Politismos eMagazine | Athina Pantazatou
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Author: Athina Pantazatou

Maniot Pulled Fried Pitas

31.05.2018 in Gastronomy

Maniot Pulled Fried Pitas   Pulled pitas are called that because small dough-balls are pulled and stretched into shape before frying. Now—truth be told—even though they’re called pitas, since they get deep fried, they do resemble doughnuts more. Which brings us to the frying issue: you can, by all means, use olive oil if you wish to. That said, even though it has been scientifically proven time and again that olive oil is the most excellent choice for cooking in general, I don’t recommend it for deep-frying. I’m incorporating feta cheese into the dough for this recipe, but you can…

From quail hunting to the humble lupin bean: a guide to Laconian Cuisine

29.05.2018 in Gastronomy

From quail hunting to the humble lupin bean: a guide to Laconian Cuisine     Much like its counterpart—the Spartan cuisine we’ve recently explored here on Politismos— the Laconian cuisine is a corollary of the region’s geographical position.   The region of Laconia stretches in a fertile valley between two mountain ranges, protected from western rains by Mount Taygetus, with a softer and more temperate climate than that of Messenia. This is the main reason why orange farms outnumber olive, making Laconia one of the largest groves in Greece along with Argos and Arta. Each spring the plain is flooded…

Spartan cuisine: wholesome, progressive, respectful

19.04.2018 in Gastronomy

Spartan cuisine: wholesome, progressive, respectful     Sparta, the land of king Menelaus and Leonidas, stretches between the two large mountainous areas of Taygetos and Parnonas. It is a rich plain with fragrant orchards, embraced by the river Eurotas. Perhaps the most well-known dish of the area since antiquity is the infamous “melanas zomos” (μέλανας ζωμός in Greek), meaning black broth: a thick soup made with pork meat and pork blood, vinegar, and barley, which unfortunately—by try-outs and testimonies—is indeed as gross as it sounds! Thankfully, Spartan cuisine has come a long way since the time Leonida’s troops fed on…

Food Expo 2018

13.03.2018 in Gastronomy

Food Expo 2018     One of the largest international food and beverage exhibitions took place at the impressive “Metropolitan Expo” venue in Attica.   One of the largest international food and beverage exhibitions in southeastern Europe, took place in Athens on March 10-12. In advance of opening, 800 exhibitors had confirmed their participation, and the final figure was expected to surpass 1,200 out of which at least 50 are exhibitors from other countries. Since 1988, the company responsible for the organization of this successful trade show—FORUM S.A.—has offered high quality information and an ultimate meeting and interaction business platform…

160 Years Gazi, an industrial past turned into a cultural present

06.03.2018 in Arts & Culture

160 Years Gazi, an industrial past turned into a cultural present     The Industrial Gas Museum launched in 2013 aiming to showcase and protect the old Athens Gasworks factory area, also known as “Fotaerio” or “Gazi”. Exhibitions and events had already been held in the facilities since 1999, slowly building its reputation as a renowned culture hub, the “Technopolis” of the City of Athens.   Back in 1857, the French businessman F. T. Feraldi was appointed the task of providing gas lighting to the city. The businessman was granted permission for the production and distribution of gas for a…

The Monastery of Timios Prodromos

16.01.2018 in History

The Monastery of Timios Prodromos   Rare frescoes, along with unique icons, religious relics, and valuable manuscripts constitute the monastery of Timios Prodormos ,an exquisite example of Byzantine and post-Byzantine art.   Found in the depths of the gorge of Mount Menikion, 7.5 miles northeast of Serres, Timios Prodromos (St. John the Baptist) is one of the most historic monasteries of Macedonia. It was founded around 1270-1278 and later renovated circa 1300. The monastery was favorited by Byzantine emperors from the very first years of its existence. With their donations and grants, it gained considerable wealth and quickly developed into…

“The Little Mariner”, Odysseas Elytis

14.12.2017 in Arts & Culture

“The Little Mariner”, Odysseas Elytis     Athens, Greece has been selected as World Book Capital 2018 by UNESCO. In celebration of this designation, we’re sharing some of our favourite authors and books.   The Little Mariner (1970-74) by Nobel Prize winner Odysseas Elytis is one of my favorite, most interesting reads. Some critics debate that somehow this collection did not have the same impact most of his other poems did. It is definitely a more mature work of his and the ways he manipulates poetic language in it can be somewhat perplexing. Elytis alternates between prose and poetry, using…

“The Magic Pillows”, Eugene Trivizas

12.12.2017 in Arts & Culture

“The Magic Pillows”, Eugene Trivizas     Athens, Greece has been selected as World Book Capital 2018 by UNESCO. In celebration of this designation, we’re sharing some of our favourite authors and books.   For the unfortunate citizens of “Ouranopolis”, King Arpatilaos is on the rather nasty side. He only cares about his twelve crowns (one for each month!) and the jewels that decorate them. He is particularly scornful of all holidays and happy occasions and uses his crow feather to write laws that ensure his subordinates work in the city’s jewel-mines undistracted! The King bans the Carnival, birthday parties,…

The Holy Places of Mount Parnitha…

17.11.2017 in History

The Holy Places of Mount Parnitha…      At the foothills of Parnitha, where the mountain’s heavy snow falls and thick mists wouldn’t cut them off completely from the rest of the world, lie several monasteries and little chapels. You will find most of them in breathtaking locations, surrounded by springs, wells, and lush foliage, catering to many fatigued hikers’ needs. Kleiston Monastery (of The Holy Dormition of the Virgin) Kleiston Monastery is found on the southwestern side of Mt. Parnitha, at the entrance of Keladona’s Gorge, near the ancient fortress of Fyli. Even though its actual founding date remains…

Aegina’s Folk Museum

15.10.2017 in Museums

The Historical & Folklore Museum of Aegina Panayiotis Eriotis, the prominent scholar, archaeologist, folklorist and literature professor who was the Director of the School of Aegina from 1887 to 1925, was a notable influential figure of the island’s cultural and academic world. Today, his home “houses” the culture of his beloved island… The Eriotis family home, built by Panayiotis’ own father in 1828, was bequeathed to the Municipality of Aegina by his daughter Polymnia Erioti Thomakou to house the Historical & Folklore Museum. Another prominent local figure, Gogo Koulikourdes, a professor of History and a close friend to Polymnia, was…