Athens in 10 Dishes With Local Chef Markos Marmatakis
Markos Marmatakis, chef and concept creator at restaurant To Theio Tragi, shares his must-eat Greek dishes and where to try them in Athens.
Beyond the well-known – and delicious – moussaka and tzatziki, many highlights of Greek cuisine are relatively under the radar and often overlooked by visitors. Markos Marmatakis, head chef of To Theio Tragi (‘the Holy Goat’) – Athens’s first ‘punk bistro’ and cocktail bar, where workers all receive the same salary – shares his recommendations for Greek dishes, from the famed souvlaki to the lesser-known sofrito, and where to find them in Athens.
1. Souvlaki at Kostas
Restaurant, Fast Food, Mediterranean
3. Sofrito at Vlassis
Restaurant, Mediterranean, Greek, Vegetarian
4. Pappardelle with Kavourmas at Seychelles
Restaurant, Greek
Little known outside of Greece, kavourmas is cold cut meat soaked in oil and spices. In the olden days, boiled meat would be stored in clay pots with added fats and spices to preserve it for winter. Today, it is a delicacy that Marmatakis says is best sampled at Seychelles on Avdi square in the Metaxourgeio neighbourhood, where a house speciality is Greek pappardelle with kavourmas. Fresh Greek produce is sourced painstakingly from all over the country by the owners, then displayed and prepared by the chefs in front of your eyes in the open kitchen, in a performance rivalling those staged at the Apo Mikhanis theatre across the street.
5. Bifteki at Trigono
Bar, Pub Grub
6. Octopus Stifado at Mikres Kyklades
Restaurant, Greek
When thinking of Greek octopus dishes, most people picture lines of them drying under the Greek sun, ready for grilling. However, in the winter months, Greeks prefer to use this high-protein lean seafood in stifado, a slow-cooked, hearty stew made with warming spices and sweet pearl onions. Try this served with fava at Mikres Kyklades, an unassuming fish taverna hiding in a quiet alley in the shadow of Mount Ymittos in Ilioupoli. The taverna brings the sea to your table, straight from the owner’s native Schinoussa, a Cycladic island.
7. Dolmadakia at Rachati
Restaurant, Greek
Another well-known Greek dish is dolmadakia, or dolmades, which are stuffed vine or cabbage leaves. The stuffing and seasonings vary from region to region, but they are usually free of meat, making them a popular meze dish (accompanied traditionally only by lemon wedges) during the Lent period before Easter. Marmatakis recommends the Cretan version with ksinogala (sour milk) from Rachati in Ilioupoli, a cosy, unpretentious mezedopoleio which perfectly fits its name (meaning something like ‘relaxing’). It is run by a Cretan family who also make their own delicious rakomelo spirit using thyme honey from their home village.
8. Galaktoboureko at Serbetospito
Cafe, Pastry Shop, Greek
9. Kakavia at Raki Meze
Restaurant, Greek
10. Strapatsada at To Theio Tragi
Restaurant, Bar, Bistro, Greek
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
- Post ID: 1001300089
- Sponsored? No
- View Payload