Hello everyone and sorry for being absent for the last few days. Not a lot has happened, other than it was Kostas and my name's day. We both have the same name and it is celebrated on the 21st of May. The name Elena or Helen is also celebrated that day. So pretty much 1/4 of Greece is celebrating that day! I thought that we could do something that day such as cook and post a recipe, however we decided not to as it was a working day and we had no time. We did celebrate the two of us though on Saturday when we went out for some margaritas, and boy that was fun :) That day...because the next day I ended up with a hangover... Just because I had a hangover that does not mean I don't remember some stuff that really ticked me...hence the title.
So we went to this tiki type of bar in a hotel near by where we live. Unfortunately, the places where you can drink alcohol in the UAE are mainly located inside big hotels. That's ok though we are by now used to it and we don't find it peculiar. The good thing is that sometimes you get better service, because they are situated in the hotels, however I miss the genuinely friendly attitude of the staff...something lacking from big chain places. You know when you walk into your neighbourhood bar and people kinda know you? That rarely exists here. Anyways, so we chose to go there because there was food and drinks. And they are known for their food...or so people said because we had never eaten there. We did in the past have their cocktails and they, I have to admit were fantastic! So we ordered our drinks and we ordered some appetizers. Keep in mind things here do not come cheap. Especially when it comes to places inside hotels that also serve alcohol. So I saw this appetizer on the menu that I said you know what the hell let's try that. What it was? Their menu pretty much said that it was thick cut potatoes (like potato wedges) with Japanese sea salt and a special type of aioli sauce. I thought why not? I mean we are having cocktails and that would go nicely. What it turned out to be? French fries....McDonalds french fries with ketchup! I looked at it...looked at Kostas...he looked back at me and we pretty much were looking at each other probably thinking do we really have to pay this much (I won't even say the amount) for french fries? Frozen french fries that someone just pulled out of a bag and threw in oil?
I said OK I'm not gonna say anything. But Kostas did! He called the waitress and he said do you mind tasting that? Of course she didn't because I am sure she was not allowed. He explained to her that this is not what the menu said it would be. Her reply was - and I understand it was not her fault - I will talk to the manager. After five minutes - I don't know probably the manager debating as to what to do although it was obvious what he should do - she came back and she said that they were complimentary. They were not gonna charge us for it. W O W! Really?! The least they could do in my opinion. I did not get pissed with the waitress...it was not her fault. I got pissed with the manager actually allowing this to be on the menu. I mean if we said nothing they would just charge us this ridiculous amount and send us home. For french fries! I mean there is no dignity anymore! They are really trying to rip people off. And not just this restaurant. But almost everywhere. They don't serve you something and they are proud of it, put their best effort to it, their true self. They just serve you anything, they charge you whatever they like and off you go feeling in the best case scenario ripped off...in the worse...well I can't say this word here but it is commonly used in greek.
So where am I going with this? Nowhere really other than to say that we will try to do our best to come up with recipes that have our true self in them. Recipes that represent Greece in them and we will try to not disappoint quality wise. For today Kostas is at work (someone needs to bring the bacon in the house :) ) and I am making a salad that I personally love. Beats that I found at the grocery store and I rarely find here, with zucchini, peppers and onions. Drizzled with balsamic vinegar cream and olive oil and sprinkled with roasted pine nuts. Yummy! Try it and let us know what you think.
Kali quality Oreksi!
Dia, Kostas and Tony
So we went to this tiki type of bar in a hotel near by where we live. Unfortunately, the places where you can drink alcohol in the UAE are mainly located inside big hotels. That's ok though we are by now used to it and we don't find it peculiar. The good thing is that sometimes you get better service, because they are situated in the hotels, however I miss the genuinely friendly attitude of the staff...something lacking from big chain places. You know when you walk into your neighbourhood bar and people kinda know you? That rarely exists here. Anyways, so we chose to go there because there was food and drinks. And they are known for their food...or so people said because we had never eaten there. We did in the past have their cocktails and they, I have to admit were fantastic! So we ordered our drinks and we ordered some appetizers. Keep in mind things here do not come cheap. Especially when it comes to places inside hotels that also serve alcohol. So I saw this appetizer on the menu that I said you know what the hell let's try that. What it was? Their menu pretty much said that it was thick cut potatoes (like potato wedges) with Japanese sea salt and a special type of aioli sauce. I thought why not? I mean we are having cocktails and that would go nicely. What it turned out to be? French fries....McDonalds french fries with ketchup! I looked at it...looked at Kostas...he looked back at me and we pretty much were looking at each other probably thinking do we really have to pay this much (I won't even say the amount) for french fries? Frozen french fries that someone just pulled out of a bag and threw in oil?
I said OK I'm not gonna say anything. But Kostas did! He called the waitress and he said do you mind tasting that? Of course she didn't because I am sure she was not allowed. He explained to her that this is not what the menu said it would be. Her reply was - and I understand it was not her fault - I will talk to the manager. After five minutes - I don't know probably the manager debating as to what to do although it was obvious what he should do - she came back and she said that they were complimentary. They were not gonna charge us for it. W O W! Really?! The least they could do in my opinion. I did not get pissed with the waitress...it was not her fault. I got pissed with the manager actually allowing this to be on the menu. I mean if we said nothing they would just charge us this ridiculous amount and send us home. For french fries! I mean there is no dignity anymore! They are really trying to rip people off. And not just this restaurant. But almost everywhere. They don't serve you something and they are proud of it, put their best effort to it, their true self. They just serve you anything, they charge you whatever they like and off you go feeling in the best case scenario ripped off...in the worse...well I can't say this word here but it is commonly used in greek.
So where am I going with this? Nowhere really other than to say that we will try to do our best to come up with recipes that have our true self in them. Recipes that represent Greece in them and we will try to not disappoint quality wise. For today Kostas is at work (someone needs to bring the bacon in the house :) ) and I am making a salad that I personally love. Beats that I found at the grocery store and I rarely find here, with zucchini, peppers and onions. Drizzled with balsamic vinegar cream and olive oil and sprinkled with roasted pine nuts. Yummy! Try it and let us know what you think.
Kali quality Oreksi!
Dia, Kostas and Tony
Beetroot salad
Ingredients for 2 people:
- 500g beets
- 230g onions
- 300g zucchini
- 130g orange bell pepper
- 130g yellow bell pepper
- 25g pinenuts
- 20ml + 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
- 20ml +2 tbs cream of balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 tsp + 1/4tsp salt
- pinch of pepper
| for more information on how to make beetroot salad please click here |
