bottle on your kitchen.

Or basically you are not Greek…

Pickles / olives / capers / marmalades

Pickles and Olives are best as side dishes, on the table or with the salad. I never have a dish of greek fasolada without pickles and greek kalamata olives. While marmalades are always a part of nice traditional Greek breakfast

March 12, 2019
A walk in Varvakios Market in Greece

Last new years astve i decided to have a go at the main center of Athens in the morning in order to have a chance to get my last presents. Walking up and down in Athens i ended up walking inside the biggest food market in Athens. The Varvakios market.

Varvakeios Agora – the biggest market area in one locale in Greece – is one of the city’s landmarks and known all over as a ‘’must visit’’ for the best meats, fish, fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices. The market is referred to as the Municipal or Central Market of Athens or, as the locals would say, the Kentriki Agora, and of course the Varvakeios Agora as most people know it.

Historical Background

Designed by the architect Ioannis Koumelis the Varvakeios was built between 1876 and 1886 and replaced a previous unsightly arrangement of wooden sheds and flimsy structures, which had served as public market before. Even a huge fire in 1884 did not stop the project. Named after one of Greece’s national heroes, Ioannis Varvakis who lived between 1745 and 1825 and is remembered to this day for his part in helping Greece gain independence from their Ottoman rulers; the market draws visitors from all over. The complex underwent extensive renovations during the period 1979 – 1996 and today houses more than 70 shops under the covered area alone. Apart from the meat, fish and fresh produce counters to peruse, sit down at some coffee shops, restaurants, fast food outlets and little tavernas. Ask for patsas (made from pork stomach) to get rid of a hangover or too much rich food after a heavy night out!

A video posted by Antonis (@thegreekfood) on Jan 21, 2017 at 5:23am PST

Where to Find the Market

Situated on Athinas Street and adjacent roads such as Evripidou, Eolou and Asophocleous Streets in the heart of the city between Omonia and Monastiraki Squares, the market is easy to reach. It is within walking distance of the City Hall and the well-known Kotzia Square which many tourists find very convenient as quite a number of hotels are situated nearby.

Opening Hours

The market is open between 7am and 6pm every day, including Saturdays, but closed on Sundays. The only exception is Easter, Christmas, Clean Monday and other important holiday festivals when Greeks follow a special diet. During those festivals the market may stay open longer and also operate on Sundays.

Value for Money

The younger set may prefer to buy their food in modern supermarkets; however, those above 40 generally understand where to find the best value, which is in the halls and aisles of the Varvakeios Agora. Meat, fish, fruit and vegetables are fresh and you can handpick what you like. Prices are better than those you find in modern supermarkets. The real value is probably found in the fact that you have a huge variety, that you can compare prices and be sure of absolute freshness before you buy. If restaurant owners shop here, so should you!

Like all big cities, Athens and shopping are best experienced when you shop where the locals shop – yes, often you find the heart of the city and its culture where the locals go to buy their fresh fish, meats and produce. The Varvakeios Agora is an excellent example.

The Fish Market

Since fish forms an important part of the Mediterranean diet, it should come as no surprise that the Varvakeios Fish Market serves up to 5,000 customers every day; the fish market alone employs more than 400 staff members that handle as much as 10 tons per day. The choice is great – from bream, cod, mackerel, sardines, swordfish, sole and monkfish to anchovy and more. It seems the list is endless. In fact, you will find almost any fish the Aegean Sea has to offer.

Varvakios Meat Market

This section is found next to the fish market – it surrounds the fish market on 3 sides – and has an amazing choice of beef, pork, goat, lamb, chicken, livers, kidney and sometimes rabbit. Some fresh, and some cured – the latter perfect as gifts. People come over here before easter to get ingredients for the easter soup, magiritsa or before christmas to prepare the traditional dinner.

Vegetables and the Spices market

Fruit and Vegetables Opposite the meat and fish markets you will find the freshest produce imaginable: peaches, lemons, grapes, oranges and prunes, amongst choices. Look out for every vegetable your heart desires: a variety of pumpkins, cauliflower, broccoli, and potatoes. You name it, it’s there.

Olives and Spices Olives are very popular and easy to find in Greece. The Varvakeios Agora is no exception, and every variety imaginable is to be found in the market. Most storeowners will allow you to sample their olives before you buy. Spices and nuts are on display in the Evripidou Street area, as are raisins, dates, berries and a variety of dried fruits.

Some Valuable Tips

* To get the most out of your Varvakeios Agora experience, make sure you’re not in a hurry. Take your time and, apart from visiting the fresh food stores and counters, browse through various stores that sell canned and bottled products too.

* To avoid a typical buyer’s rush, try and visit the market between 10 am and 1 pm. That way you can be sure of having the best options AND fresh produce at hand since all stores will be open and the choices will be great.

* As for transport: rather than use a private car or taxi – which can get caught up in the city’s terrible congestion – consider the metro service and other modes of transportation such as one of the various bus lines. You don’t have to worry about parking, which is not only hard to find, but also very expensive.

* It is best to wear shoes and not flip-flops as the floors may be damp or wet.

* If you are prepared to wait until later in the day, prices are likely to drop as vendors want to be sure to sell all their products.

* Gifts – tourists have a wonderful choice of canned sardines, meats, spices, olives, cheeses and dried fruits to take home with them.

As one of the outstanding landmarks in Athens, the Varvakeios Agora has been bringing food to the public – locals as well as visitors – for almost 150 years. Its popularity as culinary destination can’t be questioned.

February 1, 2017