PHILHELLENE NEWS

Kalo Mina! 

The cold is continuing well into August but thankfully our open fire and our home cooked meals have been keeping our patrons warm & smiling.

Our trivia night was a hit - a night of good food and shared knowledge. Everyone finished up a winner!

August is a big month in Greece's orthodox calendar as the 15th of the month marks the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the biggest religious holiday after Easter and Christmas. Every corner of Greece celebrates this day in different ways. In Siatista, in the northern preficture of Kozani, the local men ride their beautifully adorned horses up to the Monastery of the Koimisis tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Mother Mary). The men train their horses weeks before the event and finally display their skills on the day in the town's main square. 

 

'FLAVOURS OF GREECE' at Philhellene

This year's "Flavours of Greece" kicks off at the end of this month and runs for four delicious weeks filled with unique foodie events. On Wednesday 5th of September at 7pm, Philhellene we will be celebrating the cuisine of the Southern Islands of Greece with an array of beautiful entrees, mains and desserts as well as matched wines & Barbaresso ouzo.

Cost for the evening is $90 and bookings are essential on 93703303 or at Flavours of Greece. 

Celebrating Greek Migration

The Victorian Government has granted $300,000 to the Hellenic Museum to mark the 60-year anniversary of Greek migration to Australia. The announcement was made at the Museum by the Minister for Multiculturalism and Citizenship, Nicholas Kotsiras.

The money will be used to fund a series of events to celebrate the anniversary of celebration, starting with a launch event in November at the museum with special invitees Maria Farantouri and Yiannis Kotsiras direct from Greece.

John Tatoulis & Nicholas Kotsiras as they appeared on the cover of Neos Kosmos two weeks ago, holding the original suitcases carried from Greece by John's dad on his trip to Australia on the 'Patris'. You may have seen these in the Philhellene front window in the last few months!

For more information on the 60 year migration celebration, visit the Museum's website at Hellenic Museum.

 

FATHER'S DAY

Father's day this year falls on Sunday the 2nd of September. To help you celebrate and honour this special person in your life , we have put together a special banquet of our best dishes, available for lunch & dinner.

The cost is $65 for adults (incl entrees/mains/desserts) plus drinks and $30 for children (aged 3 to 12 yrs). Bookings are essential on 93703303.

 

DID YOU KNOW? 

Greece has been labelled as "Europe's New Wine Country" by Travel+Leisure magazine! The article pays particular attention to the wines of Macedonia, the Peloponesses and Crete, especially the Lyrarakis winery whose wine has been gracing our wine list for more than a year. Here are a couple of excerpts from the article:

"But that’s Greece. You can visit more famous wineries elsewhere, and drink bottles far more renowned (and certainly more expensive) while eating elaborate meals in your fanciest clothes, yet I’ve found few places where exploring wine regions is more fun. Almost everywhere I went during my two-week journey, I found panoramic vistas, intriguing wines, and hospitality on an Olympian scale."

"That’s how I felt when I tracked down Lyrarakis, the producer of that marvelous Plyto. I found the winery in the rural hills south of Iráklion, after my GPS had led me through a tangle of rutted roads. The winemaker met me bearing an armful of bottles, then went back for more, for Lyrarakis produces 17 different wines, none priced above $38. Soon I was immersed in a crash course in ampelography, the study and classification of grapevines. I tasted Vilana and Dafni, Vidiano and Kotsifali, Mandilari and Thrapsathiri—not one of which, as far as I’m aware, has ever been commercially planted in the United States. Some, such as the massively structured Mandilari and the Plyto, were good enough that I schemed to ship a case home."

Read the full article here. 

 

 

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH - Zacharioudakis Vidiano 2010

This 100% organic dry white wine is characterised by its bright colour and the golden reflections that indicate the presence of the barrel. Its bouquet highlights the combination of fresh peach, vanilla and dried nuts. It's been aged for four months in french and american oak barrels and made from biologically grown grapes in Plouti, Herakleion (Crete).

As a bit of a treat from the team at Philhellene, the next person to mention this month's newsletter when making a booking throughout August, will receive a bottle of Vidiano on us! 

 

MAJOR NAME DAYS IN AUGUST

8th Triantafillos/Triantafillia, 15th Assumption of the Virgin Mary - Panagiotis/Panagiota/Maria/Marios/Despina/Parthena, 16th Stamatis/Stamatina, 27th Fanourios