I've just been reading an article about the Greek way of eating.
In Greece eating is a social occasion - well, it here isn't it? But, they all share the food ordered at a meal. The author despaired at the way we order a meal - a starter each then a main course each. He says that two people should order one main course to share and three or four starters.
Is this what we should be doing at Brouklis? Would all the starters come at the same time as the main course? Woldn't it look as though we were just trying to save money sharing food? :? :?
Sometimes Mike and I would share a starter, but he would eat most of it!
I shared a starter last year with Lynda, a meze at the Brouklis, which had a bit of everything including some lovely sardines which we didnt realise would be on it.. Unfortunately, Lynda ordered sardines as a main course and they were huge. Demetris kindly made a suggestion she had some potatoes too and they came in oil and lemon, really nice, but I think Lynda was a bit "sardined" out that night. So sharing I think is a really good idea..
Peckedhen
You pay the bill you have what you want.We very often share the starter,or one of us doesn't bother to have one. As long as you enjoy the meal I don't think any of the locals would be bothered.We have always enjoyed the choices at Brouklis with some guidance from Dimitris when needed.
Paul
Nobody but NOBODY is sharing my plate. Greek way or NOT! Far too nice food to split two ways!!
I love my food (especially Greek food!) but having lived in Greece for few years I learned that sharing is part of the course and make it more of a social event rather than a solitary experience. Mmmmmm....foooooood!
Jo, you remind me of Joey in Friends:"JOEY DOESN'T SHARE FOOD!" :)
I quite like it when there is a group of you to order a variety of things then share the lot....that way you don't actually lose out Jo - you get the best of all worlds!!
I like the way Greek people finish off the juices, gravy etc with bread. I am a bread addict and its lovely to mop the plate up.
We often share a starter.But when it comes to the main course we dont always like the same things. I am a very fussy eater as Dimitris will agree, but always find something on the menu that suits.
We always share starters, mainly because i fill up too easily, so he had most of it, but nobody gets any of my fish!
Sharon x
You are right about the fish. Fortunately fish isnt Mikes first choice and he is always very pleased if there is fresh fish on the menu as that is what I will choose and he will be safe in what he orders. funnily enough his favourite is either meatballs, or salad, any variety, the bigger the better.. His ultimate favourite and what he cant wait for is the Chefs Salad on Kostas on the Beach, he would eat that every night, has everything on it and is huge. Strange man... but then he doesnt have to share that as I dont like it. I love Kleftiko at Kostas, cooked with mustard.. gorgeous!
We normally order 2 starters and share them - Chris will eat more than me as i need to leave room for my main. Meatballs to start and either stifado, Kleftico fish if it is on the menu.
We always do that when we have a chinese - put everything in the middle and have a bit of everything.
I think that the best way, that way you get to try different dishes.
We love the starters, especially at the Brouklis. So we order 4 or 5 starters (between three of us), then just 1 main meal but with extra vegetables or salad. Wonderful!
I remember being in the Brouklis one night when it was the lamb special. We naturally ordered it, and ate it with amazement and wonderment, at how on earth you got lamb to taste like that. Dimitris, came over and was anxious for our opinion on whether it was ok. Apparently, someone had complained about the way it had been presented, stating that "in England, lamb is served in neat slices with mint sauce".
'Couldn't believe it!
On our first greek holidays in Crete, we used to order loads of starters... bit embarrassing really, order a main and then not realise how much food would turn up. then we used to go back to our favourite restaurant and the little waiter "pedro" would see us, usher us to our table and add an extra table on as he knew what we were like.. highly embarassing and caused great laughter!
Me too Terry. Love to mop up the best bits.
Definitely best to have a good selection of starters all delivered to the table at the same time for everyone to share plus maybe a couple of chicken souvlaki. Then just while away the evening nibbling and chatting (and drinking too of course!)........and, don't forget, eating with your fingers is good in Greece. Negg and I don't want to see any of you tussling with a chicken bone with a knife and fork. Just get stuck in!
Wendy
I would just like to say that its nice to see posts from Mrs Egg, especially as I get this vision of Mrs Egg sitting at the PC while Mr Egg is doing the washing up.
TerryW
She's been on 'ere AGAIN !? - Must have a word with "Admin Man"
Terry - She snuck this one on while I was doing a bit of "Apothiki" roofing.
( You should know that word by now )
Have to say though, a selection of starters is the way to go.
Mon Amour will do you a meat platter for any size "party". Steak/chicken/lamb/pork. all cut to manageable sizes, plus some pitta breads, salad etc.
Then you all get stuck in.
Very rarely now do I use a knife and fork.
( Unless it's soup - And then they don't work correctly )
So, pick those Brouklis sardines up with the fingers and munch away.
Negg
Terry - you have a very fanciful imagination. Negg has had the kitchen sink plumbed in right next to the computer desk so that I can do both at the same time!
Wendy
I knew it, I have always known it, men can multi-task.
Every weekday night I have a laptop in the kitchen whilst washing up etc, Helen is watching Emerdale and/or Corrie, so the kitchen is like the modern day equivalent to the garden shed.
TerryW
Havent tried it anywhere else only I know Dimitris knows what we like so we just ask him for what ever he recommends or eat with friends then the food is served meze style, not in some nouveau small-plates way, but in the Greek manner, sharing a handful of the generously portioned dishes, between us, its a full night out and we all leave feeling well fed and watered or is it mataxaed and ouzoed.lol Viv
lovely post, viv.
not in some noveau small-plates way but in the greek manner
that's how jen and me take arillas - in the greek way and definitely not small plates!
Thanks
phil
We to love the greek way of eating, with afussy son of 3 who will only eat meat and veg in the form of chips how can we go wrong!!! We love the huge salads and then a selection of the dishes so everyone can just tuck in.
and yes viv - we love to be mataxaed and ouzoed!
lol
see you soon
philandjen
Reading the posts in this section has got my mouth watering, can anyone tell me the greek name of the spicy meatball starters i just love them and stuffed vine leaves i could eat both as a main meal washed down with a Mythos or 2 well maybe a gallon lol
Tony
Hi Tony, Do you mean Keftedas which are had for a main meal most of the time, or maybe Kdokythokerftedes (think thats right) that are made from corgette and fertta cheese with spices and herbs that are a starter or often used in a meze.Viv
The meatballs or the courgette balls are the first thing Mike orders on his first meal. That and the greek salad, he would eat those the whole fortnight and be very happy. He is very easy to please if they are on the menu but we can never remember the greek names.
Have you every had stuffed courgette flowers. they are really nice too but never seen them on a corfiot menu.
We were there nearly the whole fortnight last year before we cottoned on and ordered the Greek way with lots of starters!
Dimitris did us proud, and I especially love the courgette and feta starter at Brouklis.
(Also the stuffed peppers at Thalassa) but we never had a bad meal in Arillas, and that was eating at nine or ten different tavernas (Brouklis deserved more than one visit!!)
Yammas,
Lynn
I adore dolmades - vine leaves rolled around a savoury rice mixture and cooked in a large earthenware pot. Viv is right about keftedas - lovely juicy meatballs in garlicy herby tomato sauce.... even having just got out of bed, my mouth is watering.
Still daydreaming. Laying on the naturist beach, nobody bothering me, waves washing over all of me and dreaming about Graziella's heavenly garlic prawns.
Aaaargh. 3 months of hard work before it comes true...
Phil
Shurrup lol ive got 18 weeks or thereabouts beore i can get stuck into that gorgeous grub one thing is for sure it will be well worth the wait :-)
Tony
Garlic Prawns my absolute favourite, I must give those a try at the Graziella
Oh yes, I forgot the dolmades, love them too, and must try the garlic prawns - mouth watering as I type lol. ;)