PHILHELLENE NEWS
Kalo Mina ke Kali Aniksi!
The Age Good Food Guide 2011
The Age Good Food Guide 2011 edition was released this month and we are proud to be part of it again this year. With a score of 14/20 we are one of four Greek restaurants in Melbourne to make the cut. Here are some excerpts from the review:
"...Philhellene has established itself as a very good restaurant, not only for locals wanting great Greek food but as a place that's worth crossing town for. Service is delivered by a team who know what hospitality is about."
"The best advice is to look to the specials board...slow-roasted goat, the fall apart chunks of sweet meat on the bone...silverbeet dolmades with a warm spiced-beef filling."
George Xylouris at Thornbury Theatre - Sunday 12th of September
For those who missed Xylouris' performance at the Melbourne Recital Centre last Saturday where 800 people were mesmerised by the tunes of his lute and his Ensemble's exceptional melodies there is now another performance by George Xylouris and his Ensemble this Sunday the 12th of September at Thornbury Theatre at 4pm. Tickets are priced at a low $25, $15 for students and pensioners and kids under 12 for free. Tickets are available at the door or for table bookings please contact John Rerakis on 0402 211 220.
Also available for sale at Philhellene for the low price of $20 is the new LIVE CD by George Xylouris recorded this year in Melbourne as part of the Brunswick Music Festival.
Cooking Class in October
Phillip Vakos from Masterchef will be at Philhellene teaching his signature dish " " on Thursday the 7th of October, 9.30 - 12. Cost is $85 which includes light lunch & glass of matched wine. Please call 93703303 to book your spot or email info@philhellene.com.au.
'Philhellene' Trivia Night in October
To celebrate the Greek National Day (28th of October) we will be holding a Trivia night around Greek food & culture on Tuesday 19th of October at 7pm. There will be spot prizes as well as a grand price for the winning table. Team bookings of 6 are recommended or single bookings will join a team on the night.Call 93703303 or email info@philhellene.com.au.
Our lunch trading hours
We are continuing to be open for lunch on Thursday, Friday (12-3pm) and Sunday from 12pm right through to dinner. We will be re-opening for Wednesday lunches in November & December as we have started taking bookings for Christmas functions. Call or email the restaurant to enquire about the lunch & dinner options for the festive season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Melbourne in September is all about the AFL football finals. In 2004 a Greek AFL Team of the Century was formed with Anthony Koutoufides and Peter Daicos as vice-captains and Lou Richards as captain. The criteria was that any Greek blood whatsoever constituted eligibility for the team. The furthest blood line was from Russell Morris, whose great great great great grandfather was Greek. Other team members were Ang Christou, Andrew Demitriou, Con Gorozides, John Georgiou, Peter Kanis, Vasil Varlamos, George Lakes, Jason Trianidis, Ron Richards, Luke Beveridge, Spiro Kourkoumelis, Athas Hyrosoulakis, Angelo Lekkas.
The Greek community in Melbourne is very proud of their history in the sport of Australian rules. Richmond's first coach upon entering the VFL in 1908 was Charlie Pannam, a first-generation Greek migrant whose surname was originally Pannamopoulos. Before that he'd captained Collingwood, and the move to Richmond was obviously big news in those days. His son Alby Pannam, and grandsons Lou and Ron Richards then all went on to be stars both at Richmond and Collingwood.
Andrew Demetriou is the chief executive officer of the Australian Football League and a former Australian rules footballer. He is the youngest son of Greek-Cypriot immigrants who was recruited from Pascoe Vale and played for the North Melbourne Football Club as a winger.
Dish of the month: Cypriot Koupes
Featured in this year's Age Good Food Guide as "torpedo shaped koupes of burghul wheat and beef mince, stuffed with haloumi cheese, pine nuts and parsley" this slight variation to the Cypriot dish are available on our a la carte menu for lunch and dinner with a side of minted yoghurt.
Philhellene September Quiz
For a chance to win a dinner for two (value $80), be the first to answer this quiz correctly by emailing us at info@philhellene.com.au :
1 - Identify the dish in the photo & name another way the below can be cooked (photo taken in Crete by John & Susie):
2 - What is the traditional word used in Crete and Cyprus when setting the table for lunch/dinner?
3 - Besides Tinos, which well known monastery in Northern Greece draws big crowds on the 15th of August?