Arillas Forum
Welcome to Arillas => Arillas general information => Things to do => Topic started by: Eileen on August 30, 2009, 01:08:05 PM
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We are excited about our new idea which we would like to share with all our friends who love Arillas as much as we do.
We are pleased to offer our guests the opportunity to enjoy a taste of the traditional Corfu by opening the doors of Villa Linakis not only during the summer months but out of season as well. We have brought together local people to guide guests through the culinary delights and traditional way of life that have been part of the Corfiot way of life for centuries.
Corfu has such a lot to offer. Most of us have great intentions to get out and about to experience the ‘other side’ of Corfu, but before we know it our holiday has drawn to an end and yet again we haven’t accomplished much besides relaxing, swimming in the sea/ pool or eating in a restaurant – nothing wrong with that either - I'm an expert in all those activities!
Our intention is to make it easier for guests to explore their interests and to experience more of what Arillas has to offer…to discover how to cook authentic Greek dishes, help harvest olives or sample the organic wines during their own personal wine tasting session.
For those who enjoy the great outdoors we can arrange walking and private guided island tours. We are also able to point them in the right direction for bird watching. Or for those who prefer not to venture too far from the villa art classes and writing workshops are also available.
Additional special interests and activities are in the pipeline.
If you would like to read more about our exciting project please click here... A taste of rural Corfiot life (http://www.villalinakis.com/aw/)
Eileen & Keith.
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Eileen - thats a great idea & Gary & myself wish you loads & loads of luck & hope its successful for you.
Putting something together like "A taste of rural Corfiot life" must have taken ages, a lot of research & a lot organising.
I love the idea of learning to cook authentic Greek dishes [although I did cook up a pretty good Stifado on Friday, even if I do say so myself!]
I'm sure the harvesting the olives course will do well & who wouldn't love the wine tasting course.
Arillas is wonderful out of season. Very quiet & peaceful, but as you say it still has lots to offer.
Good Luck & well done.
Sara & Gary......................x
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I’m sure you will provide a real Corfiot delight Eileen.
Sounds like an exciting venture, you will make it a success without doubt
Eileen & Keith’s Authentic Corfiot holidays? Sounds like a new business is about to be born
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Good luck Eileen,
Sounds a brilliant idea.
John
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eileen
love the new web site,hope all goes well...............yammas
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WOW what a great new venture, wishing you every success with it. Love Viv & Pete
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Eileen, a brilliant idea which helps seperate a villa holiday further from regular pre-packaged tourism. Every success
Ivan
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Well done Eileen,here's hoping you get some early bookings and more to come.
Im sure there are some who would just like a few days in rural corfu/Arillas out of season I know we would if we could get the flights.
Ang
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Sounds a great idea, Eileen. Wishing you lots of success with your new venture.
love, lynn xx
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Hi Keith n Eileen
Very good website.
But I have to tell all the Forum that you turned down my application as on site Cook.
I can appreciate that Pork chop n Chips n Baked beans is not the cuisine you had in mind ( Heinz beans as well! ) But I did thnk that the Birds Strawberry trifle, for dessert, would have swung things my way. - Ah well! - Maybe I'll try Brouklis!.
It could be a very exciting Winter for all , methinks!
Cheers
Negg
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Thank you all for your positive support and good wishes, it is very much appreciated.
I wish I could say the same about Neggs offer to cook...thank goodness I had a sound reason to refuse which saved the day!!! ;-) (Sorry Neill it was the oven chips that killed it!)
As you are all aware our local eateries are closed during the winter months, therefore for convenience our chef is available to provide catering by arrangement.
Eileen
xxx
(thanks Ang!)
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Great ideas and website, Eileen and Keith - Barry and I wish you everu success!
You look to have quite a lot of bookings already - here's to many more!
Janis x
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My best wishes go along with everyone else's above - what a great idea!
This will be our first visit to Arillas - (Friday coming!) so we might spend much of it exploring, in addition to just soaking up the sun, atmosphere, food and hospitality. The odds are good that this will be first and not only visit though, so we'll likely have a go in future.
The cuisine aspect is most interesting - it would be great to get some tips up front rather than attempting to emulate greek classics from a cookbook, the web, or the lovely Tonia Buxton.
I'm also reminded of a holiday we had in Kefalonia, where we did a lot of walking. We would often come across locals picking the olive harvest, with the nets under the trees. Two things about this still stay with me.
1. They would always take the trouble to stop working and wave to us - true
hospitality!
2. I wish I'd stopped and asked if I could give a hand for a while, but....English
reserve, I s'pose
Eggy - it seems to me that you might still be in with a shout if you ditch the oven chips, and stick some baclava in the birds trifle...?
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It's a wonderful idea Eileen luvver. Yous already know we are hoping it turns into a thumping great success for you both.
The cooking (and of course then the eating) really appeals to me. As IanandSylvia said it must beat cookbooks. Jen and me have seen every one of Tonia Buxton's programmes at least twice! And I often cook Greek, but with my own twists and variations.
I&S - the welcome for those who are willing to participate is just as you describe. A smile goes a long long way in Arillas. Just know you will find everything you want. Enjoy!
As for you Eggy, I'll deal with you when I'm there next time.....
lmao
Phil
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Thanks Phil,
Sylvia's favourite has always been moussaka, which is can be done in so many different ways (Tonia calls it Greek comfort food, as you'll no doubt remember.)
It's probably an unfair question then, given the variety of that particular dish, but where would you consider the best place to be for moussaka in Arillas?
We're both so much looking forward to the next two weeks - it sounds like paradise, even for two confirmed Greek Isle fanatics. Not forgeting my mam too; she'll have her 77th birthday on the 17th September (I've already approached Dimitris about a cake at Brouklis, without ever having been there!) - No worries about secrecy, mam doesn't have a PC...
Now I'm conscious that I'm taking this off on a tangent, which I don't mean to do. So I'll close this post by again congratulating you , Keith and Eileen, on a superb idea. Not only in it's concept, but also because you seem to be in the ideal location to make it work!
Best Wishes
Ian
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Aha Ian, there's a question to which everyone will give different answers! I have eaten it in Portofino and Graziella. Both were lovely but very different. You are truly spoilt for choice.
Phil
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Great idea and website Eileen and Keith.....Good luck to you both.
If Eggy can't do his chips and beans maybe he can give greek dart lessons :D ha ha
riggers..
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We'll have to go to Portofino and Graziella, and let Sylvie make a choice on the Moussaka!
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Eileen thats a brilliant idea, best wishes to you and Keith
Sharonn xxx
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Eileen, Heather and I wish you every success on your new venture. We know you have the will to make it succeed.
Yammas Paul and Heather.
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well done Eileen and Keith, hope it works out well for you.
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My daughter also loves moussaka and raved about it in Porto Fino. She also loved the grandma's Lamb.
June
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Also try Graziella's garlic prawns. Many eateries do them, but we have done it 14 times in Graziella. Yes, Thomas and I worked it out in July. 14 times. Cooked to perfection, tender and taste so decadent. 14/15 euros but worth every cent.
Phil
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......I'm going to be too heavy to get back on the plane!
Apologies again, Eileen - back to rural Corfiot life...
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Thanks again for all your support.
You'll have a smashing time Ian and Sylvia, especially trying out all the restaurants....be warned....you'll have to do a power of walking to get rid of all that excess baggage for the trip home! My mum is coming up for her 84th birthday and intends to come again to Arillas next April...your spring chicken of a mum will love it too.
Eileenx
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Eileen meluvver, you and keith have done so well. As you said, yer mum is 84 or what? She is next to 49 again.....Bet she wouldn't admit to any more! She will make a seriously good time in our place.
Sandy's dad comes to my mind. One day I will be just like he is.... So full of his offspring and what they believe in. Dancing in their kitchen. Doing his best to help. Solving her problems.
Arillas has some bloody great hold on us all. Jen and me will never be as clever as yous two are, but we will enjoy it all from our perspective. Life for us is simple. Everyone who meets us understands that. I just spent ages trying to put a list together. Jen warned me how lists don't work.
Well luvver yous are on our list...........
loveandhugs
Phil
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Your new venture sounds like a great idea Eileen, good luck xx
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Sounds like a very good idea. Good luck with it Eileen!
Phil, agree with you about the garlic prawns at the Graziella, their food is excellent, especially the local caught fresh fish. Always something different to try, and cooked to perfection.
Yammas,
Martin.