Greece—Out of the Ashes
When we think of Greece, we have visions of breathtaking beaches and landscapes, awe-inspiring ruins, and, of course, food!
If necessity is the mother of invention, Greece has given birth (once again!) to some of the most innovative and sumptuous foods that continue to boost the country’s economy while tantalizing your taste buds! This week it’s all about what’s new and trending in olives and olive oil.
All of the items listed below are produced in Greece, by Greek people, with Greek culture, using Greek ingredients. It doesn’t get much more Greek, or delicious, than that.
If necessity is the mother of invention, Greece has given birth (once again!) to some of the most innovative and sumptuous foods that continue to boost the country’s economy while tantalizing your taste buds! This week it’s all about what’s new and trending in olives and olive oil.
All of the items listed below are produced in Greece, by Greek people, with Greek culture, using Greek ingredients. It doesn’t get much more Greek, or delicious, than that.
An Olive Renaissance
ELISTI olives from Stylis Olive Producers Cooperatives are an olive revolution. The brand, founded in 1949, is located in Central Greece’s Maliakos Gulf and offers organic green, black, and kalamata olives, black natural and Kalamon olives, and deliciously stuffed Konservolia olives with lemon peel, orange peel, jalapeno, garlic, almond, and natural red Florina pepper varieties. Taking their products beyond the whole fruit, Elisti’s black, Kalamon, and green olive pastes fit the bill nicely. stylidacoop.gr
MAMA MATA’S Green Olives stuffed with Greek Peppers (pepperoncini-stuffed olives) from Mediterranean Olive House/Mitrosilis in Nafplio are one-of-a-kind delicious. Each jumbo-size olive is individually stuffed by hand with a green pepper, fusing classic Mediterranean flavors that make this specialty ideal for meze (appetizer), tossing into pasta, or enhancing a salad (popping them from the jar into your mouth is another good option). Also available are a variety of olives (including organic), as well as olive oil. medolivehouse.gr
MENTIS ESTATE was born as a direct result of the recent economic crisis in Greece. Established as a brand in 2013 by Anastassios Mentis and his deep-seated need to help revitalize the country’s economy, third-generation Anastassios carries out the tradition started by the paternal grandfather he was named after to produce and now export the most exquisite olive oil under the family name. Mentis Estate harvests just one olive variety, the renowned Athenolia, creating a pure, unblended extra-virgin olive oil with an acidity of less than 0.5%. How does this translate into taste? Well-balanced aromatic characteristics described as pine, floral, nutty, fruity, buttery, and pungent, with a hint of artichoke. Drizzle, dip, enjoy! Also available from Mentis, Laconia hand-harvested fleur de sel “flower of salt”—delicate sea-salt flakes rich in minerals, making this the perfect finishing salt. mentisestate.com
ENTOPIA embraces tradition with ingredients and products that are simple, natural, and generous, especially when it comes to olive oil. The creation of their pure organic extra-virgin olive oil is attributed to the Greek soil, a perfect climate, and the country’s ancient institution of olive agriculture. The oil is obtained from the exclusive olive variety Koroneiki by cold extraction, the best method to bring out the flavor and preserve the high nutritional value of the olive. The oil is further enhanced by the sculptured bottle which is a work of art in itself, safely packed in a custom made box. A custom lid, unique to each box, is made of olive wood and can be used as a serving stand for the bottle. Beyond olive oil, Entopia also offers honey, herbs, natural sauces. spoon sweets, marmalades, and more. entopiagreece.com
Many Greek/Mediterranean markets carry these products. If yours doesn’t, ask them if they can order them for you. Feel free to contact the companies through their websites for shopping info in your area. Some items are available online on Amazon, and recipiada.com, titanfoods.net, and mediterraneanfoodsny.com carry all things Greek and ship nationwide (call them if you don’t see what you want on their website). Oh, and Google works too!
I hope you enjoyed this first installment of Greece: An Edible Revival. Join us again next week for what’s trending in Greek honey.
Sign up for our e-newsletter (if you haven’t already) and stay connected on social media for cooking tips and recipes, as well as for all Kukla's Kouzina updates and news.
Thanks for following us and we’ll see you next Monday!
Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
Kelly
Many Greek/Mediterranean markets carry these products. If yours doesn’t, ask them if they can order them for you. Feel free to contact the companies through their websites for shopping info in your area. Some items are available online on Amazon, and recipiada.com, titanfoods.net, and mediterraneanfoodsny.com carry all things Greek and ship nationwide (call them if you don’t see what you want on their website). Oh, and Google works too!
I hope you enjoyed this first installment of Greece: An Edible Revival. Join us again next week for what’s trending in Greek honey.
Sign up for our e-newsletter (if you haven’t already) and stay connected on social media for cooking tips and recipes, as well as for all Kukla's Kouzina updates and news.
Thanks for following us and we’ll see you next Monday!
Until then~
Kali orexi! Good appetite!
Kelly
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Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos
Web design by Kelly Salonica Staikopoulos
