Bring On The Stifado

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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 07 Oct 2015, 06:58

Gemma - thanks for the photo to compare the sinking wreck. Will take another look today and see if it has sunk further. May try snorkelling round from Nos later.
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 07 Oct 2015, 07:04

Hi JuliaB - good to hear from you - it has been a while since our paths crossed on Symi. It has been years since we have been to Cornwall but can understand the attraction. E has a nephew who can't keep away from the place. Can still remember having skate in black butter in Padstow :D
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 07 Oct 2015, 07:06

Hi Sootyandsweep,
I would say in equal measure but with some apple sliced thinly on top.
Marvellous
:D
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 07 Oct 2015, 07:55

Wednesday morning and we have just seen the Blue Star ferry depart at 08:30 for Rodos with many Olympic guests leaving. The island will be even quieter for our second week. We have blue skies and sun and the wind has picked up. We had planned a lazy day 20 meters from the apartment on Nos Beach but we may now walk to Nimborio but still a bit early in the day to make firm plans. A supermarket visit is required to replenish stocks.

Yesterday we said farewell to our Swedish friends by taking them to lunch at Tza Ti - that perfect bar just after Hinari and before you reach the Aleki Hotel. We all shared in the cheese plate (feta, hard ewe's cheese and tomatoes interlaced with mozzarella); the meats plate (Parma ham and a variety of salamis with olives); the bruschetta with tomato and basil and the bruschetta with tomato, feta and oregano. With sparkling water, still water, 4 beers and two ouzo and a tip this came to €70 for four of us and as we were just about to leave a complimentary round of drinks appeared - so very generous.

We then returned to the apartment and saw our friends leave with Margarita for the 16:30 Skiadeni sailing. They had an early flight from Rhodes to Athens and then onto Sweden today so quite a journey but as they said - worth it to visit Symi. They are already looking for flights for the same dates next year so hopefully we will meet up again then if not before.

We then had a bit of a rush on as E had booked an appointment at a hairdresser up in Chorio. She had been there previously but we still had to find the place so we jumped in a taxi, driven by the bus driver before Lakis, and got dropped at Zoe's (€4). After a few wrong turnings we found the place and D headed to Yannis Rainbow Bar to wait. E was not long in returning sporting her new look which Yannis studiously and expansively approved of. Our retsina and ouzo aperitifs were interspersed with a visit to the small shop opposite the bar where a charming young student has been selling some lovely items made on Symi and which we have been unable to resist since she opened a few years ago.

We then headed for Zoe's being greeted by Lefeteris (of Zylygos) on our way. Nikos was on BBQ duties when we arrived. We started with stuffed aubergine (imam), tuna salad (without the salad) and dolmades. The imam was perfectly spiced and had the richness of flavour with the sweet onions that makes it a firm favourite. The dolmades had lentils added which gave them a wonderful earthy flavour. We followed this with Stifado (D) and Soutzoukakia (E). There was a choice between hare and beef Stifado so went for the hare which just melted off the bone and came in that wonderfully rich and perfectly spiced sauce. The Soutzoukakia was equally as good as the Stifado. The meal with the usual miso kilo retsina and nero megalo came to €43. With a complimentary glass of retsina and a catch up on family news we decided to have the luxury of a taxi back to Margarita's.
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 07 Oct 2015, 07:59

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Farewell to our Swedish friends
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 07 Oct 2015, 08:19

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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby silverfox » 07 Oct 2015, 18:34

Not been on the forum for a week or two so great to see another great blog from you both.

Just making us want to get next year booked back on Symi.

Looking forward to more posts!

:)
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2015, 15:52

Very kind comments Silverfox - efheristo boli :D
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2015, 16:53

It is Thursday, but evening as the usual morning post had to be postponed because Symi Tours brought forward the departure time for our second visit to Tolis to 9am. Fair play - they called us on our mobile twice and phoned Margarita to get the message to us.

So we are on the balcony washing out today's swimming gear catching that beautiful light that catches Symi as the sun starts to set - one of the best times of day on this wonderful island.

So working through from yesterday morning : having had a busy day on Tuesday with our farewells to our Swedish friends D had a bit of a lie in and didn't do a bread run. We toasted what was left from the previous day and had that with boiled eggs for breakfast. We then walked to Nimborio. The shack looked closed as it did on Sunday but when we reached that point in the walk it was open so we had a frappe each. We then had a beer in a very quiet taverna, read a bit and just relaxed by the sea. We then had lunch of Greek salad, beautiful sardines and stuffed tomato & pepper with retsina and water it came to €30 including the beers and tip. We walked back around 3pm and fell asleep - it's hard work out here :shock: . We woke in time to do a supermarket run. A very large liner docked at the clock tower and visitors, mainly American, were flooding off so here's hoping they spent loads. We sat and had a frappe watching all the activity which included the early evening Dodec ferry to Rhodes which many Symi visitors were leaving on. It was about 15 minutes late arriving and there was quite a crowd catching the boat. Then there seemed to be an issue with some passengers, and luggage was unloaded and then loaded again after a lot of waving of arms and intense chatter. Then there looked like someone who needed medical attention on Rhodes being brought down and all in all it must have been about 18:30 before they finally sailed - some 45 minutes late. There were a lot of anxious faces and it decided for us that we will take the early morning Blue Star and spend next Wednesday in Rhodes, even though our EasyJet flight to Liverpool is not until the evening - D is easily stressed believe it or not :o

It was then home, shower and change and to Elpida's for an aperitif, watching the last of the cruise liner passengers embark. Last night our ouzo and retsina (s) were accompanied by firstly samosa; then a small plate of olives, cheese and ham; and finally a hot chicken stew. She is just amazing and this is an amazing little bar as so many who visit Symi Chat know.

We then returned to Odyssia where we started with an amazing piece of octopus grilled to perfection and served in the most delicate of lemon dressings - truly stunning. We also had the Gruyere saganaki again, which has a saltiness that went well with the octopus. For mains D had to have his pasta fix so went for the Spaghetti Arabiata which was perfect in every way whilst E had possibly the lightest and most flavoursome moussaka she can recall. The complimentary sweet was a filo based tart with a very light custard, almost Creme Englais, with figs on top. Once again top class cooking and at €40 including tip (the retsina & water being so generously provided by Manolis's daughter) we will be there again before we leave.

So this morning we had an early start with a cheese pie on the move. D is always punctual to the point of being everywhere too early :evil: But that did allow time for a frappe before the Symi Tours bus picked us up just by their offices. We had a full bus and at €7 a head to get you to and from Tolis it is no wonder that this is a popular way of spending a day. The place was much busier than on Saturday with a large group of walkers meeting with some of the people who were on our bus. Great to see this so late in the season although it made the trip up from the beach in the back of the pick-up to where the bus meets you memorable to say the least :D

Although we did not have it today we took special note of the Daphne salad for Sootyandsweep - from the menu and we quote - it is cabbage red & green, lettuce, carrot, balsamic vinegar, honey and walnuts (and ours on Saturday came with thinly sliced apple on top) - it is large as Gemma pointed out and that why it comes in at €9. Today we had the Greek salad, the grilled squid which was a whole squid with the meat being just as tender as could be and tzatziki. With water and retsina and a couple of frappe and a couple of beers we had during the day we paid with tip €45. This is a great place to visit and now a firm favourite on our "Symi Schedule". We arrived back in Yialos at 17:30 and walked back round to our apartment.

Now it's time to shower and head for Elpida's to decide where dinner is tonight - a second visit to Tholos is currently in pole position but it won't be the first time a rank outsider has crept up during our aperitifs.

(I still hear water running so time to put up a few pics up next)

Kalispera.
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2015, 16:57

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The Taverna at Nimborio
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2015, 17:01

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Sardines at Nimborio - D already grabbed one !
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2015, 17:03

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The Cruise Liner last night
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2015, 17:05

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The Octopus at Odyssia
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 08 Oct 2015, 17:07

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Grilled Squid at Tolis
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby sootyandsweep » 08 Oct 2015, 22:48

:) D and E - how kind of you to post the Daphne salad. Got my cousin and his wife coming next week for a Texan Chili Pie - chili with cornmeal - not polenta - cornmeal bread topping - lovely and will make the salad to go with it. I shouldn't read your blogs before bed - feel like going for a sandwich now instead of bed!!! :D
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 09 Oct 2015, 06:52

Hi Sootyandsweep - all part of the service :D
Like the sound of that Texan Chilli Pie : it was mealie puddins in my days in the North East ;)
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby Gemma1 » 09 Oct 2015, 07:26

Another great report. I was debating about whether or not to return to Symi next September but after reading your reports I'm really not sure that I can stay away.... ;)
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 09 Oct 2015, 07:35

Friday morning and after a later than usual bread run which saw all the croissants taken by yacht crews :'( we are having breakfast totally alone as all the other guests have now left Margarita's. We saw a marked change last night as we walked back from the Symi Tours drop off around 17:30 with the sponge shops closed and whilst sitting in Elpida's later in the evening other shops were closing earlier than usual. It is now 09:30 Friday and there is one person below us on Nos Beach !

Today we will have what we regard as a "sigs siga" day and aim to walk over to Pedi and back with a few frappe / beer / read stops on the way.

So to last night. Paying the same respect to Elpida's as we do to Yannis Rainbow Bar when we stay "up" we continued our 100% attendance record. Our aperitifs were last night accompanied by samosa and then cheese, ham, olives and pickled veg. On leaving we discovered that our first drinks had been paid for by the lovely man from Tolis (Komynos). The generosity of the Symiots has always been an endearing quality and even in these difficult times they show such kindness that it is humbling.

So we walked round a very quiet harbour where Kaboz and Vaporetta only had a handful of customers. Odyssia was fairing much better and Tholos was very busy. We returned to Thollos where we shared a starter of grilled prawns. 5 "beasts" arrived accompanied by 5 lemon potatoes. These were prawns of the highest quality - simply cooked, meaty and sweet. E decided to have the aubergine grilled with minced beef and topped with cheese which she described as the best thing she has eaten this holiday. D went for the Soutzoukakia which were not overly sauced and came with the choice of rice, fried potatoes or pasta - D being a "pasta-head" went for the pasta and that was a perfect accompaniment. With a complimentary chocolate ice cream topped with crushed hazelnuts E declared this the best meal yet and this has thrown "last night" discussions into turmoil :o With the usual water, retsina and tip this memorable dinner in that perfect of locations (pic coming up next) with the every friendly and efficient staff cost us €45.

The short walk to our apartment and we ended yet another lovely day.
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby D and E » 09 Oct 2015, 07:37

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Yialos from Tholos last night
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Re: Bring On The Stifado

Postby sootyandsweep » 09 Oct 2015, 13:09

D and E wrote:Hi Sootyandsweep - all part of the service :D
Like the sound of that Texan Chilli Pie : it was mealie puddins in my days in the North East ;)

:D And there is no finer food than a good mealie with a plate of mince and tatties. 8-)
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